The Dodgers dropped their fifth straight game tonight, 5-2 to the Giants. James McDonald was okay in his five innings, but allowed four runs for the loss. The Dodger offense consisted of three hits apiece by Rafael Furcal, Matt Kemp, and Russell Martin, and not much else. One of Furcal's hits was a home run.
The game had two runs that made heads shake, one for each side. To end the sixth inning, Matt Kemp grounded to Pablo Sandoval at third base, but rather than throw to first base Sandoval decided to tag James Loney, who was running to third base. The umpires ruled that Jamey Carroll, running from third, crossed home plate before Loney was tagged, although replays showed that wasn't the case.
The Giants got their bizzaro run in the eighth inning, as Freddy Sanchez hit a fly ball to Andre Ethier with one out and the bases loaded. For some reason, Andres Torres was running from first base, and he was doubled up to end the inning. However, the run from third base counted, per MLB Rule 2.00:
A FORCE PLAY is a play in which a runner legally loses his right to occupy a base by reason of the batter becoming a runner.
Example: Not a force out. One out. Runner on first and third. Batter flies out. Two out. Runner on third tags up and scores. Runner on first tries to retouch before throw from fielder reaches first baseman, but does not get back in time and is out. Three outs. If, in umpire’s judgment, the runner from third touched home before the ball was held at first base, the run counts.
So, while the Dodgers may not have won the game, at least we all got to brush up on our major league rulebook. So there's that.
Manny Ramirez will have his second MRI on his right calf tomorrow, writes Tony Jackson of ESPN LA.
Tomorrow night the Dodgers will bring their five-game losing streak into a game against Tim Lincecum, but thankfully they have Clayton Kershaw throwing for the good guys.
WP - Madison Bumgarner (3-2): 5 2/3 IP, 6 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), 2 walks, 3 strikeouts
LP - James McDonald (0-1): 5 IP, 9 hits, 4 runs, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts
Sv - Brian Wilson (26): 1 IP, 2 hits, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts