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Friday, April 29, 2011

Guardian Angel Gwynn Saves Game With Flying Catch

Dodgers 3 11 1
Padres    2  8  1
WP-Lilly (2-2)
LP-Richard (1-2)
S- Broxton (6)*
HR-Uribe (3), Kemp (6)



There's a lot to talk about tonight, but could Broxton have given me more of a heart attack in the 9th inning with 2 outs? I put an asterick by his "save" because it should be awarded to Tony Gwynn Jr. instead for saving his ass with an amazing diving catch to get the last out of the game.

Ted Lilly started off shaky and unimpressive giving up leadoff hits in the first four innings, but finally settled down and ended up getting his second win of the season. It helped that the Padres hit into four double plays over the course of the game.

The Dodgers took the early lead in the bottom of the first when Carroll led of with a double (please keep him leading off Donnie), Sands grounds him over to third, and Ethier's ground ball allows Carroll to score making it 1-0 Dodgers.

In the second Denorfia hits into a DP, and Ethier makes a nice catch in right field.

In the third inning, Headley leads off with a double, Lilly is once again called on a balk, allowing Headley to go to third. Hundley singles, scoring Headley making it tied at 1 run a piece.

In the bottom of the fourth Uribe smashes a solo homerun giving the Dodgers a 2-1 lead.

Lilly settles down and has a 1-2-3 inning in the fifth. In the bottom of the inning, Sands walks but then is picked off between 2nd and 3rd in a apparent TOOTBLAN. Andre Ethier then comes up and doubles off of Richard, a tought lefty opponent, extending his record streak to 25 games! He is now tied in second on the all-time Dodger hitting streak list behind Willie Davis who had 31 games.

Lilly goes 1-2-3 in the 6th. Frieri comes in to relieve Richard in the bottom of the 6th and gets Carroll to ground out with the bases loaded to get out of the inning.

Richard goes 5.2 innings, allows 8 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, and strikes out 3.

In the 7th, Guerrier comes in to take over from Lilly. Luckily our dynamic duo saves his butt as well, and both make incredible diving catches to save hits from Cantu and Denorfia. Guerrier then walks Hudson who proceeds to steal 2nd and then take third when Big Rod's horrible throw goes right into center field. Headley strikes out to end the inning.

Lilly went 6 innings, allowing 5 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, and strikes out 4.

In the bottom of the 7th, Bison comes up and crushes a solo shot making it 3-1 Dodgers.

Vicente Padilla comes in to pitch the 8th....shoulda pitched the 9th instead...but anyways he did have a bit of a shaky time when he gives up a leadoff walk to Hundley, he strikes out the pinch hitter Patterson, then Maybin walks. The double play Gods give us a gift when Bartlett hits into the 4th of the night on a broken bat tiny pop up. Qualls comes in to pitch the 8th for the Pads, and strikes out Miles who actually did have 3 hits tonight. Gwynn strikes out, and that's okay since in the 9th he would be our guardian angel. Carroll singles, but Sands strikes out to end the inning.

This is when my stomach began churning. Broxton comes in to pitch the ninth. He looks okay at first, striking out Ludwick. Cantu grounds out. But then we all know most Broxton meltdowns come on two outs, right? Well well well...Venable proceeds to get a flare single, Hudson then promptly singles him home making it a 1 run game 3-2, then Headley singles so runners are at 1st & 3rd. THREE singles in a row with 2 outs. I'm sorry, Broxton has no business pitching in the 9th inning anymore. Then Nick Hundley basically gets a single to left field in any other situation. Thank the lord Tony Gwynn Jr. was put out in left field, because he dives and catches Hundley's ball saving at least one run and the game.

If Broxton is hurt in someway, we aren't really sure. Yet we are sure that his days as a closer are finished. There's no way you can put him out and have confidence that he can retain a lead in the ninth. No way.

Tomorrow in game two Hiroki Kuroda goes to the mound, and Andre Ethier looks to put himself alone into second place on the Dodger streak list!

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