The Los Angeles Dodgers hit three home runs on Wednesday night but they still lost to the Washington Nationals. The Nationals were able to hold off the Dodgers for the 5-4 victory. Tough loss for the Dodgers because the Diamondacks also lost and they could have picked up a full game in the standings.

Greg Maddux got the start for the Dodger but he only lasted 5 1/3 innings and allowed eight hits and four runs. Maddux needed to throw the ball a little better then he did for the Dodgers to get the victory. Chan Ho Park sucked it up once again as he gave up another run in relief.

It was really too bad that the Dodgers hit three home runs but only scored three runs on them as they were all solo shots. James Loney, Casey Blake, and Andre Ethier all went deep in the game. Blake also added on a rbi single in the eighth inning.

The Dodgers will need to win on Thursday to avoid the embarassing sweep by the Nationals.

Dodgers Baseball Blog

First off, sorry for the lack of updates as things have been busy around here.  The blog will hopefully have someone writing game recaps here in the near future on almost a daily basis.  In the mean time, please bear with us!

On Wednesday night, the Dodgers finished off a three game series with the Giants and they shut them out 4-0.  After losing the first game of the series, the Dodgers game back to win the final two and win the overall series.  That is what they have to do if they want to stay in this playoff race.

Chad Billingsley was awesome against the Giants as he tossed a complete game five hitter and shut them Giants down.  He did not walk a batter and struckout eight others.  The Giants pretty much looked lost at the plate against him.  Hopefully the other Dodgers pitchers can follow what Chad did.

Russell Martin had two - two run singles while Jeff Kent added a rbi double and James Loney a rbi sac fly.  That is how the Dodgers scored all four of their runs in the first three innings of the game.  One run in the first inning, and then three more in the third inning.  The way Billingsley was dealing, he didn’t need much scoring from the offense.

So hopefully our new Dodgers blogger will start soon, and if not I won’t be able to update the site until around August 12th as I have to head to a couple of computer conferences in Chicago.  If there is another Dodgers fan out there that would like to write game recaps (4-5 a week) can you please email me by clicking the contact us link at the top of the site.  I will have access to my email and will reply with more details.

Thanks

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies combined to scored 26 runs on Monday night as the two teams played in a slugfest at Coors Field.  The Dodgers had jumped out to a 16-4 lead after five innings but the Rockies didn’t back down and scored the next six runs of the game as they kept chipping their way back.  Luckily for the Dodgers, there are only nine innings in a game and the Rockies ran out of time.

What I found interesting was that the Dodgers scored 16 runs at Coors Field but they did not hit one home run!  It was a lot of run scoring singles and doubles that scored most of the Dodgers runs.  James Loney went 3-6 and had five rbi in the game to lead the team at the plate.  Andre Ethier, Jeff Kent, and Angel Berroa all had two rbi each to chip in.  Matt Kemp, Russell Martin, Andy LaRoche, and Eric Stults all contributed with one rbi each.  The Dodgers should have probably scored even more runs but they left 22 runners on base.

The pitching staff was kind of dissappointing as all five pitchers were charged with atleast one run.  Starting pitcher Stults lasted just 3 2/3 innings as he was rocked for six hits and three runs.  Stults gave up a solo home run to Matt Holliday as well.  Brian Falkenborg and Joe Beimel both were charged with one run each.  Cory Wade pitched two innings and gave up three runs.  Hong-Chih Kuo gave up two more runs in the bottom of the ninth inning before he was finally able to get the last out.  Falkenborg ended up getting the victory and is now 2-2 on the year.

Dodgers Blog

The Los Angeles Dodgers took a beating from the bats of the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night.  The Braves came out swinging and defeated the Dodgers 9-3 to even the three game series at one game each.

Dodgers starting pitcher Chad Billingsley gave up six runs on six hits in only 5 1/3 innings of action.  Five of the six runs were earned and charged to Billingsley as he took the loss and dropped to 8-8 on the season.  Billingsley struck out eight batters but also had control issues as he walked four others.

Ramon Troncoso pitched 1 2/3 innings without giving up a run but then Joe Beimel gave up three hits and a run and Cory Wade allowed two more runs to score in the ninth inning.  It just wasn’t a good night to be a Dodgers pitcher.

James Loney had a rbi double in the in the sixth inning that score Andre Ethier for the Dodgers first run of the game.  The Dodgers did not score again until the ninth inning when Delwyn Young scored on a rbi groundout by Nomar Garciaparra.  Loney also scored on that play when Kelly Johnson committed a throwing error.

The Dodgers just didn’t play good and most of the blame has to go on the pitching staff.  Will they get it together and come back and get a victory on Wednesday?

Dodgers Blog

Jeff Kent came up big for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night as he hit a game winning home run in the 11th inning and the Dodgers beat the Houston Astros by the score of 7-6.  The Dodgers were in line to get the win in the game but gave up two runs in the seventh inning and then had to play extra innings where they were able to pull out the victory.

Russell Martin led the Dodgers at the plate as he went 3-5 with a two run home run and finished the game with three rbi.  Martin now has nine home runs and 40 rbi on the season.  Kent finished the game with two rbi while youngsters Matt Kemp and James Loney both chipped in with one rbi each.

Chan Ho Park pitched 1 1/3 innings as he picked up the win and improved his record to 4-2.  Takashi Saito grabbed his 13th save of the season as well in the game.  Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw pitched 5 2/6 innings but was pulled after giving up six hits and three runs.

Brian Falkenborg, Hong-Chih Kuo, and Jonathan Broxton were all charged with giving up one run out of the bullpen.

The series is now tied up at one game each and the two teams will face off on Wednesday night in the third game of the series.  Dodgers Blog

The Los Angeles Dodgers out hit the Houston Astros on Monday night 11-6 but it was the Astros that came out on top on the scoreboard with the 4-1 victory.  Dodgers starting pitcher Eric Stults gave up four runs while Astros starting pitcher Roy Oswalt only gave up one run.

Stults ended up taking the loss after pitching 5 1/3 innings and giving up five hits and the four runs.  Lance Berkman hit a solo home run off of Stults in the first inning but after that it was a rbi single and then a two run single for the Astros off of Stults.

The Dodgers bullpen did a good job as they tossed 2 2/3 innigs of scoreless baseball.  Ramon Troncoso, Joe Beimel, and Cory Wade all pitched out of the bullpen and did a great job.

James Loney had the only rbi for the dodgers as he hit a sacrafice fly in the first inning to score Andre Ethier.  The dodgers as a team left 21 runners on base and that is why the only scored one run in the game.

Clayton Kershaw will take the mound for the Dodgers on Tuesday night as they try to get back into the series with the Astros.  Dodgers Blog

The Los Angeles Dodgers picked up another road win in Cincinnati and defeated the Reds by the score of 7-4.  With the three run victory the Dodgers finished up a nice three game sweep of the Reds.  Anytime you sweep your opponent you are doing a good job, but when it happens on the road it is a very good job.

Matt Kemp hit a solo home run and also had a two run double to lead the Dodgers at the plate with three rbi.  Juan Pierre, Russell Martin, James Loney, and Andre Ethier all chipped in with one rbi each as well.  Good production as more then just a few people helped out at the plate to score some runs.

Eric Stults pitched six inning to get the win for the Dodgers.  Stults gave up six hits and three runs (one earned) to get his first victory of the season.  Scott Proctor also gave up one run in the game but then three other Dodger relief pitchers held the Reds scoreless the rest of the game.  Joe Beimel, Jonathan Broxton, and Takashi Saito finished things up nicely.  Saito earned his 10th save of the season in the game.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have now won two straight games as they have defeated the Cincinnati Reds for the second straight night.  On Wednesday night, the Dodgers defeated the Reds 6-1 as the Dodgers scored in five different innings.

James Loney had a solo home run and rbi double to finish the game with two rbi.  Lead off hitter Juan Pierre also finished the game with two as he plated two runs with a two run triple in the seventh inning.  Andre Ethier had the other rbi for the Dodgers which was a rbi single in the second inning.

Derrek Lowe pitched the first 5 1/3 innings to pick up the win.  He allowed three hits and one run.  The one run was a solo home run by Edwin Encarnacion in the second inning.  Lower is now 5-6 on the season after picking up the win.  Hong-Chih Kuo pitched the next 2 2/3 innings while allowing four hits but zero runs.  Cory Wade pitched the ninth inning to finish off the Reds.

The Dodgers will go for the three game sweep on Thursday afternoon.  Who thinks they will get the job done?

Dodgers Blog

Chad Billingsley pitched a superb game going 7 innings with only 4 hits and no runs. The Dodgers seemed poised to win again with Jonathan Broxton getting on the mound. People were already closing the book on the Mets who left 23 men on base all game. But Broxton did not have the stuff today giving up a double then a home run to Carlos Beltran. To tie the game then leaving Broxton in in hopes of saving some face. Then Carlos Delgado gets a single then a sac bun and a intentional walk later Broxton gives up a single to Fernando Tatis and the Mets move into the lead.

Then comes the in my opion best closer in the mlb Billy Wagner. He stuck out the side and the Dodgers lose another heartbreaker. To fall below 500. The good news however is that the Diamondbacks are within a slump as well. Leaving the dodgers on 3 and half games behind first place. Someone is looking down on the dodgers and guiding them threw because I don’t know how any teams could lose this much and still have a shot at first place.

The Dodgers will figure out how to kill the rest of the day. Then tomorrow they will face off with the Mets for the last time in the series. I believe Hiroki Kuroda will take the mound tomorrow he will be opposed by Claudio Vargas. Kuroda’s main task will be keeping clam threw the 5^th inning. He tends to get there with strong pitching but when he arrives in the 5^th he starts to take on water.

Also again the name of the game will be hitting as in every game. James Loney needs to get on the ball going 0 for 4 today the whole team needs to step up. Going 1 for 4 is unacceptable especially when the entire team is 1 for 4. No one will pick the dodgers up to help them instead the coaching staff will stand on there throat and force them to become better. Not at all the all star break yet but seems like this season if not saved soon is already over…

While the windy city of Chicago lived up to it’s name tonight.  It was the Cubs that blew away the Blue Crew this chilly night in Chi Town.  With Media hype Surronding HIROKI KURODA and KOSUKE FUKUDOME they did not disapoint with KURODA going 7 with two runs one earned with seven hits and a loses.  While FUKUDOME went 3 for 2 with a rbi and a couple good plays in right field.  When in a corner you should be able to turn to your bullpen however this was not so for the dodgers tonight.  Like CLAYTON KERSHAW’S  first start the bullpen could not hold the LOU PINIELLA daring cubs.

In a game were a warm cup of coffee was a premium so to were runs.  Knowing this PINIELLA was a bit more daring with his base runners it happened to pay off as the score as evidence.  But when you look around for people to blame in this game you can not blame only one person.  By evidence of the box score with only one player getting two hits that being ANDRE EITHER as well as the dodgers leaving 14 men on base.  In the 8th inning with there best chance JAMES LONEY could not make contact with the bases loaded and when he did he hit just like last night a foul ball that danced with the foul line.

The Dodgers take the bus back to the hotel tonight and tomorrow they hope that DEREK LOWE can shake his poor pitching.  He will be contested by CARLOS ZAMBRANO the considered ace of the cubs staff.  Derek will need to keep his sinker ball low and will have to again lean on the shaky dodger hitting.  We also will hopefully see the Return of JEFF KENT who was a last second scratch due to back spasms tonight.

Dodgers Blog