The Dodger bullpen rescued a suddenly wild Carlos Monasterios, and the offense came through again, leading the Dodgers to a 7-1 win to complete a sweep of the Brewers in Milwaukee.
Monasterios through four innings allowed two hits and a run, and retired Jonathan Lucroy on one pitch to start the fifth. Then the wheels fell off. Monasterios then walked the pitcher, Yovanni Gallardo, and hit the next two batters to load the bases.
Ronald Belisario entered and struck out Ryan Braun, and George Sherrill followed by inducing a groundout by Prince Fielder to end the inning and preserve a 2-1 lead. Looking at the trusty run expectancy matrix at Baseball Prospectus, here's a look at the two situations:
- Belisario (bases loaded, one out): 1.50878 expected runs that inning
- Sherrill (bases loaded, two outs): 0.80115 expected runs that inning
Belisario was awarded the win by the official scorer since he was deemed to have pitched most effectively after the starter couldn't complete five innings with a lead, per rule 10.17(c):
The official scorer shall not credit as the winning pitcher a relief pitcher who is ineffective in a brief appearance, when at least one succeeding relief pitcher pitches effectively in helping his team maintain its lead. In such a case, the official scorer shall credit as the winning pitcher the succeeding relief pitcher who was most effective, in the judgment of the official scorer.
The last Dodger pitcher to get the win without finishing the fifth inning or later was Steve Wilson, on May 26, 1993. Wilson pitched the third and fourth innings after Orel Hershiser went two innings.
Kenley Jansen followed with two scoreless innings of his own, including four strikeouts, but had a more memorable day at the plate. In his first major league plate appearance, the former minor league catcher walked, then scored his first major league run, from second base on a single by Ryan Theriot.
In 9 1/3 innings during the series, the Dodger bullpen allowed just two hits and one walk, and struck out 11 Brewers.
It wasn't all bad for Monasterios, who did end up only allowing one run, although he was the first Dodger to hit three batters in a game since Jeff Weaver on August 21, 2004. Since returning from the disabled list, Monasterios has seven walks and 22 strikeouts in 30 innings pitched.
Scott Podsednik and Brad Ausmus each had three hits for the Dodgers, and Casey Blake hit an opposite field home run.
The Dodgers start a series in Colorado tomorrow night, where Clayton Kershaw will defeat Ubaldo Jimenez for the second time this season in the opener.
WP - Ronald Belisario (2-1): 1 batter, 1 big strikeout
LP - Yovanni Gallardo (11-6): 6 1/3 IP, 8 hits, 6 runs, 2 walks, 10 strikeouts