Dodgers 7, Padres 2
Derek Lowe is fine. He was lifted as a precaution after he was hit on the back of the right leg by that line drive, but Torre said that was going to be his last inning anyway. He is expected to make his next scheduled start on Tuesday night at Pittsburgh. ... Brad Penny's line looked awful, but it wasn't as bad as it seemed. In his first appearance since Aug 13 and only the third relief appearance of his career, Penny faced three batters, didn't record an out and left with the bases loaded. But his only real gaffe was a leadoff walk. Neither of the two hits he gave up were hit hard. ... Manny Ramirez's two-homer game was the 52nd multiple-homer game of his career, his third this season and his second for the Dodgers. The remarkable thing about it, though, was that both of his shots were to one of the deepest nooks in one of the most pitcher-friendly ballparks in the league, and both of them shot out of the place like they had been fired from a cannon. The ball just looks different coming off this guy's bat. ... Dodgers go to 75-71, move 3 1/2 ahead of the Snakes and shave that magic number to 14. ... I'm traveling tomorrow, then spending the evening with my daughter in Colorado. Barring a major development, don't expect to hear from me until Friday.
I REALLY hope they keep Manny and he retires a Dodger...he's the most exciting player I've ever seen in a Dodger uniform.
Dear Dodger Organization -
KEEP MANNY RAMIREZ. Pay the man. As you've seen already, this is what a type of player of this caliber will contribute to a team. This is what we have been waiting years for!Not more concession stands, or another 50 years at Dodger stadium, but a superstar power hitter. Make it happen.
ManRam is the best offensive player in the history of the Los Angeles Dodgers & he's only been here a little over a month. No one comes close: not Piazza, not Green, not Sheffield, not Garvey, not Tommy Davis, not anybody. Dodgers need to keep the following guys SHUT DOWN to win this thing: Penny, Jones, Kent.