Baseballgirl had to love last night's game: a complete Angel meltdown and Ethier threatening to join Ty Cobb and Edagardo Alfonzo as the only players to go 6-6 in a game. Oddly, Alfonzo was playing at the time. In the end, Ethier had to settle for a sac fly and a 5-5 performance. The Angel performance was so pathetic that you could take away the 9-run sixth inning and it still would have been a laugher worthy of appearances by Hamulack and Carter in the eighth and ninth innings.
Carter's performance last night was hard to watch, even after being helped out by overly aggressive base running by Angels catcher Mike Napoli. It's hard to imagine him pitching in any meaningful situation. However, if we are to believe our eyes, help is on the way. Yes, that was Eric Gagne pitching batting practice before the game, and by all accounts looking good doing it. Gagne's not due back for a couple weeks, but we should get a glimpse of him at Vegas during rehab. And of course, he takes Carter's roster spot.
But back to the Dodgers' performance last night. Wow. I can't believe that this team, at this stage, broke the L.A. Dodger single game record for hits (25 last night vs. the old record of 24; the Brooklyn Dodgers hit 28). That's quite a way to usher in the new "two games above .500" era. Hopefully, they keep winning, because I'll look pretty stupid calling it an "era" if it only lasts 18 hours. If they play like they have over their last 10, even excluding last night, they should be able to handle they struggling Angels.
Speaking of which, I wonder what that game did for the mood in the Angel clubhouse? Not to worry, as Bill Plschke points out, SuperDarin will fix it all by telling everyone to shut up. Good thing Milton Bradley isn't on that team, or they'd be in last place. Oh, wait. They are in last place. Bradley's team is alone in first. Never mind.
Go Blue.
The Pitching Matchup:
Kevin Gregg (RHP, Angels) vs. Brett Tomko (RHP, Dodgers)
For the (17-25) Anaheim Angels:
Figgins, CF
Kennedy, 2B
Guerrero, RF
Rivera, LF
McPherson, 3B
Quinlan, 1B
Erick Aybar, SS
Molina, C
Gregg, P
For your (22-20) Los Angeles Dodgers:
Furcal, SS
Lofton, CF
Garciaparra, 1B
Kent, 2B
Willy Aybar, 3B
Ethier, LF
Cruz, RF
Martin, C
Tomko, P