Dodgers Ejected and Frustrated in Loss to Pirates

Dodgers 1 10 0
Pirates    4  10 1
WP- Veras (1-1)
LP- Billingsley (2-2)
S-Hanrahan (11)

When did we become worse than the Pirates? A horrendous 8th inning leads to the ejection of both Juan Uribe and Don Mattingly after a bad call on a ball which clearly bounced on the grass before entering Tapata's glove in left field. Things quickly went downhill from there, and even though we managed to get 10 hits we only had 1 measly run to show for it.

The top of the first started out nicely when Miles got an infield hit, Ethier singles Miles to 3rd, and then Uribe singles home Miles giving the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. They would be done scoring at that point. Yup no mas. In the bottom of the inning, there would be the first of two controversial plays during the game. Garrett Jones hits a ball deep, but a moronic fan reaches over the painted yellow line clearly marked and fan interference is called and it's ruled a ground rule double. The Pirates argue, and after instant replay review, the play stands as called which was the correct call on that play.

In the second Billingsley hits a nice double, making his extra base hit stats already 50% of Loney's with one swing. He comes in to pitch a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the 2nd as well.

In the third we get robbed when Miles singles, and Kemp's deep fly ball is caught by McCutchen off the wall who then doubles up Miles at first base. The Bucs would tie things up in the bottom of the third when Cedeno leads off with a single, Tabata walks, and Jones singles in Cedeno (1-1).

The Dodgers go down 1-2-3 in the fourth, and waste a Big Rod leadoff single in the 5th. Bills pitches a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the 5th.

In the 6th Uribe gets a 2-out walk, Loney singles him to 3rd, but Crotta comes in and gets Sands to ground out to end the inning.

Karstens goes 5.2 innings, allowing 7 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, and 2 strikeouts.

In the 7th, Bills singles (his second hit of the night), Carroll singles, Joe Beimel comes in and gets the last two outs to end the inning.

The 8th inning is where things got wild. Veras comes in to pitch for the Bucs and starts off crazy wild, hitting Kemp in the rear end. Uribe then hits a line drive to Tapata in left field which bounces into his glove, but it's called an out and the Pirates double up Kemp at first. In between innings tempers flare at the bad call, and Juan Uribe is ejected for arguing. Don Mattingly asks to seek a second ump's opinion, and of course they aren't having it and they eject Donnie. Trey Hillman takes over as acting manager with Donnie's departure. Of course Bills then gives up a lead off walk to Jones, and Xavier Paul comes into pinch run for him. Walker proceeds to double, scoring X-man of course, (2-1). They bring in Kuo who then allows two more doubles to Overbay and Doumit since the Dodgers are apparently giving away doubles tonight, (4-1). Kuo looked really bad, and obviously is not pitchable right now. Dougie comes in to get the last two outs, but the damage is already done.

Bills goes 7 innings, allows 7 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts.

Hanarahan comes in and although he gives up a single to Big Rod, and commits an error which allows Gibbons to reach first safely, he then gets Carroll and Miles to end the game.

The Dodgers are now sinking deeper into the quicksand of losses as they fall to 4 games below .500 while the happy Pirates are celebrating at the Scumm Bar tonight as they are now 1 game above .500.

Tomorrow Ted Lilly will go to the mound, and I never really have that much confidence in him. Hopefully we can squeak out a win here during these 4 games with the Bucs, but it's not looking good Dodger fans. Looks like Arizona is passing us up in the standings. Stay strong!!