On the field, the Dodgers fell in extra innings to the Arizona Diamondbacks, 5-3, to shave a half game off their division lead. But that wasn't the story tonight.
The Dodgers added, admittedly somewhat shockingly, Jim Thome and Jon Garland in a pair of trades just before the waiver trading deadline. Garland got to execute the classic "say goodbye to teammates in one dugout, say hello to new teammates in other dugout" move. Garland was scheduled to start Thursday for Arizona at Dodger Stadium.
On the field, the Dodgers carried a 3-2 lead into the 8th on the strength of three solo home runs. The first was by Ronnie Belliard, in his first at-bat as a Dodger. Belliard almost literally seems like yesterday's news now with tonight's trades. The last Dodger to homer in his first plate appearance with the team was Garey Ingram, who took Mike Muñoz deep on August 19, 1994.
Manny Ramirez and Matt Kemp went back-to-back in the sixth inning to give the Dodgers the lead. Matt Kemp has now homered in four of his last five games.
They lost that lead in the eighth inning, when George Sherrill gave up his first run as a Dodger, a home run to Justin Upton. Much like manager Joe Torre's use of Jonathan Broxton in the eighth inning against the Cubs nine days ago, tonight would have been a perfect time to try that move again, given that Arizona's two best hitters -- Justin Upton and Mark Reynolds -- were both due up, and both bat righthanded. But Sherrill was brought in instead and gave up the lead.
The Dodgers lost in the tenth inning, thanks to a home run by Rusty Ryal and a bases loaded walk, all allowed by James McDonald, who took the loss one day after gaining the win.
Vicente Padilla is scheduled to start tomorrow against Yusmeiro Petit. Get those bleacher seats ready.
WP - Esmerling Vazquez (3-2): 1.1 IP, 1 strikeout
LP - James McDonald (4-4): 1 IP, 2 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), 2 walks, 1 strikeout
Sv - Juan Gutierrez (2): a 1-2-3 inning
Box Score