True Blue LA: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Sports blogs for fans, by fans.
Around SBN: Post-UNC Thoughts

Relief Is The Dodger Theme Of The Day

The Bison delivered big in the 10th inning tonight, giving the Dodgers a 5-3 win.

More photos » by Tom Gannam - AP

The Bison delivered big in the 10th inning tonight, giving the Dodgers a 5-3 win.

The overriding theme of the day for the Dodgers on Thursday was relief.  The day concluded with a 5-3 win -- finally -- over the Cardinals, a relief for the club, who had lost 17 of their previous 20 games in Mound City.  But before that result, the day was so filled with relief that it should have been sponsored by Rolaids®.

Earlier in the day, the Dodgers picked up talented lefty reliever George Sherrill, for third baseman Josh Bell and pitcher Steve Johnson, providing the Dodger bullpen with some extra depth in the back end.  Sherrill will join the club Friday in Atlanta.

Hiroki Kuroda had his second good outing in a row, allowing only two runs in his six innings of work.  It seemed like Kuroda could have pitched much longer, having thrown only 72 pitches, but the struggling Dodger offense needed all the help it could get, so Joe Torre sent Juan Pierre to pinch-hit in the seventh inning.  The move paid off, as Pierre singled and later scored on Rafael Furcal's two-run double.

In a tie game in the eighth inning, Dodger fans breathed a sigh of relief at the return of Hong-Chih Kuo.  Kuo entered the game after a Nick Stavinoha's leadoff double.  After a sacrifice to advance the runner, Kuo blew away pinch-hitter Ryan Ludwick, setting up a potential showdown with Albert Pujols with two outs.  However, rather than summon a righthander to face Pujols, Kuo had his Rick Vaughn "I want Parkman" moment, intentionally walking both Pujols and Matt Holliday to face lefty Rick Ankiel, who had homered in his last at-bat, with the bases loaded.  Three electrifying fastballs later, and Kuo got out of the jam with a clutch strikeout.  Since his return this week, Kuo has faced ten batters.  Outside of the two intentional walks, Kuo has retired all eight batters, three by strikeout.

Matt Kemp had three hits and three RBI, including both a run-scoring single in the second inning and an eventual game-winning two-run single in the 10th, giving the Dodgers some much-needed success with runners in scoring position.

Casey Blake had four hits, giving him seven hits over the last two games.

The four game losing streak is over, and the Dodgers are leaving St. Louis.  For that, we breathe a sigh of relief.

Jason Schmidt faces Tommy Hanson Friday in Atlanta.

WP - James McDonald (3-2):  1 perfect IP

LP - Dennys Reyes (0-2):  0.1 IP, 1 hit, 2 runs, 1 walk, 1 strikeout

Sv - Jonathan Broxton (24):  1 IP, 1 walk

Box Score

0 recs  |  Comment 44 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

breaking news!!

chuck norris canceled tomorrows game!!

by shaqfor3 on Jul 30, 2009 10:22 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I saw the end of the game late on tape and

am thrilled they won. I was so nervous about the sweep, and given the matchup tomorrow even more so. Bless you Kemp, and Kuo and Jimmy Mac and bless you Tiny Tim.

Great move walking Pujols and Holliday, loved it.

Now only 14 hours to go before you know what is over and we can all breathe a little easier…

by underdog on Jul 30, 2009 10:59 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

17.5 hours til

Jason Schmidt is back in the dugout.

by underdog on Jul 30, 2009 11:38 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Calf

is correct. Calf/calves for baby bison.

by underdog on Jul 30, 2009 11:42 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

joe torre should never use hong chi kuo on back to back days

save this man for the playoffs. When he is healthy, he is nearly unhittable. We should do whatever we can do just save his innings for the playoffs. Besides Broxton, there is no pitcher on the dodgers roster better then hong chi and you dont want to waste his arm by pitching him too much in the regular season.

by matthewmafa on Jul 30, 2009 11:06 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I'm very sad now.

From Rosenthal.

A rival GM who recently saw Bell at Class AA said, "He’s got physical skills and talent, but he plays very lethargic. He’s not a high-energy guy at all. He’s very nonchalant in how he plays.

The profile says that Bell earned the nickname “Baby Kemp” for his resemblance to the Dodgers’ Matt Kemp.

Dude? ‘Baby Kemp’? We traded a guy whose nickname was “baby Kemp”? HOW COULD WE? :(

by Tripon on Jul 30, 2009 11:09 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Take solace:

Harold Miner = “Baby Jordan”

by Eric Stephen on Jul 30, 2009 11:12 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

bell screams out James loney

matt kemp is anything but lethargic and nonchalant. Loney fits that description a little better.

by matthewmafa on Jul 30, 2009 11:28 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Resting Broxton?

I saw Broxton’s meltdown in SD in the flesh. I really wonder if we shouldn’t rest him for at least a few weeks, if not until the Giants series in mid-September. He really seems like the kind of guy who would play through pain despite mediocre results.

As for the Cards, the pecota computer thinks they’re 70% likely to be in the playoffs (that might be a hair lower tomorrow). I think that’s optimistic, but hope that we don’t face them. Ideally, we face the Cubs then the Rockies.

by stillnotah8er on Jul 30, 2009 11:18 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

About the money George Sherrill will make in arbitration.

What makes people think he’s going to be a Dodger though 2011?

This whole thing screams to me a trade in the off season for a usual piece in the offseason.

by Tripon on Jul 30, 2009 11:18 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Maybe…might depend on the health of Kuo, a possible non-tender candidate

by Eric Stephen on Jul 30, 2009 11:25 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

if he asks for $5 million, he will lose.

He’s likely to make about $1 million to $1.5m next year via arbitration, but if there are any health concerns, it is likely the Dodgers will simply non-tender him.

by Eric Stephen on Jul 30, 2009 11:37 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Also, for everyone claiming that the Blue Jays treated the Dodgers shabbily.

They asked the Rangers for Holland, Smoak, and two more top prospects.

by Tripon on Jul 30, 2009 11:29 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

it looks like matt kemp has found a new best friend

him and sherril wear their hat bream in the same way… its straight not bent

by matthewmafa on Jul 30, 2009 11:33 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Hah. Bedtime reading

The Viva El Birdos extra innings thread tonight is priceless. It’s mostly about Wellemeyer, and not in a good way. But genuinely funny. If repetitive.

by underdog on Jul 30, 2009 11:40 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Even the beat writers on Twitter wanted him DFA’d…it was sad/funny

by Eric Stephen on Jul 30, 2009 11:41 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Wellemeyer is apparently the Colonel

and they’re not fans of Joey Thurston either. Pretty funny.

They have little to complain about after this series though.

by underdog on Jul 30, 2009 11:43 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

They also want to trade for Kershaw and Kemp.

They claim that Torre must hate Kemp or something, and they’ll give up their entire Triple-A team for Kershaw.

by Tripon on Jul 30, 2009 11:49 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I didn't say they were smart

just that they were amusing. ;-)

by underdog on Jul 31, 2009 12:12 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

What are the odds we get Halladay by the deadline?

We picked up a guy (Sherrill) who excels against left-handed hitters (a Philly specialty – not unlike cheesesteak and a genetic disposition towards Santa). Now we need something positively Manny-like in that it would scare the s&^%t out of everyone in the NL. NED…GO GET’EM!!!

by Wile E. on Jul 31, 2009 12:07 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

i think we need an upgrade offensivly in the infield...

the outfield is pretty much set this year and next so its infield that needs a change

o dog and furcal got to stay…. so i think we need to trade either blake, loney or martin and get a offensive upgrade at that position. It’ll make our lineup as terrifying as the phillies lineup.

anyone got any suggestions of who we can maybe acquire… cause im way too tired to think of one

by matthewmafa on Jul 31, 2009 12:17 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah get Gonzo

Gonzo for Sexton, Robinson, DeWitt, Garate, Russell, Redding, Van Slyke ans Guerra…

by Johnxon on Jul 31, 2009 4:32 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Kuo is back

That appearance last night was flat out awesome. Just felt like I needed to say that :)

by mwhite06 on Jul 31, 2009 7:35 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

It was so, so good.

by Eric Stephen on Jul 31, 2009 8:01 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

A place for Dodger fans to congregate without spending $15 on parking.
Start posting about the Dodgers »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

Small
Dodgers 200 Prospect Countdown: 180 - 171
Th_punkedoutmercat_small
2nd base Dodger rumors
Small
Dodgers 200 Prospect Countdown: 190 - 181
Memoriesofkevinmaloneavatar_small
2009 NL Gold Glove Award Winners
Img_0108_small
Lookouts Win Promotional Award From MiLB
Small
Mark Cuban interested in Dodgers
Knights-09_small
Disenchanted Blue Jays Fan Looking For A New Team
Repo-man_small
CLUTCH!™: Pulls Through to Win World Series: Overacheiving vs. Godzilla, Mediocrity, Voodoo, and Luck Narated by Screamin' Jay
Sc_white_small
It's Going to Get Worse Before It Gets Better
Ed-ak286_scully_g_20091006143938_small
An apology of sorts

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

SPONSORS


Managers

100_1427_small Phil Gurnee

Img_0108_small Eric Stephen

Editors

Bison_small David Young

Small Brendan Scolari