Dodgers Double Their Pleasure In Arizona
by Eric Stephen on Sep 8, 2009 9:50 PM PDT
in Dodgers Game Recaps
Email
PrintFive double plays? No problem! The Dodgers overcame shooting themselves in the foot repeatedly, rallying for their most satisfying win of the season, a 5-4 win in Arizona to maintain a 3½-game lead in the National League West.
The Dodgers had a runner reach base in every inning, yet failed to score after the first inning. They grounded into five double plays, tying the Dodger record. The previous times a Dodger team hit into five double plays:
- May 27, 1974: a 7-2 loss to the Cardinals; the last out of all five double plays was recorded at first base by none other than current Dodger manager and Bigelow Tea afficianado Joe Torre.
- May 24, 1973: a 7-3 loss to the Mets, but this game lasted 19 innings. Only four of the double plays came in the first nine innings
- August 21, 1956: a 2-1 win by the Brooklyn Dodgers, over the Cardinals
With one out and Russell Martin on first base in the eighth inning, Juan Pierre tried his best to make history, grounding a ball to second. Martin was forced at second, but Pierre beat the throw to first base, narrowly avoiding infamy. Then, a funny thing happened: they rallied.
Down 4-1 with two outs, the Dodgers were relieved of the pressure of hitting into another double play. They proceeded to do the following:
- Rafael Furcal singled, Pierre to third
- Matt Kemp singled, Pierre scored, Furcal to third. 4-2 Diamondbacks
- Andre Ethier singled, Furcal scored, Kemp to third. 4-3 Diamondbacks
- Manny Ramirez walked, Ethier to second
- James Loney singled, Kemp scored, Ethier to third, Manny to second. Tied 4-4
- Ronnie Belliard singled, Ethier scored, Manny to third, Loney to second. 5-4 Dodgers
Just like that, a night of whining and bellyaching turned into a night of joy and perserverence for Dodger fans. Gone were the concerns of Billy Buckner allowing but one run in his seven innings. Gone were the worries over Chad Billingsley allowing Buckner to get a pair of run-scoring hits. All that was left was a glorious Dodger win, closed out by Hong-Chih Kuo and Jonathan Broxton, and another day marked off the calendar.
The first two Arizona runs came on sacrifice flies in the first inning, and Billingsley now leads the major leagues with 11 sacrifice flies allowed.
The Dodgers have now scored five or more runs in two straight games for the first time since August 6-7 against the Braves.
Ex-Diamondback Jon Garland faces his old teammates, again, tomorrow, facing off with Dan Haren.
WP - James McDonald (5-4): 1 IP, 3 strikeouts
LP - Daniel Schlereth (0-3): 1 batter, 1 hit, 1 run
Sv - Jonathan Broxton (34): 1 IP, 1 strikeout
71 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
that was the most commented single game thread of all time
nice… over 1000
Ah, just another one of the unsung benefits of converting from US GAAP to IFSB! Don’t worry, I won’t tell the SEC about this SBNation discrepancy…
2009-10 LA Kings Hockey: Where Smyt Happens!!
by DodgerBlueBalls on Sep 8, 2009 10:00 PM PDT up reply actions
Good Article
Its reassuring to know that we are 2-2 in hitting into 5 double play games.
May be a fluke or may be evidence of the history of Dodger pitching.
Speaking of Dodger pitching
We’re up to 28 straight games of not allowing more than 4 runs in regulation.
They have allowed five runs twice, but both times the 5th run came in the 10th.
anyone see the way russ carried himself to the plate
he was acting like hes 7 feet tall and all muscle…guys focus
padre threadjack
aaron rowand must lead the majors in “guy who looks like an asshole who would drive a lifted 4×4 and wear tight pants”. he is also strangely lazy for a “scrappy gamer.” giants are playing 3 guys who are easily morbidly obese on the bmi scale. proceed
by lchristmas on Sep 8, 2009 10:03 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
That Rowand comment cracked me up. Very nice.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 8, 2009 10:04 PM PDT up reply actions
:) fricking padres just ran out of position players because kouzmanoff got hurt. in the 9th inning. in september. hundley in the of for the first time in his career as larry the cable guy looks for the save
by lchristmas on Sep 8, 2009 10:11 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
“I absolutely hate that term because I think it’s overused and it floats. There is no such thing as a floating ace. If a guy is like a Roy Halladay, Johan Santana, those guys are aces. There is no such thing as an ace in April, an ace in May and a different ace in June. That doesn’t exist.”
—LHP Randy Wolf, when asked if he felt comfortable being considered the Dodgers’ staff ace.
Arizona Cardinals WR Anquan Boldin attended the game, wearing a Dodgers hat. He and Los Angeles 2B Orlando Hudson, a former D-back, are friends.
Wow
GET OFF THE AL EAST’S NUTS ESPN…Jesus… First baseball highlight of the night, wasn’t even about the AL wildcard till the Rangers came on after…
I never get tired of hearing complaints about ESPN!
To be fair, they go on incessantly about Manny Ramirez. On Sunday, the Padres board had the headline, “Padres beat Manny Ramirez 4 to 3.” Someone needs to tell them he doesn’t play for the Red Sox anymore!
Per MLB Network
Dodgers offense, 7th inning or later (with NL ranks):
Batting average: .285 (1st)
Runs: 230 (1st)
Walks: 199 (1st)
all the more reason...
…why it’s so frustrating to see fans whining about the game being over in the 6th inning! (Though the commentary on hoping for the double play record was quite funny.) Haven’t people learned how the 2009 Dodgers do things yet?
What a huge win, I’m still in disbelief the Dodgers got that many two out hits, they looked completely dead for 6 straight innings. A horrible night turned into a great one especially with the Giants going down :)
LA Fan (Westwood, CA): Where does Matt Kemp fall in the NL MVP vote? 3rd? 5th? 10th? Isn’t he the best player on the team tied for the best record?
Marc Normandin: If we keep pitchers out of the equation, then 5th or 6th. I don’t consider team record.
That would be sweet. I think Ethier will end up finishing as the highest Dodger in MVP balloting, when its all said and done, but I would vote Kemp (among Dodgers).
by Eric Stephen on Sep 8, 2009 10:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Yanks have 13…we either have 11 or 12…I think 11
by Eric Stephen on Sep 8, 2009 10:30 PM PDT up reply actions
Andre's single up the middle
against the LHP on the road was the sweetest hit of the inning because it was the most unexpected. Great game, I popped by the game thread was dismayed, moved on and just enjoyed the comeback. I’m still amazed at the number of fans who think a team needs to be good for nine innings to be a good team.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I understand
when I was 12 I was a negative cuss when things didn’t go perfectly. I’m sure fans hated being around me at Dodger Stadium. My negativity would embarrass my Dad, after each game he’d say that was the last one. It never was.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Go Angels
I think they stole Kazmir. Didn’t understand the carping about his ERA, only cared about how he had been pitching before the trade. Also don’t understand how a team like the Rays could trade him in the middle of the wild card hunt and use Sonnanstine instead. He killed them and they deserved to be out of the race after cheaping out their fans.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
It was a tough one for sure. The trade might end up working out for the Rays, but it was a cold, calculating move that won’t do anything to bring in or keep fans.
Then again, maybe since they aren’t drawing fans anyway after the WS, they said fuck it, we’re cashing in Kazmir now (a guy who has declined, according to scouts) and betting long term it will work out.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 8, 2009 10:37 PM PDT up reply actions
Go Angels? If you are a true Dodgers fan there is no way you should cheer for the Angels. The only Angels I like are former Dodgers that have past and are in heaven
by Dodgermanramon on Sep 9, 2009 1:03 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
No Top Performances from the Affiliates tomorrow, Phil?
I’m giddy for the Great Lakes game tomorrow. :)
No update tomorrow
I just hope we get through the playoffs with all the ligaments in place. More ligaments are blown in minor league playoffs then in any other environment………….
Just kidding.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
How about this stat????
The Dodgers have now scored 5 runs or more in two straight games for the first time since Aug 6-7 vs. Braves
*cringe
I'm nobody's fool, least of all yours
by BoulderDodger on Sep 8, 2009 10:46 PM PDT up reply actions
they were just talking about that on Dodger Talk on Sunday...
…obviously, they jinxed it! Nice job, boys. :)
Even more horrifying is how long it’s been since the Dodgers WON two 5 run games in a row. You’d have to go back to Bobbleslam for that…
I wish the concerns were gone
but it is getting late in the season for that kind of a show from Bills (and the bats from outs 3 through 23). at least JB looked like his early-season self.
Two two RBI hits to Buckner were concerning, but other than that I thought Bills was fine. He could have missed some more bats, as a few of those early hits were pop flies with eyes, but overall Bills was alright.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 8, 2009 11:14 PM PDT up reply actions
Its hard to distinguish Broxton’s late season self from his early season self :)
by Eric Stephen on Sep 8, 2009 11:15 PM PDT up reply actions
Yes, and this is a good thing
This is the end of the 40-day period I guessed his toe needed back then. He looked great tonight. No prima donna mound crap or 102 mph theatrics, just great location.
by stillnotah8er on Sep 8, 2009 11:38 PM PDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on True Blue LA
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- The Juice: Nelson Cruz matches career high eight RBIs, Pujols stays hot in Seattle
- Benches clear at Fenway as Red Sox-Rays rivalry heats up
- Keeping good company: Albert Pujols becomes fourth-youngest player to hit 450 home runs
- Giancarlo Stanton misses cutoff man, and Logan Morrison is thankful he did (Video)
- Snoop Dogg delivers memorable first pitch at U.S. Cellular Field
