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Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Kuroda gets plenty of runs as Dodgers sweep Cardinals

Dodgers 9 13 0
Cardnals 4 11 2
WP-Kuroda-10-14
LP-Garcia-10-7
HR-Ellis-1-Rivera-3
Laird-1


Has Hiroki Kuroda's Luck finally turned? the japanese righty has been getting a ton of runs support of late, 21 runs over his last five starts, in comparison the Dodgers only had scored 20 runs for him all year up until recently. tonight they would give him more run support, as Kuroda and the Dodgers beat the Cardinals 9-4 in the sweltering midwest heat, sweeping the three game series. the Cardinals have just quietly faded away in the NL central race, and looked flat and listless throughout the series

See what happens when you score Hiroki some runs? we get a win!

the Dodger bats came alive again, scoring 9 runs hitting two home runs, one from A.J. Ellis (his first major league home run), and one from Rivera.

scoreless game in the bottom of the second, when the Redbirds score first. Holliday singles, and takes second on a wild pitch. Berkman's groundout advances Holliday to third, and he would score on a Skip Schumaker single. 1-0 Cardinals.

then in the top of the third, the Dodgers put together a flurry of hits, as Garcia has a real live meltdown as the redbird fans boos rain down upon the field of Busch stadium.

Sellers and Gwynn lead off with walks. theres a wild pitch that moves the runners over to second and third. interesting that Kuroda and Garcia both lead the league in wild pitches. Matt Kemp's base hit to center scores both Sellers and Gwynn giving the Dodgers a 2-1 lead. this also gives Kemp 97 RBI on the season.
Rivera doubles home Kemp, 3-0 Dodgers. Blake singles through the middle, scoring Rivera 4-0 Dodgers.
Blake takes second on a bad throw from Jon Jay. Loney's long double to right easily scores Blake, 5-0 Dodgers. Carroll singles Loney to third, then Loney scores on an RBI single by A.J. Ellis. 6-0 Dodgers.
Kuroda sacrifices, Sellers and Gwynn both ground out to end the inning. wow the Dodgers score 6 runs off 6 hits. my jaw almost hit the floor.

Jamie Garcia has a meltdown in the 3rd inning.

Kuroda strikes out Jay in the bottom of the third, Hit Machine singles, and Kuroda gets Pujols to ground into a force.

Garcia would eventually settle down. Kemp, rivera, and Blake all ground out in the 4th inning.

bottom of the 4th, Holliday fouls out to Loney. Berkman and Schumaker both single, but Laird grounds into an inning ending double play. a grounder back to the box, that Kuroda spears and starts a 1-4-3 double play.

great moment in the top of the 5th, A.J. Ellis just called up, yep the same guy we've been talking about, cranks a solo home run to deep left field, well into the seats. this gives the Dodgers a 7-1 lead. this is Ellis's first career major league home run, and should cement Ellis as the starting catcher. hey anyone miss Dioner Navarro? I didn't think so.

Kuroda pitches another scoreless frame in the bottom of the 5th, while in the top of the 6th, McClellan comes in to relieve Garcia.

with 2 outs in the top of the 6th, Kemp singles, and Rivera hits one out, his third home run with the Dodgers. its 9-1 Dodgers! Rivera has been outstanding since coming to the Dodgers.

bottom of the 6th, Kuroda whiffs Pujols looking like a red statue. Holliday flies out, Berkman grounds out, and its another easy inning for Kuroda.

lefty Aurthur Rhodes pitches a 123 top of the 7th inning.  in the bottom of the 7th a tired Hiroki allows a single to schumaker, and a home run to Laird, its 9-3 Dodgers. however Kuroda gets through the 7th without allowing anymore scorage.

Boggs pitches a scoreless top of the 8th, allowing a single to Gwynn but thats it.

Dougie relieves Kuroda for the bottom of the 8th, he gets Hit Machine to ground out, Pujols whiffs, Holliday a leg single. Berkman's grounder ends the frame.

move to the top of the 9th, we all laugh as former Dodger better known as the worst relief pitcher in baseball Octavio Bumtel comes in for relief for the Cardinals. of coarse we begin to have flash backs of Bumtel's three wild pitch, three walk one inning performance last year.

Bumtel whiffs Rivera, gets Blake to fly out, and Loney doubles for his third hit of the game. Loney is really on fire lately. he's raised his average above .270 now. Carroll strikes out looking to end the top of the 9th with the Dodgers still leading 9-3.

bottom of the 9th now, Matt Guerrier on the mound, Schumaker singles, Laird grounds into a force out. Descalso whiffs on a called third strike. of coarse Guerrier has to give up a run before the game ends. Allen Craig's double bounces over the wall, scoring Schumaker, 9-4. Jon Jay flies out to end the game, and the Dodgers have their first sweep in St.Louis since august of 1993.



the Dodgers win 9-4 and Kuroda picks up his 10th win. the Dodgers complete their 10 game beer trip going 5-5.

the Dodgers return home to open a 6 game home stand with Colorado and San Diego. they'll play Colorado this weekend, in the final meeting of the year between the Dodgers and Colorado, so well have to deal with Cargo, Mullet, and Helton one last time.

great series! tomorrow is an off day, and well return on friday night as Ted Lilly will take the mound for the Dodgers. a sweep always makes me feel better! have a great day Dodger fans! GO BLUE

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