Dodgers 3 Games Back With Five To Play

Dodgers Lineup vs. Colorado

Punto 4 Ethier 9 Kemp 8 Gonzalez 3 Ramirez 6 Victorino 7 Cruz 5 Ellis 2 Blanton 1

Tyler Chatwood-5-5 vs. Joe Blanton-9-13

 

Last night, the Dodgers celebrated another blowout victory. Clayton Kershaw pitched eight scoreless frames, and the Dodgers banged out eight runs on 12 hits, while celebrating Tommy Lasorda’s belated birthday. That’s the third win in a row for the Dodgers, and it coincides with GM Ned Colletti’s little tantrum he threw while the team was in San Diego on Tuesday night. Apparently after the Dodger’s 2-1 loss on Tuesday night at Petco Park, Colletti could be heard screaming and throwing a tantrum in the Dodger clubhouse. The team hasn’t lost since then, and have scored, 24 runs, during those three games. Big bad Adrian Gonzalez, is a big reason why. Gonzo has gotten hot, after finally finding an adjustment for his hands during batting practice last Sunday night. Gonzalez hit two solo home runs during that game off of Homer Bailey, leading the Dodgers to a win. Since then, Gonzalez has a ten game hitting streak. During the streak, he is batting .366 (15 for 41), with two home runs.

Bobby Abreu celebrates with Luis Cruz after his two-run lodge homer last nightJayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE

Speaking of Homer Bailey, he randomly pitched a no-hitter last night against the Pirates. The Reds have won 95 games, clinched the NL Central, and now have their first no-hitter since 1988. The last Red pitcher to pitch a no-hitter was Tom Browning, who did it against the Dodgers back in September of 1988. Pretty random eh?

Last night the Cardinals beat Washington, and the Dodgers win, kept them alive for another day. The Dodgers elimination number is now three. Any combination of three Cardinal wins, or three Dodger losses, and it’s goodnight Irene for the Boys in Blue. The Dodgers are three games back of the Cardinals for the second NL Wild Card with five to play. It seems it would take a small miracle for the Dodgers to make it in, but stranger things have happened right?

For the Dodgers, they must win out their remaining games, and they’ll take on the Colorado Rockies in the second game of this three game weekend series, during this the last homestand.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE

Colorado will give the ball to second year pitcher Tyler Chatwood. The 22 year old right hander from Redlands, California, is 5-5 on the season with a 5.49 ERA. He’s started 11 of 18 games, while whiffing 37, and walking 31 in 60.2 innings of work. Chatwood won his last start against Arizona, where he allowed two runs, three hits, through 5.2 innings. That was his first win since August 28. Against the Dodgers he is 2-1 with a 3.71 ERA. The Dodgers collectively are hitting .273 (12 for 44) with no home runs, eight RBI, and a .704 OPS. Andre Ethier is hitting .571 (4 for 7) with two doubles. Matt Kemp is 1 for 4 with an RBI. Adrian Gonzalez is 1 for 3. That’s it really. Nobody else on the Dodgers has more than a few at-bats against the young right hander.

Brad Penner-US PRESSWIRE

The Dodgers will counter with righty Joe Blanton. This should be Blanton’s final start of the season for the Blue. While he has been terrible, he has pitched better his last few outings. In his last start in Cincinnati he allowed one run over 5.2 innings, of a no-decision. Blanton is 2-0 against Colorado with an ERA of 5.11. The Rockies have put up some scary numbers against Blanton. They’re hitting .329 (28 for 85) with five home runs, 14 RBI, and an .887 OPS. Carlos Gonzalez (Cargo) is hitting .538 (7 for 13) with two home runs against Blanton, but he is injured. Chris Nelson, Dexter Fowler, and Wilin Rosario have all hit home runs against Blanton. Remember, Todd Helton, Mullet Man, and Cargo are all out with injuries. So this is not the same Colorado team we are accustomed to seeing. Blanton in nine starts with the Dodgers has allowed 32 runs, off 59 hits, in 51 innings. He is 1-4 with the Dodgers, with an ERA of 5.57. He is 9-13 overall against the league.

The Dodgers are 82-75, three games behind the Cardinals. The Redbirds are at home against Washington. In that game, Jordan Zimmerman, will be countering Kyle Lohse in a 4:15PM game. We’ll keep you updated on what’s going on in the Washington/St.Louis game.

Tonight’s final Saturday night game of the season has first pitch at 6:10PM, and televised on Prime Ticket. Can the Dodgers keep the good times rolling? Do you believe in miracles Dodger fans? Don’t forget to join us after the game for our Dodger postgame recap. Go Blue.