With First Place on the Line, Dodgers Shutout by Rockies at Home

Dodgers 0 5 0

Rockies 2 11 1

WP- Ottavino (3-1)

LP- Capuano (10-8)

S- Betancourt (18)

Earlier in the day we learned the sad fate of Tony Gwynn Jr. who was designated for assignment. It seems that once the Dodgers acquired Shane Victorino, Gwynn was squeezed out. In a corresponding move, the Dodgers called up perennial prospect Jerry Sands from AAA. I realize we are hungry for offense, and Sands has been on a hot streak over in Albuquerque, but he still hasn’t proven that he is able to hit consistently well on the big club. Now with Gwynn’s departure, it leaves the bench much slower and weaker defensively. What’s odd is that Tony Gwynn’s contract ran through next season with an option for 2014. I’m not sure why they dropped him like a hot potato since September first and roster expansion is right around the corner. It must be partly due to Shane Victorino’s desire to resign with the Dodgers after this season. Although Tony was perfectly accepting of a bench role which he had happily assumed before Kemp was disabled. We wish Tony nothing but the best of luck in the future, and we thank him for some amazing catches and clutch hits.

Chris Capuano allowed one run in the first and one run in the third inning, but the total lack of offense with runners in scoring position was what ultimately sealed the Dodgers’ fate tonight. The bullpen pitched two innings of scoreless ball, but the offense could only muster five hits scattered over nine innings.

Eric Young opens the game with a lead-off single off Chris Capuano. Dexter Fowler strikes out, but Jordan Pacheco singles to put runners at first and third for Carlos Gonzalez. Young scores on a fly ball to left from CarGo, and the Rockies take a 1-0 lead.

Drew Pomeranz goes to work against the Dodgers in the home half of the first inning. Shane Victorino leads off with a fly ball single to center field. Mark Ellis follows with a single of his own. Pomeranz somehow strikes out Matt Kemp with a 92-mph fastball for the first out. Hanley Ramirez grounds out to third, and the runners advance. Juan Rivera is badly fooled on a pitch shoulder high, and his whiff ends the scoreless inning.

Matt McBride and Chris Nelson both fly out in the second. Cappy strikes out Jonathan Herrera to wrap up a nice 1-2-3 inning.

Jerry Sands comes up for his first at bat since being called up from AAA-Albuquerque, and he flies out to left. Luis Cruz strikes out, and A.J. Ellis is hit by a pitch. Capuano strikes out to end the inning.

In the third, Eric Young, Fowler, and Pacheco hit three singles in a row off Capuano. Eric Young scores on Pacheco’s hit, and the Rockies add another run to their lead. Pacheco takes second with CarGo at bat on a wild pitch. They intentionally walk CarGo which pays off when Ramon Hernandez grounds into an inning ending double play. The damage is contained to one, 2-0 Rockies.

Victorino and Mark Ellis draw consecutive walks to begin the bottom of the third inning, but Matt Kemp grounds into a double play. Hanley strikes out on a high pitch, and Victorino is stranded at third.

Jonathan Herrera and the opposing pitcher Drew Pomeranz hit consecutive two-out singles in the fourth. Eric Young pops up to end the frame.

Juan Rivera hits a ball down the left field line, and he goes for two but CarGo’s throw is waiting for him at second and he is called out on the glaring TOOTBLAN. Wow, he’s slow. Jerry Sands strikes out in his second at bat. Luis Cruz is hobbled after being plunked in the foot, but he’s okay. A.J. does what he does best and draws a walk. That’s his 50th free pass of the season. Capuano strikes out, and Pomeranz all of a sudden has seven strikeouts.

Capuano sends the Rockies down in order in the fifth.

Adam Ottavino is in to relieve Pomeranz for the bottom of the fifth. He sends the Dodgers down in order. The Boys in Blue have only mustered 3 hits thus far.

Drew Pomeranz pitched 4 innings, allowing 3 hits, no runs, 3 walks and 7 strikeouts on 84 pitches.

Ramon Hernandez hits a lead-off single in the sixth, but he is erased on a double play by McBride. Chris Nelson strikes out.

Ramirez strikes out for the second time tonight to start off the bottom of the sixth. He vents by arguing with the plate umpire Laz Diaz for a bit. Rivera and Sands both ground out. Ottavino has now retired six in a row.

Other than a pesky Eric Young single, Cappy has a good seventh inning.

A.J. Ellis reaches safely on a fielding error by Matt McBride when the ground ball up the line bounces off his glove. James Victorino hits a line drive to Dexter Fowler which is at first called an out, but Don Mattingly comes out to argue that it’s a trap. The umpires converge and change the call. Jim Tracy then runs out irate. Tracy is ejected from the game. A.J. Ellis is now at third and Victorino at first with two outs. Mark Ellis hits a long fly out to end the inning and end the hullabaloo.

Chris Capuano pitched 7 innings, allowing 9 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, and 6 strikeouts on 92 pitches.

Shawn Tolleson is in for the eighth inning in relief of Cappy. Tolleson has a nice 1-2-3 inning.

Matt Belisle comes out of the Colorado bullpen for the bottom of the eighth. Matt Kemp leads off with a little blooper single to right field for his first hit of the night. Hanley grounds into a force out. Rivera also hits into a force out. Andre Ethier comes off the bench to pinch-hit for Tolleson’s spot. Ethier draws a walk. Luis Cruz chases a slider away, and once again the Dodgers can’t cash in anything. They are 0 for 8 tonight with runners in scoring position.

Brandon League comes into pitch the ninth. Chris Nelson singles with one out. Herrera singles, and the Rockies have runners at first and third with one out. Mattingly has had enough, and he will bring in Randy Choate from the pen. He gets his man as Tyler Colvin strikes out swinging. The Dodgers go to the pen again. This time they bring in Jamey Wright to pitch to Young who he gets to ground out.

Rafael Betancourt will try to close the door on the home team in the bottom of the ninth. A.J. Ellis flies out to CarGo on a hard hit ball to the gap. Loney also flies out to left. Victorino pops up.

Jerry Sands ends up going 0 for 3 tonight with 1 strikeout. The Dodgers fall to 59-51, but they remain 1/2 game back of first since the Giants lost today as well as Arizona. They had a golden opportunity to reclaim first place, but their tepid offense allowed a last place team to shut them out at home.

Tomorrow evening Aaron Harang will take the mound in game two. The Rockies will send out Alex White to counter. Can the Dodgers brush themselves off, throw some water in their faces and score some runs?