In a game that featured eight runs, in their eighth game against the Rockies this season, the number eight figured prominently in the Dodgers' 7-1 victory at Coors Field Tuesday night.
Eric Milton, the eighth pitcher to start a game for the Dodgers, pitched five solid innings, allowing only seven hits and one run -- a solo homer by Clint Barmes in the fifth innings. Milton is also the eighth starter to get a win for the Dodgers this season. Milton's last major league win was the 8th of August, 2006, when he got his eighth win of the season for the Reds.
Casey Blake, who has hit eighth for most of the year for the Dodgers -- 30 starts in all -- continued his torrid hitting. Batting cleanup today, he had two doubles in five at-bats, including a three-run double in the fifth that widened the Dodgers' lead to 4-0. Blake is hitting .372/.427/.667 in May, with 17 runs and 17 RBI in 22 games.
Even the eighth place hitter tonight, Brad Ausmus, had a good night, with two hits and two runs in five at-bats.
Juan Pierre, battling Blake for Dodger player of the month honors, continued his great run with three hits, including a triple, two runs, and two RBI. Pierre, since taking over left field duties for the suspended Manny Ramirez, is hitting an amazing .410/.489/.590 with 18 runs and 15 RBI in 18 games. During that stretch, Pierre has eight doubles.
Orlando Hudson had two more hits to extend his hitting streak to 16 games, or simply a pair of eight-game hitting streaks back to back.
Thanks to the Padres' loss in Arizona, the Dodgers' division lead is now eight...and a half games.
Going for their eighth win in nine games against Colorado, the Dodgers will send Clayton Kershaw (going for his eighth career win) to the mound to face off with Ubaldo Jimenez in a getaway day Wednesday at 12:10, before the Dodgers travel to Chicago for a four-game series at Wrigley Field.
UPDATE: Jason Schmidt, who was hit in the head on Saturday night in Albuquerque, had his rehabilitation assignment halted by the club. But it was not related to the line drive, says Ken Gurnick, but rather due to right shoulder irritation. The sad story continues...
WP - Eric Milton (1-0): 5 IP, 7 hits, 1 run, 3 strikeouts
LP - Aaron Cook (3-2): 6 IP, 8 hits, 5 runs (4 earned), 3 walks, 2 strikeouts