Lothier, of the Hill and Right Field People

The Good

• Derek Lowe: When he beat Arizona on the 31st, despite the good results (six shutout innings) Lowe thought his sinker didn't work particularly well, and he was forced to rely on breaking balls.  Tonight, the results- eight innings, two hits, zero runs- were even better, but the process was different.  "We were able to throw a lot of sinkers.  I think there were certain counts where I think they were looking breaking ball just because of the last game," Lowe said.  "It was a very rewarding game.  A lot of people kept saying, "How are (they) going to beat Haren and Webb?"  Outstanding pitchers absolutely, but we feel like we're pretty good over here, too."  It's also no coincidence to see Lowe, who has suffered through some shoddy run support as a Dodger, succeed when gifted a few runs.  "They've been giving us a lead early.  Hitters will tell you they'll always go up with the same mentality, the same focus, but I think it's hard to do that when you know you're behind," he said.  "I've been very fortunate in the last two games against very good pitchers to get early leads."

Lowe has been rock solid for the Dodgers of late.  Toss out his 13 hit, eight run meltdown in St. Louis early last month and in his eight other starts dating back to July 26th in Washington, Lowe has allowed a total of nine earned runs.  "These are the times during the season where you have to keep motivating yourself, you have to say to yourself that I have to go run, I have to (do my work).  That way you can maintain the same level throughout the year.  That's what I've always taken pride in. Keep a routine through the good, the bad, and the different, and good Lord willing- Major League!- things work out."  Lowe says pitching in big games as a Red Sox helps him now.  He's not going to find himself in games with more pressure than what he saw there, no matter where the Dodgers go this year. Granted, he might be confusing Major League with Bull Durham, but what's not to like?

• Andre Ethier: Not to criticize, but this is the second time this week Ethier has had a cycle in reach, but failed to come through.  I mean, c'mon, Ethier!  Show some grace under pressure!  I kid, of course.  It's easy to jest when the player in question rings up a five hit, five RBI night, earning him a standing ovation after an eighth inning single "ruined" his final chance at rare statistical glory.  "It's nice, it's great," Ethier said. "It's great to see the fans stay involved.  At that point in the game, it was kind of out of hand, but they stayed in tune and involved, and I welcome it and appreciate it." 

Fair to say, at least from the standpoint of Dodger fans, the feeling is mutual.  Ethier homered tonight for the third time in his last five games, and the ninth in his last 20.  He has 21 extra base hits in his last 24 games, is 13 for his last 20, is working on a nine game hitting streak, and is this close to finalizing a technique creating alternative, clean burning fuels using only worn and weathered batting practice baseballs.  It's been a big month.  "To me, he's a complete player.  We had some issues early in the year where he got so frustrated because he was hitting, and it affected other parts of his game.  He's grown.  He's grown a great deal," said Joe Torre. 

Ethier nearly pulled off the cycle, driving a ball into the gap in right center, but he hesitated coming around second, worried that Russell Martin (on the go from first when the ball was hit) might not score if Ethier was thrown out at third-- which he probably would have been.  Torre had a lot of praise for that sort of headiness after the game.  Ethier ended up getting hung out to dry between second and third, then thrown out at second, but by then Martin had scored.  No harm, no foul.  And you certainly can't fault him for thinking triple in that situation, given the big lead LA had built up. 

• Russell Martin: Ethier had five RBIs, three of which were Martin.  Settling into the leadoff spot, Martin had a big two-out double in the second, and walked twice in five trips to the plate.  Toss in a stolen base, his 15th of the year, and it was a very solid night for LA's backstop. 
• Defense: A thorn in LA's side during the Road Trip From Hell, the Blue have tightened up with the leather this week, and it shows.  The infield was solid behind Lowe, who was generating ground ball after ground ball, and when the outfield needed to cover ground, they did.  The Dodgers may not have incredible range at every position, but when they don't give away extra outs, they can be very effective.  Kudos to Blake DeWitt and Angel Berroa for providing an upgrade up the middle.   

The Bad

• Eh.  I got nothin'.

The Audio

• Torre: Download joe_torre_9.5.mp3
• Lowe: Download derek_lowe_9.5.mp3
• Lowe II, talking about pitching in a FA year, and the future: Download derek_lowe_9.5 II.mp3
• Ethier: Download andre_ethier_9.5.mp3

See everyone tomorrow, 12:55, for the Live Blog.  No morning news post tomorrow with the early start, but we'll have a pregame report.   

BK