Halloween At Dodger Stadium

by Eric Stephen on Jul 14, 2009 9:04 PM PDT in Game Recaps Comment 27 comments

Pedro Martinez, fresh after passing his physical with the Phillies, throws out the first pitch in St. Louis Tuesday night, using his one remaining good arm.

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American League 4, National League 3

The NL failed to win the All-Star Game for the 13th straight year, falling to the American Leaguers 4-3 at Busch Stadium. This means the American League will get home field advantage in the World Series, so games three through five are tentatively scheduled for October 31 through November 2 at Dodger Stadium.

Chad Billingsley of the Dodgers pitched the fifth inning for the National League, giving up a run on two hits, leaving with the game tied 3-3. Orlando Hudson came into the game in the sixth inning, hitting for starter Chase Utley, and drove a pitch deep to right field that died before reaching the warning track. Hudson also singled and stole a base in the eighth inning, and was the go-ahead run on base, but Ryan Howard struck out to end the threat.

Hudson became just the fourth Dodger to steal a base in the All-Star Game, joining Shawn Green (2002), Steve Sax (1986), and Maury Wills (1962).

Carl Crawford, who had an amazing, homer-robbing catch off the bat of Brad Hawpe in the seventh inning, to go along with his single in three at-bats, took home MVP honors.

The highlight of the night for me, besides seeing 88-year old Stan Musial getting some well-deserved love, was the joy on Albert Pujols's face as he was given a standing ovation during pregame introductions. That was a pretty special moment. Well, that, and President Barack Obama noting how well the Dodgers were playing.

Phil won the special All-Star edition of "Clogging The Bases," with a guess of 25 bases. The total was 21, and the first player to score was Derek Jeter.

Next year's All-Star Game is in Anaheim, tentatively scheduled for July 13.

The Dodgers resume play Thursday night at Dodger Stadium against Houston. Randy Wolf and Wandy Rodriguez are the scheduled hurlers.

WP - Jonathan Papelbon (1-0): 1 inning, 2 long flyouts, 1 strikeout

LP - Heath Bell (0-1): 1 inning, 2 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 1 strikeout

Sv - Mariano Rivera (4): 1 inning, 1 strikeout

All-Star Box Score

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Comments

Games 3 through 5

Hahaha. I’d shake my fist and curse you if that didn’t also make me laugh.

I’ll try not to blame you if they don’t get that far. ;-)

by underdog on Jul 14, 2009 9:24 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I have decided to embrace any Fanerman-led wrath. :)

by Eric Stephen on Jul 14, 2009 9:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

you should at least send him

some gloves padded at the knuckles.

by underdog on Jul 14, 2009 9:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe for Halloween, San Francisco Giants can dress up as World Champs!

by Eric Stephen on Jul 14, 2009 9:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

wakefield

everyone was saying blah blah blah wakefield should be starter blah blah blah, and he ends up not even pitching

by matthewmafa on Jul 14, 2009 9:54 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Who the heck was saying Wakefield should have been the starter?

Maddon said before the game that he was saving Wakefield in case the game went extras, because he could go longer with the knuckler, so pretty much everyone knew there was a chance Wakefield wouldn’t get to pitch.

by Eric Stephen on Jul 14, 2009 9:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

all the espn analysts were saying he should start

by matthewmafa on Jul 14, 2009 10:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

all

meaning Peter “I heart the Red Sox” Gammons? Or who?

Hard to dispute Halladay… but anyway… I highly recommend turning off ESPN and especially BBTN, for, I don’t know, ever. ;-)

I do feel bad for players who don’t get in the game but they have to be careful I guess in case it goes extras again.

by underdog on Jul 14, 2009 10:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m all aboard the MLB Network train these days. I only watch ESPN occasionally anymore.

by Eric Stephen on Jul 14, 2009 10:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow, that’s awful, and predictable.

by Eric Stephen on Jul 14, 2009 10:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Does anyone have any information on Stults?

by shoothoop on Jul 14, 2009 11:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

He got the win on Saturday in Albuquerque

6 IP, 5 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts. From the Isotopes website:

The two run cushion seemed like plenty for Isotopes starter Eric Stults, who cruised through most of his outing. Stults fired five straight shutout innings, at one point retiring 14 of 15 batters before Memphis touched him for a pair of runs in the sixth. With two down, Allen Craig slapped a double to right and was immediately picked up when Mark Shorey crushed a two-run homer to right to knot the game at 2-2. The homer was the only blemish on an otherwise superb outing by Stults, who tossed six innings, allowing the two tallies on five hits while walking two and striking out eight.

He gave up a two-run HR to Mark Shorey of Memphis.

by Eric Stephen on Jul 14, 2009 11:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Eric

by shoothoop on Jul 15, 2009 12:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I fucking hate Heath Bell

http://diamondleung.tumblr.com/post/141933544/st-louis-post-dispatch-stltoday-com-newspaper

When it was pointed out to Bell that he may have ruined it in the World Series for the Dodgers, who have the majors’ best record, he seemed to get some satisfaction.

"I’ve ruined it for the Dodgers with saves against them," he said, "so I’m just doing what I normally do."

Yeah, that really renews my confidence in the ASG.

by kensai on Jul 14, 2009 11:44 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

He just assured the Dodgers would win the title at home. :)

by Eric Stephen on Jul 14, 2009 11:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was just about to post this. Grr

by shoothoop on Jul 14, 2009 11:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought Obama commented on...

…on how well the Dodgers have been playing. Not questioned how will they play in the future. It was nice to see our only two active representatives get in the game. Still bugs me that Werth wasn’t one of the five finalists instead of Victorino. Maybe then Bison would have gotten in to replace Beltran.

by The Dude Abides on Jul 14, 2009 11:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I like Bell

For the same reason I like Matt Stairs.

Blame Billingsley as much as anyone. Orlando looked good. True Dodger fans are more happy that Broxton wasn’t forced to play. That guy should just ice his toe until September 15.

I think the Ds would probably lose to the BoSox with or without home, but they can feast on Yankee Pitching and outhit the Angels with or without home as well.

by stillnotah8er on Jul 15, 2009 1:09 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Blame Bills?

The dude is 24 years old and faced the All Star Game MVP (Crawford), the two best hitters of the past decade (Ichiro and Jeter), a guy battting .373 on the season (Mauer) and one of the best sluggers in baseball (Texiera) and only gave up one hit and one run. I don’t think he did all that badly.

Blame Bell for being so cocky in all the pregame interviews and not taking it seriously.

by stevesaxaphone on Jul 15, 2009 7:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh and....

Bills should have gotten the strikeout on Mauer. If Molina would have held the foul tip, it would have been a K. Mauer then did what he does, knocked a double down the line.

by mwhite06 on Jul 15, 2009 7:41 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Look, I'm all for confidence but...

I’m not comfortable saying that the World Series will be at Dodgers Stadium for Halloween. I’m not saying at all that I’m not confident that it won’t happen, it’s just I totally believe in jinxing things. So let’s win the NL West first and get to the playoffs.

by UCLAClass82 on Jul 15, 2009 7:02 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

damn padres...

always looking for a way to screw over the dodgers…

by shaqfor3 on Jul 15, 2009 8:42 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

No reason to put this all on Bell

by Eric Stephen on Jul 15, 2009 8:45 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let’s be fair folks. Bills did get the blown save in this game for what its worth. I prefer to think that this means the Padres have enabled the Dodgers to win the World Series at home this year.

When life hands you shards…drink Chardonnay!

2009 LA Kings Hockey: thanks to Joe Sakic's snowblower, WE'RE BETTER THAN THE AV'S!!!!

by DodgerBlueBalls on Jul 15, 2009 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs