Rafael Furcal shines as Los Angeles Dodgers defeat Washington Nationals 7-6 – MLB Update
Rafael Furcal launched a walk off single as the Los Angeles Dodgers romped to a 7-6 win over the Washington Nationals in the second outing of the three-game series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 23.
After a struggling first half of the game, the Dodgers bounced back with full passion and took the game completely into their hands. The Dodgers were trailing 6-2 in the top of the third inning, when James Loney hit a sacrifice fly to right-field, allowing
Matt Kemp to score one run. Then Ted Lilly doubled to right centre to provide Rivera and Uribe a chance to steal one run each. It elevated the Dodgers to 6-5.
Having only one run deficit, Los Angeles again struggled hard to get the game into their side but the Nationals’ pitcher tossed perfect pitches to restrict the Dodgers scoreless. The game entered into the ninth inning with the Nationals in a 6-5 winning
position. The Nationals carried their closer Ryan Mattheus to toss the last inning but he went a little wobbly and allowed three hits to concede a game losing RBI double to Rafael Furcal.
It was hard day for starters, as both were costly. The Dodgers’ Ted Lilly yielded six run on eight hits and walked two batters over only five innings. He also struck-out six batters but remained winless. The Nationals’ starter Tom Gorzelanny allowed five
runs on eight hits and walked one batter over just three innings.
The Nationals’ first baseman Michael Morse and right fielder Zimmerman and Espinosa combined to score three runs in the top of the first inning to take their team into a 3-0 strong leading position. However the Dodgers’ Matt Kemp scored an RBI single in
the first and Ted Lilly made a single in the second.
The Nationals’ Rick Ankiel and Ian Desmond each scored an RBI single in the third inning to take their team back into a leading position.
Dodgers’ Blake Hawksworth, Mike MacDougal and Javy Guerra each remained scoreless. Hawksworth struck-out three batters and allowed one walk over two innings while MacDougal and Guerra each struck-out one batter over their one inning spell.
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