I like those kind of games. The kind of games where you can just sit back and smile, knowing full well a sharp dagger has just been inserted into the hearts of your rival team.
In just his second start since taking a header by a batted ball, Hiroki Kuroda was masterful for eight innings. He was brilliant tonight, shutting down what was left of the Giants season as it was fading into a deep, dark abyss, fading into oblivion. Kuroda struck out five while making 86 pitches, giving up just one earned run and walking no one as the Blue rolled.
The Dodger offense found its groove once again, this time sending one of their aces, Matt Cain, to his seventh career loss without a win against the Dodgers. James Loney had a big night as he always seems to do on the road this season. Casey Blake welcomed himself back to the lineup with a big night. And, like they did on Tuesday night in Arizona, the offense strung together a bunch of hits in a five-run seventh inning that would all but seal the fate on the Hated-Ones-to-the-North, at least on this night.
Meanwhile, the Rockies continued their amazing winning streak, pushed to eight tonight after a four-run ninth inning with two out off Padre closer Heath Bell, to keep things interesting in the division, and the dagger that struck the Giants after their loss was dug just a little further into them with that Rockies win.
The Dodger lead in the division dwindled down to 2½ games on Wednesday night in Arizona after Ramon Troncoso threw a comebacker down the right field line in the ninth inning. He was forced to intentionally walk two hitters in a row to load the bases, and then couldn't find the strike zone in walking in the unearned winning run. The Rockies gained another half game with a win yesterday while the Dodgers had the day off.
That lead looked like it might climb back up to three until the Rockies rallied tonight in San Diego. But the Giants are now 5½ games behind the Rockies in the Wild Card race, and 7½ behind the Dodgers in the division. The Cardinals lost tonight, as well, and are now even with the Dodgers for best record in the N.L.
As for tomorrow night, it's Vicente Padilla's turn with a chance to really send the Giants reeling. Jonathan Sanchez, who's also never had any luck against the Dodgers, takes the bump for the Giants.
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