Rafael Furcal shines as Los Angeles Dodgers shutout San Diego Padres 1-0 – MLB Update
Rafael Furcal drove in a game winning single in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 1-0 shutout over the San Diego Padres in the three-game series-opener at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, July 8.
The 33-year-old veteran, Furcal shattered scoreless tie with his line drive single to right-field to take his team to their second-straight win after receiving five consecutive losses. In the pitchers dominated game, Furcal made his first RBI since coming
off 15-day disabled list on July 2.
"He wants to come through," Dodgers’ manager Don Mattingly said of Furcal. "He takes it personally when he's not getting on base."
Chad Billingsley, also earned him a happiness with is powerful strikes. Billingsley struck-out four batters and scattered only four hits but he allowed five walks. However, he managed to grab his eighth win of the season after tossing 115 strikes. After
achieving this shut-out triumph, the 26-year-old hurler improved his record to 8-7 with 3.87 ERA in 19 starts.
The Padres’ ace Mat Latos, who entered to add something positive in his record, fought hard and held the Dodgers scoreless in the first seven innings but he tossed a few wobbly pitches in the eighth. He made six strike-outs and permitted two walks in just
over seven innings but his five hits sent him to his tenth loss of the season.
"Johnny Rob Johnson called an unbelievable game. To be honest, this was his doing, not mine. He was inside my head the whole time," Latos said. "It was the pitches that he wanted and he told me exactly where it wanted it. I threw it and I executed it."
After he allowed a run, his closer Josh Spence replaced him and tossed 11 pitches to escape this inning. However, the Dodgers’ closer Javy Guerra did not allow them to come-back in the game. Guerra yielded only one hit and made two strike-outs in the ninth
inning to grab his club their 39th win of the season. He threw one of his pitches to hit Anthony Rizzo on left foot and then struck Rob Johnson on his right hand.
The Dodgers managed to take the win against the Padres in this exciting game.
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