While the Dodgers were powering their way past the D-backs, 7-2, this afternoon, I couldn't help but get a chuckle out of the Dodgers latest reported injury. As if the unpredictable sidelinings of Chad Billingsley and Hiroki Kuroda last month weren't enough to hamper the rotation, add Clayton Kershaw to the infirmary list with a bizarre injury.
Yesterday, Kershaw injured his shoulder while shagging flyballs at Dodger Stadium during pregame batting practice when he unexpectedly hit the outfield wall. The result? A sore shoulder and a missed start this weekend in San Francisco.
And add newly acquired disignated hitter Jim Thome to the list of ailings. Thome reinjured a heel problem he's had for several years last night while pinch-hitting and is listed as day-to-day.
As for today's game, the Blue displayed some of the power they've shown in recent weeks. Manny and James Loney hit back-to-back homeruns in the second inning, and Ronnie Belliard belted his second homer since being acquired last week in the fourth inning.
Tempers flared briefly after Belliard's homerun when Arizona starter Max Scherzer plunked Russell Martin in the middle of the back with a fastball. Both teams were warned by the umpires. When the inning ended, both Martin and Scherzer continued to jaw at each other as they ran off the field, but no further incidents occured in the game.
But the talk of the day, really, was Manny. And not because of his homerun. After striking out on three straight pitches to end the third inning, Manny angrily tossed his bat and helmet away, turned to the home plate umpire and said something, and was quickly tossed from the game. What he said, we'll never know, but I'm pretty sure it had something to do with the two previous pitches (the first one was outside; the second one was inside but borderline). Juan Pierre finished the game in left field for Manny.
Meanwhile, Belliard has been a welcome addition. With Casey Blake nursing a nagging hamstring, all Belliard has done in starting six straight games for the Dodgers since coming over from Washington is go for 10 for 27, with two homeruns and six RBI, including finishing a triple shy of hitting for the cycle today.
Credit Ned Colletti for finding Belliard when they really needed him. He was supposed to be a power source off the bench when he was acquired, but then Thome fell into their hands and Belliard has filled in nicely for Blake, while also spelling Orlando Hudson twice last week at second base.
As for the team itself, I'm beginning to think this team is a better road team now than they are at home. I'm not sure what it is because they were cruising at home when the season started, winning their first 13 games at home, but they seem to be much more relaxed on the road right now. So would it be such a bad thing if the Dodgers didn't have home field advantage in the N.L. playoffs? Only time will tell. They play 15 of their final 24 games on the road.
There were no changes in the standings today as the Rockies and Giants both won, as well. The Dodgers continue to lead the Rockies by 3½ games and the Giants by 5½, with the Rockies still holding a two-game edge in the Wild Card over the Giants. The Cards also won, so they remain even with the Dodgers for the best record in the N.L. with identical 82-57 records.
The Blue send Billingsely to the bump tomorrow night to face Arizona's Billy Buckner.
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