It's Tough Keeping Up With the Joneses
The Dodgers played Wednesday night like they had stock in Turner Broadcasting, because they sure made the Braves look like a growth industry in dropping the third and final game of their Peach State jaunt 9-3. Had he lasted longer, the six hits Brett Tomko (5-3) coughed up wouldn't have seemed so nasty. You might have even described them as "scattered". Unfortunately, they were accompanied by seven runs (five earned) and two walks crammed into only three innings. The third inning, two out, run scoring balk while facing the opposing pitcher didn't help, either. Tomko's ugly line raised his ERA to a disturbingly Brett Tomko-like 4.38. The problem, as it often is with Atlanta, was with those pesky Jones boys (no relation). Chipper and Andrew were a combined 5-7. That's pretty good. Tack on six runs scored, five RBI and two homers and it gets really impressive.
Chipper started the damage in the first, drawing a two out walk before Andrew drove the first pitch he saw deep into the hot Atlanta night. Not to be outdone, Chipper followed with his own longball in the third. Jeff Francoeur added a couple hits and an RBI, and Tim Hudson (5-3) continued his march back to respectability after a horrendous start to the season, holding L.A. to two runs over seven extremely efficient innings. Not that they needed the help, but Atlanta got some anyway from the Dodgers defense, turning errors by Andre Ethier and Olmedo Saenz into runs in the third and fifth. As for Dodger highlights? Two hits from Ethier raised his average to .324, Nomar had a sweet solo shot to left. Then there were the two shutout innings from Tim Hamulack, only his third scoreless outing in his last eleven appearances. Not quite as rare as a Francoeur walk (the Braves RF has drawn a shocking three free passes in over 220 ABs), but still is something Dodger fans haven't seen all that much this year.
So the Blue finished their six game trip at 3-3. Not too bad, and the sting of today's loss is soothed by having taken two of three from Atlanta. They'll open up a four game set against Philadelphia at Chavez Ravine Thursday night.
More on the game tomorrow.
BK
(photo by JOHN BAZEMORE/AP)
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There was a time when the Dodgers got murdered by dirty dirty Braves, so I'll take the two from the three game set. Hey Brett, pick your head up, your the unlucky one to get it. Penny almost let the win slip away, but Manager Grady came to the rescue and salvaged a once hated rivalry. Real Dodger fans can remember Halle Berry's ex-hubby wrecking havoc his rookie year, stealing the shine from our beloved Darryl Strawberry. Strawberry was never the same. And the Dodger dominance over Atlanta left.
So did we really think a sweep was apparrent? Very happy to see us win two of three from the ATL. Lessoned learned. They lose two of three in DC, and are on the verge of a letdown. Nice way to recuperate and salvage this old rivalry.
Posted by: LA McNeal | June 01, 2006 at 08:50 AM
Yes, two of three was nice and a .500 road trip is not bad (though not great). Yesterday's loss was fairly ugly (two consecutive rough outings for Tomko) but Lofton's over the shoulder into the fence catch was nothing short of beautiful!
I am looking foward to tonight. My guess is that Gagne will get an inning regardless of the score (my thinking is that he needs the work) but it would be great if they can get him into a save situation right away.
Go Blue!!
Posted by: SantaMonica4Ever | June 01, 2006 at 09:34 AM
Tomko Bomko!! This guy is one the most famous streak pitchers in the history of the game. Dont worry Dodger fans we knew coming in he would go on some nasty little streaks.
Posted by: petey | June 01, 2006 at 09:57 AM
Is it me or has baseball just gotten more exciting with the news of Eric Gagne! WOW im so happy to have him back!!!!! Its the 9th innning lets watch one inning of baseball!! HAHAHA only time I have ever watched baseball in the last 3 years is when this man was pitching.
Posted by: petey | June 01, 2006 at 09:59 AM
SantaMonia, I heard that Gagne cant even throw 95 plus anymore. What a sad sad thing about injuries. We will see Greg Maddux Eric Gagne. BTW AK/BK, do you think this dude can return to is CY YOUNG status?
Posted by: Petey | June 01, 2006 at 10:01 AM
Petey,
There's no way of knowing until he's pitched a bit. If you had asked Gagne in Feb. if he'd have needed additional surgery and a rehab stint, he'd have said "No, my arm feels fine when I throw. Plus, I didn't need Tommy John like they originally thought, so I'm starting out ahead of the game." I say that because it's basically what he told BK and I when we asked him in Feb. You can read a weather report, but you can't always predict the weather, know what I mean?
My gut says "no," simply because the more procedures athletes have in general, the less likely they are to ever rediscover that perfect form. But my gut's often extremely pessimistic, so that's worth a grain or two of salt.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | June 01, 2006 at 10:23 AM
Gagne may not have the velocity( 99mph ) on his fastball anymore. However from what I hear is that the change up and curve ball are just as nasty. Not only that, his fastball is in the low 90's. The only concern that I have is that he will get hurt again. I just can't wait to hear Guns and Roses and see him come out of those left field gates. I heard Vince Scully once say that in all the years he has been doing his job he has never seen anything quite like that. I happen to agree.
Go Dodgers!!!!
Posted by: Gerardo | June 01, 2006 at 01:11 PM