Saturday, August 29, 2009

Boom Goes The Dynamite!


A six run explosion in the seventh inning highlighted an all around explosive performance (FINALLY!) by the Dodger offense. Averaging just a shade over three runs per game in their past eight contests, the Dodgers jumped out early and won going away.
With one swing, Manny Ramirez ended his drought and started a rout.

On this day, most of the Dodgers were good. Rafael Furcal hit a tiebreaking solo shot in the fifth and Orlando Hudson also homered as Los Angeles pulled away. Juan Pierre added three hits, helping the Dodgers pile up 13 overall.
Perhaps the moment that turned it all around for the Dodgers however was Jeff Weaver escaping from a bases loaded, no out, jam in the fifth inning with the Reds trailing by only a run.
"It really hurt to leave the bases loaded with nobody out, especially after we'd just scored four runs," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "Then Hudson made that great play on Rolen. If that gets through and we take the lead, who knows what might have happened? That's what happens when you play great defense. It can save teams."
You know what else saves teams? A good bullpen. The Dodger relievers are the best in the majors, and are currently riding a streak of 14.2 consecutive scoreless innings. Boom indeed.

Photo courtesy of Al Behrman

5 comments:

Greg Zakwin said...

I'm gonna laugh when everybody praises Weaver for getting out of those 2 innings (with Tron's help) but conveniently fails to mention he got himself into those messes. Of course I'm happy he got out of it though. But 8 baserunners in 3.1 IP is scary lucky to get out unscathed.

And Karros and Brennaman were really horrendous today.

Brandon said...

Weaver certainly wasn't lights out. That's why I used the word "escape" to describe the outing. He had to get lucky several times.

Greg Zakwin said...

Not you Brandon, I mean people like Plaschke and Helene Elliot and Harold Reynolds. Not intelligent folk like yourself.

Brandon said...

I know you aren't going after me. I was just solidifying your point by agreeing with your keen observation.

Greg Zakwin said...

Thank you Brandon. You are a kind sir indeed.

And Kershaw's looking dynamite.