Furcal, Kemp Lead The Way To Dodger Victory
by Eric Stephen on Sep 24, 2009 10:07 PM PDT
in Dodgers Game Recaps
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Matt Kemp set the spark early, and Rafael Furcal came through with the fireworks late to give the Dodgers a hard fought, 7-6 victory over the Nationals on Thursday night, as they lowered their magic number to clinch a playoff spot to one.
After Furcal opened the game with a single, Andre Ethier and Manny Ramirez decided to join in the fun with singles of their own. Matt Kemp followed with a three-run home run to give the Dodgers a 4-0 lead before the fans even had a chance to get comfortable in their seats. This was the third game all season the Dodgers opened a game with at least four straight hits:
| Date | Opp | Streak | Dec |
| May 3 | Padres | single, double, single, double | 7-3 win |
| May 31 | Cubs | five singles | 8-2 win |
| Tonight | Nationals | single, single, single, home run | 7-6 win |
Despite the early lead, Vicente Padilla was shaky, giving up four runs in his five innings of work. Ronald Belisario was brought in with a 6-4 lead in the sixth inning, and he induced a ground ball to get out of the inning, but Ronnie Belliard's throw to first base was wild, allowing Cristian Guzman to score. The Nationals added another run to tie it, in a style eerily similar to the Nationals' comeback victory at Dodger Stadium on May 7. That night, the first game of the Manny Ramirez suspension, the Dodgers also had a big first inning lead with a Kemp home run, this time a 6-0 lead thanks to a Bison Slam, only to lose 11-9.
The frustration continued for the Dodgers in the seventh inning. Kemp tripled to deep left to lead off the inning, narrowly missing his second home run of the night. However, he was left stranded at third in a scene reminiscent of last night's bases loaded, nobody out failure in the ninth inning.
However, thanks to the torrid Furcal, the Dodgers took the lead in the eighth. Furcal's home run to right center field was his fourth hit of the night, good for his second four-hit game of the series. In Washington DC, Furcal had 10 hits in 14 at-bats with three doubles and a home run during the series. He got on base to start all three games of the series, and has done so in five of his last six games. The Dodgers are 28-8 when Furcal starts off the game on base this season. Furcal came into the series hitting .257/.325/.361, and leaves for Pittsburgh hitting .268/.334/.379, raising his OPS 28 points in three days.
George Sherrill pitched a scoreless eighth, but not without some trouble. After getting two outs, Sherrill walked Willie Harris, just the sixth left-hander walked by Sherrill all season. Harris stole second, and looked to score on Ian Desmond's single to right. However, Andre Ethier uncorked a great throw home to nail Harris and preserve the lead.
Jonathan Broxton pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 36th save, his 16th straight appearance without allowing a run.
Kemp's three-run home run in the first gave him 100 runs batted in on the season, joining Andre Ethier as the first pair of Dodger teammates to amass 100 RBI since Shawn Green and Gary Sheffield in 2001. If Kemp, who is hitting .306, can keep his batting average above .300 for the season, he will become the first Dodger ever to hit .300 with 25 home runs, 30 steals, and 100 RBI.
The Dodgers move on to Pittsburgh tomorrow for a four-game series. Jon Garland will face Jeff Karstens in the opener. I hope there's a BevMo near the team hotel.
Magic Numbers
To win NL West: 3 (Rockies lost to the Padres 5-4)
To clinch a playoff spot: 1 (over the Braves, who were off tonight. The Giants lost to the Cubs 3-2, so they can no longer pass the Dodgers)
WP - Ramon Troncoso (5-4): 1.1 IP, 2 walks, 1 strikeout
LP - Ron Villone (4-6): 0.2 IP, 1 hit, 1 run
Sv - Jonathan Broxton (36): 3 up, 3 down
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BA ranks the Top 20 Prospects in the AZL
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/league-top-20-prospects/2009/268914.html
3 dodger prospects make the list
1. Mike Trout, of, Angels
2. Fabio Martinez, rhp, Angels
3. Allen Webster, rhp, Dodgers
4. Rymer Liriano, of, Padres
5. Randal Grichuk, of, Angels
6. Julio Morban, of/dh, Mariners
7. Adys Portillo, rhp, Padres
8. Rafael Rodriguez, of, Giants
9. Jonathan Garcia, of, Dodgers
10. Jon Bachanov, rhp, Angels
11. Maverick Lasker, rhp, Brewers
12. Richard Alvarez, rhp, Rangers
13. Edward Concepcion, rhp, Giants
14. Jesus Brito, 3b, Indians
15. Hector Sanchez, c, Giants
16. Tomas Telis, c, Rangers
17. Rolando Gomez, ss, Angels
18. Jonathan Galves, ss/2b, Padres
19. Danny Danielson, rhp, Dodgers
20. Max Walla, of, Brewers
theres also a scouting report on every single player but you have to be a subscriber to see it…
Because of the G-20 summit, the Dodgers have to go through extra security to get to Pittsburgh. From Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times:
But a ban on incoming private charter flights to Pittsburgh was imposed by the Secret Service, and Major League Baseball had to receive a special waiver so the Dodgers could get into town. The waiver was granted under the condition that the Dodgers would have to go through TSA lines at Washington Dulles Airport and have their bags sniffed by bomb-sniffing dogs.
[Traveling Secretary Scott] Akasaki told players that they couldn’t carry alcohol or cologne in their carry-on baggage.
Looks like the Dodgers will have to buy champagne in Pittsburgh :)
There goes Casey Blake's weekend
"Who would win: Coach Ditka versus a hurricane? The name of the hurricane is Hurricane Ditka"
by Mr. LA Sports Fan on Sep 24, 2009 11:23 PM PDT up reply actions
don't know about you guys,
but I want to see the Braves shock the world because…
A) it’d make a cool story
B) the Braves are a lesser team than the Phils/Cards, especially considering how they lack that one-two punch that is so potent in a 5 game series (oh, how I hate the 5 game series, and never more so than now)
C) a desperate, mad run just to GET to the playoffs would probably require some serious arm usage the last few days of the season, weakening them even further
and finally
D) it’d be nice to see the Rockies on the RECEIVING end of a good shock. Plus, how great would it be to watch the Dodgers deliver the knockout punch next weekend?!
LA Times error
Check this out, before they correct it
http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/
“Andre Ethier wins one with his arm
By Dylan Hernandez
He cites tightness in his hamstring. Blake DeWitt takes his place tonight. "
Got that? Andre Ethier saves the game with his arm while hurting his hamstring, and will have Blake DeWitt take over for him. Between the whole back and forth thing all season and now this, that poor guy must be very confused by now!
It was mid-switch. I’m sure the paper will have a corrected piece. Prior to the FYI column being completed, there is usually just a note or two that is published online during the game.
In tonight’s case, that first story was of Blake sitting with the hamstring injury. With the updated column, the Blake news got shifted downward, but they just didn’t fix the subtitle yet.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 24, 2009 11:48 PM PDT up reply actions
yeah, I know
it was just funny the way it looked at the time- I hadn’t seen that before. It was up for at least a couple of minutes, but now it’s gone.
By the way, I’m surprised I haven’t seen any story intros from ESPN about Andre Ethier “redeeming himself” for his Wednesday night error in the 9th! :))
I hope they wait to celebrate until they win the division. That is the first goal. Playing spoiler to the Rockies would be great.
by Skunkburner on Sep 25, 2009 3:17 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
I agree. I think the division will be clinched in Pittsburgh.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 25, 2009 6:31 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Kemp got some recognition on Sportscenter last night
Sportscenter’s coverage of the Dodger highlights for last night’s game consisted of showing all of Matt Kemp’s hits (and Furcal’s HR) and then a graphic of Kemp’s stats. The anchor then stated that if not for Pujols, Kemp could be the NL MVP this year.
.306, 26 HR, 100 RBI, 34 SB, 13 A's
Kemp will have the GG award forsure. But man, those numbers are something
So which magic number do they celbrate?
The 3 results needed to clinch the division via tiebreak or the 4 results to clinch the best record?
I’m hoping for the former because that could happen when I’m at the game Saturday, but I think it might be the latter.
The only way the magic number is not 3 is if all 3 come via Rockies’ losses, and Atlanta doesn’t lose.
Once the Dodgers clinch a better record than Atlanta, the magic number for the division officially becomes 3.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 25, 2009 8:41 AM PDT up reply actions
Oh I get that
But say we win tonight and Rockes lose. If we win tomorrow, is there a celebration or do we need Atlanta to lose too?
I’m just hoping the clincher and actual celebration come tomorrow.
If the Dodgers win tonight, that means Atlanta can’t catch them, so yes in your scenario they celebrate tomorrow night.
The magic number to “eliminate” Atlanta (from the Dodger perspective) is just one.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 25, 2009 8:56 AM PDT up reply actions
A similar situation happened in the strike-shortened 1995 season. With two days left in the season, these three teams were vying for two playoff spots:
Dodgers 76-66
Rockies 75-67
Astros 74-68
The Dodgers had beaten the Rockies in the season series 9-4, so if both made the playoffs but tied, the Dodgers would win the division.
The Dodgers played that Saturday night in San Diego with yours truly in attendance. The Astros, who were already eliminated from the NL Central (had only the wild card to play for) already beat the Cubs that day. Also, the Rockies beat the Giants.
The Dodgers won that night, and celebrated the division on the field, because they guaranteed a finish ahead of the Astros, meaning the only way they could tie the Rockies was if both made the playoffs. Thus, the division belonged to the Dodgers.
The Rockies clinched the WC a day later with a win.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 25, 2009 8:51 AM PDT up reply actions
That is what will probably happen
In 2006, the Dodgers celebrated the post-season clinching win in SF, though technically they still could have won the division. So I think this year, there will be a lot of handshakes but the real celebration will be for the division.
Had the Dodgers won the other night, the Rockies game could have caused two celebrations tonight but for now can only cause one.
Are Dodger fans pulling for the Cardinals or Rockies during this series?
I’m rooting for the Rockies. The division is already over :)
I want best NL record.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 25, 2009 8:56 AM PDT up reply actions
Rockies
It’s only a matter of games until we win the division. Though everyone wants to win it sooner rather than later, I want the best record. I’m rooting for the Rockies.
From Buster Onley:
• Rival talent evaluators have noticed that Chad Billingsley has introduced a slow curveball into his repertoire, as he tries to bounce back from a second-half slump (perhaps to help him maintain his mechanics, one evaluator theorized, and perhaps to create a greater differential between his fastball and his breaking ball). Billingsley had usually thrown his curveball in the range of 75 to 79 miles per hour, but the other night against Washington, his slow curve was 62 to 69 mph. He’s thrown 27 curveballs of less than 70 mph this season — 16 have come in September.
But some rival evaluators are convinced that Billingsley’s delivery, as currently constituted, will always be a problem because of the impact he places on his left knee. Billingsley hyperextended the joint in August, as he finished delivering a pitch — a motion like Billingsley’s has been likened to slamming on the brakes while going 80 mph — and the evaluators think his recent control problems are caused by the mechanical issues. “Total max-effort guy,” one scout said.
http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4502535&name=olney_buster
I'm happy to see Rafael Furcal
becoming April 2008 Raffy. Just in time to stay for the playoffs.
Thank you, Washington and Pittsburg. Thank you.
Carter (Seattle)
Better center fielders this year than Matt Kemp. Quick, name them.
Jerry Crasnick
(12:14 PM)
Carter, I can’t think of anybody. Maybe it’s because there isn’t anybody.
Mac (Philly)
Better CF than Kemp this year? The other guy in LA?
Jerry Crasnick
(12:20 PM)
Mac, I was going to mention Torii Hunter, but he did miss a bunch of time this season. Kemp has been better, but Torii deserves a mention too. He’s brought an awful lot to that team.
I won't ever get used to the fact that there are two "L.A" teams
If we hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate.
What’s funny is when I read, “the other guy in LA” my first thought was, “there’s no way somebody still considers Juan Pierre a CF.”
by Michael White on Sep 25, 2009 10:06 AM PDT up reply actions
Carlos Beltran still plays baseball
Matt Kemp had a better year then Beltran but is he better then Beltran right now? Maybe but I think it is still a discussion.
by meercatjohn on Sep 25, 2009 10:30 AM PDT up reply actions
The worm turns
but because of his great run they will be stuck with him for next year.
by meercatjohn on Sep 25, 2009 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions
Dodgers are first in B-Pro's hit list factor. The Yankees are 2nd.
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=9577#commentMessage
The hit less is complied from the regular win-loss record, and the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Pythag order wins.
furcal has really turned the corner in septiembre...
im glad to hear we won yesterday…once again i live in the 5th dimension….
"That is not how you play the game!!!" -Jack in the Box
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