Game one was a game of inches. Couple of inches to the right, and Man Ram has a 2-run homer in the first. Couple inches to the right, and James Loney pulls in Young Furc’s wide throw. Couple inches to the left, and Blake DeWitt ties the game in the top of the seventh.
But we were a couple inches short, and it’s time to forget that and move on. Or is it? I think that this young, excitable team needs to learn from some of their mistakes last night (namely, four K’s in the final two innings) and just calm down a little bit. The most successful Dodger team is the relaxed Dodger team.
Today’s game is on Young Furc, and him on base is a perfect way to relax this ball club. And him on base puts Brett Myers in the stretch and slows the game down. As for the defense, Chad Billingsley couldn’t be better fit to take over this game against the strike out happy Phillies.
As always, feel free to send us your comments during and after the game.
We’ve got our pizza from LW Pizza on Clark Ave, and now, IT’S TIME FOR DODGER BASEBALL!!!
Top 1st
Myers looks a little wild, but Furc, Husstle, and Man Ram can’t take advantage of it. That’s how Myers will be effective, by walking that fine line between wild and keeping hitters off balance. If this was a regular season game, I would’ve loved to see Manny point his bat at Myers after that fast ball went wide of the batters box. I can read lips, and Don Mattingly wasn’t praying.
Bot 1st
Chad “Barney Rubble’s stunt double” Billingsley gets two K’s but walks Chase “Lil ‘Rabbit” Utley. Mike just joked that Long Beach baseball (Longoria, Utley) know how to beat our team’s (Zoomy’s a White Sox fan.) I’m starting to get nervous again…
Top 2nd
Koufax in the building! And I STILL hate Citizens Bank Park. Battling back from 0-2 counts, Loney puts one INCHES away from a 2-run homer after Ethier singles. Kemp strikes out with men on second and third. It’s up to DeWitt… and the rookie does his job! Blake rolls one to the right side to get Ethier in from third. 1-0 Dodgers
Bot 2nd
Billingsley brought his bag of tricks with him to Philly. A fast ball and nasty slider on the outside corner to Burrell and Werth are great signs for Chad. What’s not a good sign? Two balls over the heart of the plate with two outs to Ruiz and Dobbs… and Myers singles!?!?!?! 2-1 Phillies.
Now we’re in trouble, after Rollins nubber up the middle somehow turns into a double. Note that besides the Ruiz double, no one’s hit the ball hard….. as I write that, the Flyin’ Hawaiian sends one into the gap, scoring two. I’m such a jinx. 4-1 Philly
Top 3rd
Talk about the long way home. Billingsley struck out the side last inning, but Philly batted around the order and scored 4… And that’s not going to get it done, Furc! First pitch swinging!?!?! Not only do we need to make Myers make good pitches, but let’s give Chad a second to breathe.
Husstle and Ethier heed my word, and draw walks. Loney puts good wood on a change up, and Husstle hustles home… Kemp’s hard hit ball loads the bases, but Myers gets DeWitt on some nasty breaking balls. 4-2 Philly
Bot 3rd
Werth, the former Dodger, smokes an 0-2 pitch into the left field corner after Burrell’s single, and Dobbs gets the intentional walk to load ’em up.
Is Brett Myers’ bat really killing us right now?!?! Really?!?! His sheepish shrug to the Phillies dugout sends Billingsley to his own dugout. 6-2 Philly. Chan Ho comes in, and the Flyin’ Hawaiian strikes again. His triple scores two more. Another huge two-out hit. OUCH! 8-2 Phils
Top 4th
This is the inning I’ve been waiting for. Granted, I wish the score was closer, but this Dodger team needs to learn how to fight. They need adversity in the playoffs to learn how to deal with it.
We get a brake when Furc gets to first and Husstle follows with a single. AND MAN RAM MAKES ‘EM PAY!!!!! How did that get out? I think I might be warming to Citizens “Cracker Box” Park. 8-5 Philly
Bot 4th
Another Poly grad, James McDonald, pitches well even though Myers gets another “blind” hit. But seriously, I’d rather Myers poking the ball around than Howard swinging big. Still 8-5 Philly
Top 5th
If you were wondering how Torre feels about his bullpen, your answer is McDonald stepping to the plate with Kemp on first and one out. I have a sinking sensation we just lost an opportunity to jump of a tired Myers. His night is done now. 8-5 Philly
Bot 5th
McDonald’s fastball is keeping Philly on its heels, and his 2 and 1/3 have been a pleasant surprise. Torre told Buck, “If we’re gonna get back in this, we’re gonna need to use pinch hitters late.” McDonald’s kept us in it, now it’s up to the bench to make Torre’s plan come to fruition. 8-5 Philly
Top 6th
J-Roll makes a heck of a play, and the speedy Young Furc beats the throw for his first hit of the series. Man Ram comes up, but Werth catches his third out of the inning. 8-5
Bot 6th
What a job by McDonald! Couldn’t have said it better, Buck. The kid looked like a seasoned vet out there, mixing speeds and staying ahead. Let’s make his performance worth it boys! 8-5
Top 7th
Nomar pinch hits with Kemp on first, and low and behold, he swings at the first pitch. Single! Bosco in the house!
Blake sends a shot to center, and I hate this ball park again. Mike says, “the Dodgers are two extra weight room sessions from four more runs.” Yup. INCHES!!! Still 8-5
Bot 7th
Clayton Kershaw comes in and goes 1-2-3. These young pitchers are showing a lot more poise than some of the young hitters. Late in the game, that needs to change. It seems, after two games in Philly, that the later in the game, the more uncomfortable Dodger hitters look. 8-5
Top 8th
Ryan Madson makes Kent, Furc, and Husstle look silly. What did I just say about uncomfortable Dodger hitters? Furc and Kent (1-for-8) are the biggest disappointments at the plate tonight. 8-5
Bot 8th
The kids out of the pen, McDonald (24 years old) Kershaw (20) and Cory Wade (24) allow only two hits, two walks, and don’t give up a run in 5.1 innings.
Top 9th
There’s some composure at the plate! Manny and Loney draw walks off Lidge, bringing Kemp (the tying run) to the plate. Kemp K’s, and it’s up to Nomar…. and that’s it. Final: Philly 8, L.A. 5
I’ve got a lot to say, but I’ll leave it for Sunday. I will say this: The Dodgers are still winless in Philly this season; but Philly is also winless in L.A. this season….
Come back on Sunday for a DUEL LIVE BLOG, as the Dodgers try to get back into this series and the Chargers try to get right against the Patriots.