The Dodgers boom past the Nationals in style
Coming from a 3 – 2 win over the Washington Nationals, the Los Angeles Dodgers were riding high on morale as the showdown between the two rivals continued in the series’ third and last match, last night. The game meant a lot for both teams as they were looking to catch up on a consistent winning track before they would fly in for the other scheduled games. Adding to the mix, both squads had a need to raise their statuses in their respective division tables, as they met for the contest.
Ted Lily started his second game for the Dodgers and played a 6 innings. He would pitch 87 times and bring home the victory as the hitters would keep on pouncing on the Washington ball throwers. The LA ace man has gone into the game with a second consecutive win for the team, earning him an Earning Run Average for the year of 3.60. Further credit is due to the player as he completed his 100th strikeout of the season, with his last successful try coming through in the game. The maestro took out 6 in the game, allowed 5 hits in all and 3 runs of which 2 were home runs.
The inexperienced sports man has been hit for 20 home runs in the last 8 straight seasons but has a good track record to account for his giveaway rate. The player was put away for two straight homers in the top 2nd, but the player reiterated his belief about keeping his cool during the full duration of the game in a few words;
"It's inevitable that you're going to be put in situations that you'd rather not be in," Ted describes. "But if you want to be a good pitcher in this league, you're going to have to battle through adversity."
The Washington Nationals were put away for 8 runs as the recently Disabled List discharged squad member, Jason Scott Marquis, could not turn his 4th game into a win. Playing in just 4 innings, the pitcher was hit 5 times, conceded 5 runs and gave away 2 walk offs. He threw the ball 70 times, struck out 3 hitters and walked off with an Earning Run Average of a whooping 15.32. Summarizing, The Nat’s frustrations, the Dodgers made short work of them in great style.
The hitting began in the bottom 1st as Los Angeles’ Scott Podsednik scored off catcher Wil Nieves who allowed Ryan Theriot to get to the second base. However, the scoring move began with the Nats’ pitcher, Marquis, who walked Podsednik and then didn’t catch on to the hitter’s base stealing move for the second. The player further complicated the situation when Theriot sacrificed to the catcher. He made a throw error and that ultimately shook things for the fielding team. Theriot got to score eventually off James Loney’s single to the left. Misery followed the National’s ace man, as Ronnie Belliard stole the second position and Jamey Carroll singled to the centre to allow the second base stealer and Andre Ethier to register 4 runs for the Dodgers.
The Nationals responded with two consecutive homers from Michael Morse (374 feet) and Justin Maxwell (387 feet) in the top 2nd to put the score on hold with 2 Washington – 4 Los Angeles. However, the Dodgers advanced their lead with Jamey Carroll, as Andrew J. Ellis hit a double down the centre of the park in the bottom 4th, giving the sprinter the chance to run through the last checkpoint. The Nats responded with their catcher, Nieves, making up for the error earlier, to bring another run home off an Alberto Gonzalez sacrifice fly to the centre.
With the score on 5 LA – 3 Washington, the dodgers extended their lead in the bottom 6th as Ronnie Belliard scored off a Jay Gibbons’ single to the centre. The lead was further stretched for 2 final runs as Belliard and Carroll scored again in the bottom 8th off R Johnson’s single to the centre.
The game ended on 3 Washington – 8 Los Angeles. With the Nationals having a bad night, the team will hope to improve things soon and bring home some glory in the coming days. The dodgers on the other hand, will be relieved to see the best come out of their players in the previous night as the ball club will look to get to third finish as Vicente Padilla returns in the next match for pitching duties.
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