Late Dodger Rally Fails During Loss at Colorado

For the first time all season long, Stacie and I missed a Dodgers game while we were attending the Loudmouth Experience with our friend, co-host Nick Hamilton. Stacie and I had a great time on the show, and while we were talking with Nick, Fran, and Kia, the Dodgers were busy losing in Colorado. The Dodgers ended their best month of April since 1984 with a 6-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, as the change in ownership was delayed until Tuesday.

The Dodgers found out that the sale of the team would have to wait another day to become final while they were opening a six game road trip with a loss. Another poor road start from Aaron Harang, who’s ERA has risen to 5.85, doomed the Dodgers to defeat. Meanwhile Nathan Eovaldi was optioned back to the minors to make room for the recently activated Todd Coffey. It wasn’t just Harang’s predictably horrendous outing that sunk the boys in blue, the Dodger bats went cold as well. The Dodgers stranded ten runners on base, and were 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position while scoring two runs on nine hits.

Colorado aimed for better pitching, since they are ranked at the bottom of the league in staff ERA, while the Dodgers are fourth. We got our first look at Colorado’s revamped roster, but it was the annoying big three of Cargo, Mullet Man, and Todd Helton that did the Dodgers in again.

The Dodgers got on the board in the top of the first as Matt Kemp continued his torrid hitting. Bison drove another opposite field home run over the wall in right field, which at first appeared to hit the top of the wall and bounce back on the field. The umpires signaled the correct call of a home run. The ball bounced over the wall, hitting a railing before bouncing back into play. This is home run number 12 for Matt Kemp, and he now has 25 RBI to lead the Majors.

Harang began serving up hits right away as Marco Scutaro doubled, advanced to third on a ground out, and scored on another ground out from Cargo. The damage could have been much worse if not for a leaping catch against the wall by Bison preventing more scorage.

Harang seemed to settle down by retiring nine consecutive Rockies, until the bottom of the fourth inning when Colorado scored three runs to take a 4-1 lead. Herrera singled, Cargo walked, then both came home to score on a two run double from Mullet Man over the head of Juan Uribe. Mullet took third on the throw home, and then he scored himself on a sac fly from Ramon Hernandez.

The Dodgers added a run in the top of the sixth to cut the lead to 4-2. A flare double from James Loney, and an RBI single from Uribe put the Dodgers within two. Colorado extended their lead to 5-2 with a two out RBI double from Ramon Hernandez while Harang was still on the mound.

The Dodgers had a none out bases loaded rally in the top of the seventh, but they failed to score. Hairston and Gordon led off with consecutive singles off of starter Juan Nicasio. Old friend Jim Tracy showed us that he still has a flare for the dramatics by bringing in three different pitchers to get three outs, or as Stacie and I call this, the three headed monster. Esmil Rogers was brought in and immediately walked Mark Ellis to load the bases for Matt Kemp. On a full count, Bison whiffed on a wicked slider from Rogers. Tracy went to the well again, this time bringing in lefty Rex Brothers, who whiffed Andre Ethier for the second out. Next to enter was noob Edgmer Escalona, who got pinch-hitter Juan Rivera to pop out to end the threat. That was all she wrote. Colorado would tack on one more run in the bottom of the seventh inning taking advantage of another shaky Dougie outing.

The real story of the night however was opposing starter Juan Nicasio, who kept the Dodgers pretty quiet all night long. Nicasio pitched six plus innings allowing only two runs, walking two and whiffing four. Nicasio was the young pitcher who was hit in the head with a line drive and broke his neck. He had to have an emergency surgery and a very long recovery to fight his way back to the Major Leagues. A very impressive feat for the right hander to even be pitching again after an injury that severe, let alone pitching and winning games. Hats off to the young starter for fighting his way back after going through such a harrowing ordeal.

The Dodgers finish their best month of April since 1984 with a record of 16-7. Despite the loss, the Dodgers are still 3.5 games up in first place, and 4.5 ahead of Colorado. The Rockies are 11-11.

The expected closing of the Dodger sale was pushed back until Tuesday. No need to worry, the deal is expected to officially close tomorrow. Obviously a sale of this magnitude and price might take a few days to process. After all we are talking about 2.15 billion dollars here. We will update you once the sale closes and when we have more information.

The Dodgers will try and regroup tomorrow as Ted Lilly and his .90 ERA will take the mound, as Colorado will counter with struggling righty Jhoulys Chacin. Clayton Kershaw will pitch the final game of the series on Wednesday afternoon. Tomorrow’s game time is at 5:40PM televised on KCAL. Join us tomorrow as we begin a new month and a new magical era of Dodger Baseball! If you like, you can listen and download an archived version of our show on the Loudmouth Experience here. www.latalkradio.com/Loudmouth.php Let’s keep those Colorado bats quiet! Go Blue