Extra! Extra! (5.27)
Technically, you actually can win them all. You're just not going to. Because even when a team is going good, they'll occasionally lay a collective egg. Such was the case Friday night for the Dodgers in their 10-4 loss to Washington at RFK. The good news for L.A.- who in building a seven game win streak had played ludicrously good team ball- is that last night they continued to stick together, getting little offense and less pitching. Brett Tomko struggled with his location all night, throwing 101 pitches in only 4.1 innings. The bullpen, outside of Odalis Perez (yeah, you read that right), wasn't much better. Lance Carter and Tim Hamulack's continued struggles ensured the Dodgers wouldn't be able to climb back into the game. Was it because good luck charm Russell Martin was given a day off? (If he's that charmed, Blue Notes plans on boosting the ol' income by taking him to Hollywood Park as our special Celebrity Horse Picker.) On the other end, Nats starter Livan Hernandez was disposing of Dodgers hitters with uncanny efficiency through the first six innings before a hiccup in the seventh led to three L.A. runs. By then, the damage was done. A check of the box score shows the middle of the Dodger lineup- Garciaparra, Drew, Kent- finally had a slow day, going a collective 1-12 with no RBI.
The news was much better over in Vegas, where Eric Gagne began his minor league rehab assignment with a spotless ninth for the 51's. He threw 17 pitches, 11 for strikes, and said he felt great (as we're sure you do reading this). Gagne is scheduled to pitch on Monday, and will hopefully be able to rejoin the Dodgers when they return home on June 1. Cesar Izturis went 0-4 in his first game at extended spring training.
Friday wasn't all about baseball for the Dodgers, who visited the injured and rehabilitating troops of Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington. Needless to say, the trip provided some serious perspective for the Blue. The visit was inspired by an email sent in response to the 30 year anniversary of Rick Monday's famous flag rescue.
Pat Borders, who was brought to spring training as essentially a player/coach to help tutor the young Dodger backstops, has retired.
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TODAY'S GAME- 10:20 A.M. Fox
The suddenly hot Nationals will look for their fifth win in a row, sending Shawn Hill (0-0, 0.00) to the mound for his first appearance in the bigs since 2004. Derek Lowe (2-3, 3.08), who threw seven shutout innings last week against the Angels, will pitch for L.A.
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Now that was one heck of a play.
The Nats had Lofton picked off at 2nd base. Lofton slides back into 2nd base, pulls back his right hand from reaching to the base (He would have been tagged out with that hand), and touches the base with his left hand. Now that was experience.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | May 27, 2006 at 12:26 PM