July 2007 Archives

My last consecutive-games streak was 448 games. This one was two games. A combination of a splitting, nauseating headache (gone now, thanks to Excedrin for Migraines), the usual deafening sound system of Dodger Stadium, a crowded press box where one too many people were squeezed into the area where I usually sit and a bad case of claustrophobia, I opted to take all the Grady and Ned quotes I had and, about 10 minutes before first pitch, head for the hacienda. Rich Hammond was covering the game anyway, and I was only doing the trade story, so it all worked out. ... By the way, Proctor will join the team tomorrow. They called up Delwyn Young to take Betemit's spot, and a pitcher will be sent down tomorrow to clear a roster spot for Proctor. ... That's it for tonight, at least from me. Hasta manana.

The Dodgers have re-acquired right-hander reliever Scott Proctor from the New York Yankees for third baseman Wilson Betemit. Proctor, 30, is tied for the American League lead with 54 appearances and led the A.L. with 83 appearances last season. He is 2-5 with a 3.81 ERA this season and has allowed just nine of 31 inherited runners to score.
Proctor will bolster a Dodgers' bullpen that has been overworked for much of the past month because of too many short outings by the team's starting rotation.
The Dodgers acquired Betemit from Atlanta last July 28, and he wound up hitting nine home runs for them down the stretch last season while getting most of the starts at third base. But he got off to a slow start this year and was relegated to the bench when Nomar Garciaparra was moved to third base to make room for James Loney at first. He was hitting .231 with 10 homers and 26 RBI. He had struck out 49 times in 156 at-bats.

Bill Robinson, the Dodgers' roving minor league hitting coordinator for the past two seasons, passed away on Sunday at the age of 64. No details are known at this time, but I'm working on it. He was a really, really nice guy and a credit to the organization. He also had a major hand in the development of guys like James Loney and Matt Kemp, and he will be missed. It was only a few weeks ago that we were all speculating on whether he would be the guy to replace Eddie Murray as the big-league hitting coach when Murray inevitably got fired, which he did on June 14. The club went with Bill Mueller instead, and it turned out to be the right move as the offense instantly turned things around, but Robinson was the big-league hitting coach for two World Series-winning teams, the 1986 Mets and the 2003 Marlins. A sad day in the organization.

Billingsley wound up throwing 114 of them in 4 1/3 innings, which is one more than he threw in his previous career high 11 days ago against Philly when he went a full five. He went to three-ball counts on nine batters. Eric Hull, who took over for Billingsley, got two quick outs to start the sixth, then walked Jeff Baker. That led to a three-run inning for the Rockies that put this one to bed early and sent a message to the Dodgers that they are going to have to scratch and claw for every victory in this division. Andre Ethier led off the seventh with a double, but Wilson Betemit then stepped in to pinch hit for Seanez. Shockingly, he struck out on three pitches. ... Snakes are down by six, but it's early. Pods are going to win to pull within a half-game, and the Rox are going to pull within 3 1/2. This is now, officially, a four-team race. ... Rockies 7, Dodgers 2, top 7

Chad Billingsley has reverted to his old self, throwing too many pitches. He walked the opposing pitcher, Ubaldo Jimenez, to load the bases with two outs in the fourth, but after a visit from pitching coach Rick Honeycutt, Billingsley managed to pitch his way out of that mess by getting Willy Taveras to fly to center. Billingsley gave up a solo homer to Yorvit Torrealba and a two-run shot to Matt Holliday, all in the third inning. Dodgers put runners on the corners with none out in the fourth and managed to get all of one run out of it, on a sac fly by Nomar. Furcal drew a two-out walk in the fifth, but for reasons known only to Juan Pierre, Pierre then tried to bunt his way on and failed. He seems to try that at least once a game, and it ALMOST NEVER works. Either he needs to work on his bunting, or he needs to SWING THE BAT. ... Rockies 3, Dodgers 1, bottom 5

SS Furcal
CF Pierre
C Martin
2B Kent
LF Gonzo
3B Nomar
1B Loney
RF Ethier
RH Billingsley

The rotation the rest of the week is as follows: Penny on Tuesday, Hendrickson Wed., Tomko Thurs, Billingsley Friday and Lowe Saturday. Lowe still hasn't thrown off a mound, but Grady said Lowe has felt so good throwing off flat ground that they're confident he is ready to go. And Penny's cramps are apparently only an issue when he runs to cover first or on a batted ball, so they'll send him back out and watch him closely. Still no date set for Randy Wolf's next rehab outing because he still has stiffness in his shoulder. Grady admitted that it can be termed a setback. No telling when this guy is going to be back.

This one was over before it started. Rockies had their ace going. Dodgers had Tomko. Boys fall to 57-47 and into a first-place tie with AZ, 1 1/2 ahead of the Pods and 4 1/2 ahead of the Rox.

Tomko settled in and shut out the Rockies on three hits from the third through the sixth. But the Dodgers blew a potentially big seventh after Ethier's RBI single got them within three runs and left runners on the corners with one out. Lieberthal popped up in foul territory, and Russ Martin, hitting for Tomko, popped up in fair territory. Seanez in now. Rockies 5, Dodgers 2, bottom 7

As the Dodgers jogged off the field at the end of the second inning, a Dodgers fan in the mezzanine, just to the right of the press box, stood up and yelled as loudly as he could, ``Tomko, you (stink). You're a disgrace to the blue.'' Well, that's a matter of opinion, I guess. But at least the guy had some supportive data. Tomko walked the first batter in each of the first two innings and would have walked the leadoff man in the third, too, if plate umpire Doug Eddings hadn't given him a break and rung up Todd Helton on a 3-2 pitch that was clearly low. Ryan Spilborghs, who walked to lead off the first, scored on a two-run homer by Matt Holliday. Brad Hawpe, who walked to lead off the second, scored on a two-run homer by Troy Tulowitzki. Tomko then got ahead of Spilborghs 0-2, threw him two balls, then gave up an RBI single to center. Kent just drove in the Dodgers' first run with an RBI single off Jeff Francis, extending Kent's major-league-best on-base streak to 37 games. Rockies 5, Dodgers 1, middle 4

Russell Martin is NOT starting tonight. ``Lieberthal was ready to go,'' Grady said. ``I think two days for Russ and another one on Monday might get him right back to where he needs to be (with his stiff lower back). I see a different look on his face today (after not playing Friday).'' ... Also, D-Lowe's bullpen session was pushed back a day because the off-day made it less urgent that he start as scheduled on Tuesday, even though Grady hasn't officially ruled him out of that game. Lowe did throw in a pitching motion off flat ground and said he felt ``100 times better than yesterday.'' ... Still no news on Randy Wolf, but you can take it to the bank he'll do at least one more rehab start.

SS Furcal
CF Pierre
1B Saenz
2B Kent
3B Nomar
RF Kemp
LF Ethier
C Lieberthal
RH Tomko

Saenz got a big cake from his teammates congratulating him on his first start since June 23, when he DH'd at Tampa Bay, and his first start in the field since June 1, when he played 1B. The cake was decorated with three plastic ballplayer figures, one at each base, and the one at 1B had a picture of Saenz's face glued to the head.

It's been a pretty nice day here, but the forecast calls for another big storm to come through later this afternoon. If that happens, I don't think they would have any other choice but to play a doubleheader tomorrow. It was coming down in sheets yesterday, and frankly, I'm not sure why they waited until 8 o'clock local time to call the game. ... There is some band playing on the field right now, I guess just a warmup, because there is nobody in the park 3 1/2 hours before game time. Other than that, not much news so far.

First rainout of the year. It'll be made up sometime on the Dodgers visit here in September, probably on the 17th when both teams are off, but no date has been set yet. Tomko and Billingsley were pushed back a day, which might push Hendrickson, who has been the scheduled Sunday starter, out of the rotation. Rockies are skipping Fogg, who would have been tonight's starter, and staying with their scheduled Sat (Jeff Francis) and Sun (Ubaldo Jimenez) starters. D-backs are pounding the Braves, so will probably move within a game of first, and Pods are pounding the 'Stros, so probably will move within 1 1/2. See ya tomorrow

The tarp is still on the field, 44 minutes after the game was to begin. It has been raining like crazy all afternoon, and we're supposed to get an update at 8:15 local time (7:15 California time). Too early to make a call at this point. It's still raining, but this field has a GREAT drainage system. It's a thing to behold if you ever get a chance to watch it work. ... D-Lowe's injury is to his hip, not his groin, and it looks like he might get pushed back a day or two in the rotation, but the injury isn't serious. He'll try to throw off a mound tomorrow. Meanwhile, it's fairly apparent that Wolf is going to need at last one more rehab start. ... More when I know more.

Loney moves into the three hole, with Gonzo dropping to fifth. Could have something to do with the fact Gonzo is a career 1 for 16 against Josh Fogg, although that to me would seem like more of a reason to play Ethier and Kemp in the same game.

SS Furcal
CF Pierre
1B Loney
2B Kent -- 7-11, 2 HR, 4 RBI on trip
LF Gonzo
3B Nomar
RF Ethier
C Lieberthal
RH Tomko

By the way, Jorge Martin of the Dodgers PR staff, who is in charge of editing and putting together that Dodgers Magazine that they sell at the stadium and apparently has WAY too much time on his hands, ran the numbers and came up with this stat: 488 consecutive regular season games attended by yours truly until last night, when my favorite airline had a rare hiccup that resulted in me getting to town too late to get to the game. The streak went from 7/11/04 vs. the Cardinals to 7/25/07 at the Astros.

Greetings from the greatest city on Earth. There. I said it. With apologies to the Big Apple, La-la Land, the City by the Bay, and the towns of Chi and Bean, noplace beats the Mile High City, and I wish I had appreciated it more during the five years that I lived here (1995-2000), when I spent way too much time complaining about all the snow (I pretty much hate snow). While this wasn't home for me, of all the places I have lived, it was the one place where I felt the most AT home. A LARGE percentage of the population here (at least two-thirds) moved here from some other part of the country, with a lot of them from the South like me. At one time, and this might still be true, it had the highest per capita percentage of college grads of any city in America. And then, there is this other thing ... there are three women who I will always consider the loves of my life. Two of them, I dated while living here, and while I am no longer in contact with either one, I often think of them when I am in town. I hope they are doing well, and I'm sure they went farther in life than they ever could have if they had stayed with me. My daughter, who is 16, can't stand it here, but I think that's just an example of familiarity breeding contempt, as she has lived in Colorado continuously since she was four months old. She can't wait to graduate high school, at which point she plans to go to college out of state and never return. One day, though, she'll look back and appreciate this place for what it is. Seven years after leaving for Cincinnati and my first real beat job, I know I do. ... Oh, one other personal note, and then I promise I'll keep it baseball-related the rest of the night. Congrats to my cousin, Joe Wilson, who is getting married this weekend to a fellow U.S. Marine named Emily (I am embarrassed to say I never got her last name) in her hometown of Thackerville, Okla. Sorry I can't be there for the nuptials, but I wish them both the best -- and I also thank them both, from the bottom of my heart, for their service to country.

... but no, I'm not at the game. Had airline problems getting here today, so we hired a guy named Paul Willis, whom I used to work with at the Rocky Mountain News back in the late '90s, to cover the game for us tonight. I'll be back at it tomorrow. The news on D-Lowe was no news at all, with the MRI results not known yet, apparently. And Randy Wolf was with the club, but no decision has been made yet on whether he'll need a second rehab start. I have the game on in my hotel room. Dodgers are leading 5-3, bottom 7, but it is starting to smell like a game that might get away. Meanwhile, I'm going to relax the rest of the evening. See you tomorrow.

Turns out he was NOT loafing it up the line on that 9-3 groundout. He was running as hard as he could run -- on the left groin he had injured warming up for his relief appearance on Sunday against the Mets. Yet another example of the fallout of this team's overworked bullpen. He'll have an MRI tomorrow morning in Denver, after which more will be known about his condition. He says it only hurts when he lands while pitching. Meanwhile, the Dodgers have lost six of eight since winning their first four out of the break, and this would be a devastating loss if D-Lowe is out for a long period. We'll see. Good night.

We never did get an in-game medical report on D-Lowe, but it's the first thing that will be asked after the game. Dodgers drop two of three to a team that was 14 games under .500 coming into this series and miss a golden opportunity to gain ground on the Pods, who remain a game back in the NL West. Dodgers fall to 56-46.

The game stayed tied for about 7.5 seconds. As soon as the line dance ended, D.J. Houlton started Carlos Lee 2-0, and Lee put the next one on the railroad tracks. The guess here is this one is over. The way the Dodgers are hitting tonight, one run is about all they're going to be able to muster. ... After the home run, Grady pulled a double switch, bringing in Joe Beimel and Nomar at 3B. Betemit was taken out of the game. Now why would you want to take Wilson Betemit out of the game? ... Astros 2, Dodgers 1, bottom 7

He actually might have gone city block if the roof had been open. Well, not really, because the ball hit a beam supporting the light standard in left field. But he sure gave it quite a ride, to the point that Carlos Lee didn't even turn around to watch it. Nice greeting for Stros reliever Chad Qualls, who had just come into the game and was facing his first batter. ... By the way, since the last time we were here, way back in April of '06, they have turned the foul poles into gigantic Chick-fil-A ads, with a picture of a cow's head, clad in an Astros cap, with the words ``Eat More Fowl'' going vertically down each pole. Get it? Fowl. Hahahahahahahahaha. Real knee slapper there. The letters (and the cow's head) all extend into fair territory, though, so at least there is no confusion on the part of the umpires if they have to make fair/foul -- or, excuse me, fair/fowl -- calls. ... Betemit just grounded into a force play that was almost a GIDP. Loney then GIDP'd to end the inning. Betemit is 0 for 3 and hasn't hit a ball out of the infield -- and Grady says he is leaning toward starting him at 2B tomorrow night. ... Seventh-inning stretch, time for them to play Deep in the Heart of Texas while the girls in the pink shirts, black shorts and black cowboy hats line dance on top of the dugout. ... Dodgers 1, Astros 1, middle 7

He apparently hurt himself when he had to accelerate -- something he wouldn't have had to do if he had run hard out of the box -- trying to avoid getting thrown out at first on what should have been a gimme single to right -- something he wasn't able to avoid. Not only did he suffer that colossal embarrassment, but he also had to leave the game after throwing four pitches in the bottom of the inning. He responded when he got to the dugout by heaving his glove against a wall in disgust, right in front of a TV camera with the red light on. Dodgers have run themselves into two outs tonight, including Kent getting thrown out at second trying to stretch a single in the second inning. If Lowe misses significant time, it could force the front office's hand before next week's trading deadline. Now, the Dodgers might have to give up a couple of their top prospects to get another starting pitcher. Well, the evening is certainly going well for the boys so far. ... Astros 1, Dodgers 0, bottom 5

I thought for sure I had seen Albers listed as a lefty -- although after watching Betemit predictably whiff with runners on first and second and two outs to end the fourth, I'm still not sure why he is in the lineup -- or on the team, for that matter. Dodgers are 0 for 5 with four strikeouts tonight with RISP. Nice situational hitting. Astros 1, Dodgers 0, middle 4

Dodgers got a leadoff triple from Loney in the third, but he got no farther. Matt Kemp, who for all his potential is still very much a work in progress, needed to do nothing more than put the ball in play to get Loney home with the Astros infield playing halfway. Instead, he appeared from this angle to be trying to hit the ball into the next zip code. He struck out, of course, as did Derek Lowe, who was on deck at the time. Rafael Furcal then grounded weakly to second -- albeit after a prolonged at-bat that got Matt Albers to 52 pitches for the game -- to strand Loney. D-Lowe, meanwhile, was working on a perfect game until Eric Muson got him for a one-out homer in the bottom of the third. Typical Lowe start, so far: zero offensive support and just enough mistakes -- one, in this case -- to cost himself the game. Astros 1, Dodgers 0, top 4

Betemit is playing in place of Nomar against Matt Albers. He has his average all the way up to .250 (7 for 28), with two doubles, a homer and two RBI, against lefties. Betemit might play 2B tomorrow night against Rodrigo Lopez. It would be his first start of the season at the position, which he played a lot in the minors.

SS Furcal
CF Pierre
C Martin
2B Kent
LF Gonzo
3B Betemit
1B Loney
RF Kemp
RH Lowe

Also, I am Rick Monday's pregame radio guest tonight (already recorded it), so if you want to hear my words of wisdom, turn to KFWB 980-AM.

There was some computer glitch that wouldn't allow me onto the web site last night, so no blogging. Looks like it is all fixed now, though, so back to normal -- even though there isn't a lot of news for this early in the day. I do have this little tidbit, though, from the Dodgers' game notes: In the 12 games since the All-Star break, the Dodgers led the N.L. in hits (147) while ranking second in runs (76), RBI (72), average (.324) and on-base percentage (.377), with the Phillies leading in all those categories. The Dodgers are tied for first with four triples and tied for second with 25 doubles, while ranking third in slugging percentage (.485). Not that any of that helped them last night, when they fell back into their old, freeswinging habits against Jason Jennings, who hadn't beaten an N.L. club all year. The Dodgers made five outs in five pitches over one stretch between the third and fourth innings. That can't continue if they hope to have success the rest of the way.

Second verse, same as the first

SS Furcal -- 6gm hit streak (11-29), 11-27 vs. Jason Jennings
CF Pierre
C Martin -- 4-28 since sitting out last Tues., but 7-17 vs. Jason Jennings
2B Kent --7gm hit streak and 34gm on-base streak, longest in majors '07
LF Gonzo -- 7-36 vs. Jason Jennings
3B Nomar -- 6gm hit streak (11-25)
1B Loney -- 6gm hit streak (8-25)
RF Ethier -- 2-11 vs. Jennings
LH Hendrickson

Had lunch with Dylan Hernandez and Diamond Leung at Ninfa's, a really good Tex-Mex chain down here that I recommend if you're in the area. We ate at the one in the Galleria food court. I ordered the Texas combo off the lunch menu, only $9.49, and it was way more than I could eat. ... By the way, thanks to Scott Andrews of Baton Rouge, La., (and, like me, a native Arkansan), a Dodgers fan who took the time to stop by the press box yesterday to say hello. It's nice to be reminded once in a while that there are real people out there actually reading what I write, and his great compliments about my coverage of the team made my day. Thanks again, Scott, and I hope you make it to Dodger Stadium one day soon.

The Dodgers almost had their first complete game shutout of the season until Billingsley gave up a two-out single to Mike Lamb in the ninth, followed by a two-run homer by Luke Scott. Still, Bills managed to pitch the club's fourth CG of the year, and the first by anyone other than D-Lowe. This could be the start of something very special for Billingsley. Jeff Kent went 4 for 4 with two doubles, the first of which was career No. 524, moving him past Willie Mays and into second place on the all-time career doubles list. Loney went yard in the eighth, a three-run jack that capped the scoring. Nomar went 3 for 5 and is on an 8-for-18 tear. The Dodgers reached the 100-game mark at 56-44, nine games better than last year's 47-53, after which they went 41-21 the rest of the way. Pods are leading the Rockies 4-1 in the fifth inning.

This might be the best start of his young career, and it's coming against a pretty good lineup. Even when he gets himself into minor trouble, as he did in the fifth by giving up a leadoff single to Eric Munson and then walking Eric Bruntlett, he manages to get out of it. Morgan Ensberg lined out to left, Russ Martin picked Bruntlett off first (on a bad call by Gery Davis that went the Dodgers' way, offsetting another bad call by Davis in the first inning when Juan Pierre clearly beat out a bunt but was called out), and Craig Biggio whiffed. Martin just doubled down the leftfield line, ending his 3 for 26 slide, then scored when Kent doubled off the wall in right-center. Dodgers 5, Astros 0, top 7

His last time out, Chad Billingsley threw a career-high 113 pitches in five innings. Tonight, he has thrown 43 through four innings, and he has given up just two hits without allowing the Astros to get close to scoring. Dodgers have scored a couple of manufactured runs with some good situational hitting and with the help of Astros pitcher Chris Sampson, who threw a wild pitch that allowed Jeff Kent to score from third in the fourth. He also deflected a comebacker from Rafael Furcal in the fifth, leaving neither Sampson nor his teammates any chance of getting Furcal at first, and that hit started a rally that culminated in a tow-run single by Gonzo. Russell Martin is 0 for 3 and now is 3 for 27 since sitting out last Tuesday night's game. Dodgers 4, Astros 0, middle 5

Saito's MRI showed nothing. He will rejoin the team during the game tonight, and there is some hope he will be ready to pitch by tomorrow. He had an injury similar to this in Japan. This one started with pain over a large area of his back and neck, and it has since subsided to a small, localized area. Saito told Grady that was exactly what happened in Japan, and the localization of the pain told him then that he was almost ready to come back. ... They called up Eric Hull, sending Eric Stults out to make room for him. Stults came through for them in a spot start yesterday, and, as Grady said, ``It had nothing to do with his performance.'' Rather, the Dodgers had to have another arm in the pen, so they had to make room for one.

SS Furcal
CF Pierre
C Martin
2B Kent
LF Gonzo
3B Nomar
1B Loney
RF Ethier
RH Billingsley

Within minutes of me informing Aram Tolegian, who is covering the game for us today, that the Dodgers were about to take their first two-game lead in the NL West since May 19, the Dodgers blew the lead in the ninth, another example of how Jonathan Broxton might not be ready for the closer role. He had trouble throwing strikes throughout the ninth inning, especially after Carlos Delgado reached on that tough play in the first that James Loney perhaps should have made, although it was ruled a hit. The tying run scored on an error by Matt Kemp, who, as good a hitter as he already is, needs a little work in the outfield. The Mets scratched out a run in the 10th off D.J. Houlton. The Dodgers almost scratched one out in the bottom of the 10th off Billy Wagner, but they ended up leaving the tying run on third and the winning run on second when Nomar, who had homered earlier in the game, took a called third strike. By the way, Russell Martin is 3 for 23 since sitting out on Tuesday night. The boys fall to 55-44 and remain one game up on the Pods. Off to Houston in the morning (early). Talk to you when I get there.

Fairly basic. Ethier is playing Stults is pitching

SS Furcal
CF Pierre
C Martin
2B Kent
LF Gonzo
3B Nomar
1B Loney
RF Ethier
LH Stults

Penny went 6 1/3 and became the first Dodgers pitcher to start 12-1 since Phil Regan went 14-1 in 1966. Saito obviously wasn't available again, because he never warmed up in the ninth and Broxton got the final five outs in order, with three strikeouts, after Beltran's homer chased Beimel. Beltran is 6 for 13 for three home runs and a double in the series. All three of his homers have come in the eighth inning. Dodgers go to 55-43. Pods play later. Arizona won and will stay 4 1/2 back. Colorado lost and will fall 5 1/2 back.

Sosa's second time through the order wasn't so good. The boys exploded for five in the fourth, the big blow a three-run jack by Matt Kemp, then added two more in the sixth when Ruben Gotay made a wild relay on what would have been an inning-ending GIDP by Martin. But Beimel just gave up a two-run shot to Carlos Beltran, so this is a long way from being over. Not sure of Saito is available -- Grady says he isn't going to identify his available relievers to the media before the game anymore because it tips off the other team -- but Brox is coming on now to replace Beimel. Dodgers 8, Mets 6, top 8

He walked the leadoff man in the second, and it wound up costing him a two-run inning. He got two quick outs in the third, but Carlos Beltran got him for a two-out single, and David Wright followed with a homer to right-center. Mets haven't had a hit since, and the Dodgers got a run back in the third when Penny doubled and scored on Juan Pierre's single, extending Pierre's hitting streak to 14 games. But Jorge Sosa is pitching WELL for the Mets, even better than Oliver Perez last night. ... By the way, another thing I never got into the paper last night was that Mets Jose Valentin, who spent a season with the Dodgers two years ago (most of it on the DL), broke his right tibia when he fouled a ball off his leg last night. ... Mets 4, Dodgers 1, bottom 4

Nomar and Gonzo are sitting, as the boys are going heavily left-handed against Jorge Sosa. Lefties are hitting .256 against him compared to .212. But of the six HRs he has given up, five have been hit by lefties.

SS Furcal
CF Pierre
C Martin
2B Kent
1B Loney
3B Betemit
LF Ethier
RF Kemp
RH Penny

One of the hot rumors of the day, which you likely will read somewhere on the internet, is that the Dodgers are about to trade Wilson Betemit to the Yankees for reliever Scott Proctor. Let me be the first to nip it in the bud, because it ain't going to happen, according to a very reliable source I just spoke with. Although it WAS discussed at one point, it never really got off the ground. ... Forgot to get this in the paper last night, but Jeff Kent has tied Willie Mays for 33rd place on the all-time doubles list with 523 and Yogi Berra for 68th place on the all-time home run list with 358.

From the Dodgers' perspective, this game was lost when Roberto Hernandez came in and allowed the first three batters he faced to reach and score, turning a 1-1 tie into a 4-1 deficit. But don't lose sight of the performance of Oliver Perez. This guy is finally blossoming into the pitcher he was always supposed to be, and as good as the Dodgers have been offensively of late, he took them to school tonight. They got their hits, putting a man on base in six of the eight innings that began with Perez on the mound. But time after time, he came up with big pitches at big times, and the Dodgers were helpless to do much about it. Dodgers went 0 for 8 w/RISP. Hope they're not falling back into old habits. They fell to 54-43 and stayed tied with the Pods, 4 1/2 games ahead of the fading Snakes and the surging Rox.

I wrote in today's paper that the tentative target date for Wolf to return is Aug. 1. Not sure how that happened, but I read the calendar wrong. If he pitches on Wed. at Inland Empire and returns five days later, that would put him on track to return July 31, not Aug. 1. Five days later is actually July 30, but the Dodgers are off that day. My bad.

SS Furcal
CF Pierre
C Martin
2B Kent
LF Gonzo
3B Nomar
1B Loney
RF Kemp
RH Tomko

Interesting that six recent former Dodgers took part in this massacre, including Aaron Sele, who was awarded the victory by scorer's discretion because Tom Glavine didn't go the requisite five innings. As bad a night as it was, though, it provided even more evidence of just how bright the Dodgers' future is. James Loney and Matt Kemp, batting seventh and eighth, respectively, took good at-bats all night (well, most of the night). Some of these young kids take at-bats like they have been in the league for 10 years. Meanwhile, Hu and LaRoche continued to sizzle tonight. Vegas beat Portland 14-6 tonight, with Hu going 3 for 4 with a double and LaRoche going 2 for 5 with a home run. ... Dodgers fall to 54-42 and back into a first-place tie with San Diego. This bullpen is in trouble, especially with Tomko going tonight. But Grady did a good job of staying away from Broxton and Saito tonight, and Hendrickson did a good job of eating two innings. Also Roberto Hernandez had a nice Dodgers debut, retiring the Mets in order in the seventh.

Lineup is fairly basic, with Kemp playing RF against the lefty Glavine. Marlon is in the Mets lineup, playing LF and batting second.

SS Furcal
CF Pierre
C Martin
2B Kent
LF Gonzo
3B Nomar
1B Loney
RF Kemp
RH Lowe

Randy Wolf will throw off a mound tomorrow for the first time, but it will be very light and very short just to test his shoulder to see how it responds to throwing off an incline. If that goes well, he'll throw a full bullpen on Sunday (usually about 60 pitches). If THAT goes well, he might start a rehab at Inland Empire on Wednesday, but trainer Stan Conte said that is ``really, really subject to change.'' At any rate, all of this means he won't start a game for the Dodgers until AT LEAST Aug. 1. But at least there is some semblance of a plan now.

The Mets purchased the contract of Marlon Anderson from their Triple-A New Orleans affiliate for tonight's game. They signed him to a minor-league deal shortly after the Dodgers released him last Wednesday. Good news for a really good guy. It was probably the right move for the Dodgers to let him go, but he'll be missed in their clubhouse. The bad news is that to make room for Marlon, the Mets optioned David Newhan, the former Pepperdine standout who lives in Yorba Linda, just in time for them to play a game in his hometown. This can be a cruel business sometimes, especially for David's dad, Ross, a Hall of Fame baseball writer who I'm sure was looking forward to spending some quality time with him

The boys bounced back nicely from last night's humiliation to take two of three. The bullpen, overworked though it may be, was outstanding, with a scoreless inning each from Seanez (the winner), Beimel, Broxton and Saito. The boys go to 54-41. Pods play late.

Billingsley blew the lead as soon as he got it, but Gonzo took Kendrick deep to lead off the sixth and put the Dodgers back in front. This game is now in the hands of the Dodgers' bullpen, which has been horribly overworked of late, but after Rudy Seanez pitched a perfect sixth and Joe Beimel followed with a perfect seventh, the game is perfectly lined up now for Broxton in the eighth and Saito in the ninth. Kemp just led off with a single off Ryan Madson. Dodgers 5, Phillies 4, bottom 7

Dodgers were kind of dead until Betemit and Loney came up with back-to-back singles with one out in the fourth, and Ethier took Kyle Kendrick deep. Furcal and Juan Pierre singled back to back to start the game, and Russell Martin singled in Furcal before Kendrick could record an out, but that rally fizzled when Gonzo lined into a double play. Meanwhile, Billingsley is Billingsley, throwing way too many pitches, but he has a lead now, so we'll see what happens. Dodgers 4, Phillies 3, middle 4

In desperate need of a 12th pitcher, the Dodgers purchased the contract of veteran reliever Roberto Hernandez this morning. To make room, they optioned Tony Abreu to Las Vegas, where he'll play mostly 2B, even though Grady said he'll move around some. This gives the 51s an infield that looks similar to what the Dodgers will sport sometime in the next year or two, with Abreu at second, Hu at short and LaRoche at third. Hernandez will be a middle-innings guy, but at least for now probably can't be counted on for more than an inning. ... I can't remember today's lineup off the top of my head after looking at it on the board downstairs (guess I should have written it down), and the sheet they pass out in the press box hasn't arrived yet, but what I remember is that Kent and Nomar are sitting and Grady went heavily left-handed against Kyle Kendrick, the Phillies' rookie who is holding right-handed batters to a .208 average while lefties are hitting .333 (24-72) against him.

Not a whole lot you can say about this one -- even though I just wrote two stories about it. If you want to read one of them, pony up your 50 cents in the morning. Or just go to dailynews.com in about 39 minutes, and the last one should be posted. Dodgers fall to 53-41 and stay a game ahead of the Pods cause they got pounded too. Bright and early tomorrow. Talk to ya then.

Three batters into the game -- THREE -- after Chase Utley doubled to drive in Shane Victorino and give the Phillies a 1-0 lead, the boos started raining down from the stands. The Dodgers came into tonight on a season-high five-game winning streak. Mark Hendrickson has pitched well, including two innings on Saturday in San Francisco that saved the Dodgers you-know-whats after they blew a six-run lead. So what were these people booing about? For pete's sake, save the boos until there is REALLY a reason to boo (fill in your own punch line here). Is every run scored by the opposing team worthy of catcalls? ... Anyway, Shane Victorino, whom the Dodgers (previous regime) let get away in the 2004 Rule 5 draft and who has 11 homers and 37 RBI this season s the Phillies' everyday RF, just tripled in two more runs. Hendrickson has gutted his way through to this point, but he doesn't appear to have much. Might have something to do with the fact he threw a side session and then two innings in that game Saturday. Meanwhile, the Dodgers have no runs and one hit off a J.D. Durbin, a guy who came in with a 13.50 ERA and who has been waived three different times this season by three different clubs. Oh, and he also is 2 for 2 against Hendrickson. Phillies 5, Dodgers 0, top 4

Martin is sitting, partly because tomorrow is an early day game (12:10) and partly because he didn't get as much of an All-Star break as everybody else. Lieberthal didn't get another balloon delivery like he did to celebrate the last time he started, but as Grady said, ``Whoever is buying those balloons won't go broke if they do it every single start (by Lieberthal).''

SS Furcal 5-gm hitting streak (10-24)
CF Pierre 9-gm hitting streak (17-43)
1B Loney 6-gm hitting streak (11-25)
2B Kent
LF Gonzo
3B Nomar
RF Kemp
C Lieberthal
LH Hendrickson

We heard for years about Loney's defense. Well, we're seeing it firsthand now, and it's every bit as good as it was always supposed to be. Sure, there was that little lapse in the first inning on Saturday when he muffed that throw from Furcal. But that didn't even lead to a run, and he ended up saving that game with that diving play to rob Kevin Frandsen in the 10th. He also might have saved the previous night's game when he made that diving stop to rob Bonds, because that was still a close game that the Dodgers wound up blowing open. And tonight, he made several tough plays, most notable that reaction play to his right in the second inning, when he was holding Pat Burrell on, to rob Greg Dobbs of a hit and turn it into a 3-6-1 GIDP. ... This team appears to be coming together, and they are playing their best ball of the season right now. They have won five in a row for the first time and have moved 13 games over .500 (53-40) for the first time. And Furcal and Pierre are finally beginning to form that formidable duo at the top that they were always supposed to, which creates a trickle-down effect all the way through the lineup. They need to get Randy Wolf back and probably need to add another starting pitcher at the trade deadline, which might not happen. But they already have the best record in the N.L. and are beginning to look like the kind of team that can play deep into October. A lot can happen between now and then, but right now, there isn't much to criticize -- other than Penny's snippy attitude when a reporter (NOT me) asked him the very legitimate question after the game of whether it was important for him to get off to a good start in the second half this year because he was so bad in the second half last year. ... Dodgers stay a game in front of the Pods. Nighty-night.

... for Camille Johnston, the Dodgers' Senior VP of Communications, who became engaged on Tuesday to Mark Miller. He did it the old-fashioned way, asking her dad for permission first, then formally proposed to her on the beach. Camille is the person one local columnist affectionately refers to as the Tipper Gore lady, because she was Mrs. Gore's communications director during Al Gore's last couple of years as Vice President and during his 2000 presidential campaign. She was hired by the Dodgers in October 2005, just a couple of weeks before Ned Colletti was named GM, and I have often said those two moves marked the turning point of the McCourts' ownership of the club. The product on the field improved almost immediately, and the franchise's public image got the makeover it so desperately needed. ... The Dodgers scratched out three runs in an impressive first inning that showed what can happen when Furcal and Pierre both get on base back to back. Jeff Kent hit a three-run homer in the third. Penny isn't dominating, but so far, he is good enough. Dodgers 6, Phillies 1, end 4

Gonzo is sitting so Kemp and Ethier can play together -- and also because Gonzo is 0 for 13 against Jamie Moyer. Even though Grady doesn't seem to put that much importance on batter-pitcher matchups, that one is tough to ignore. Gonzo also went 2-12 in San Fran and thus could probably use a day off -- and the Dodgers could definitely use a night of Ethier, who went 6-10 in SF and is hitting .295 overall, and Kemp, who was 5-8 and hitting .380 overall, in the lineup at the same time. Nomar, who went 1-10 in SF, is in the lineup. Betemit, who went 4-6 with a double and a HR in the one game he started in SF, is not.

SS Furcal
CF Pierre
C Martin
2B Kent
1B Loney
3B Nomar
LF Ethier
RF Kemp
RH Penny

Also, Wolf played catch again, but said he still has no timetable for getting on a mound. Grady still won't say Wolf will need a rehab, but it would be tough to put him back into the rotation without at least one rehab start because of the risk of him aggravating the injury and then being lost for another two weeks. He has a mild setback in a rehab start, you just back him off and maybe it doesn't take two weeks to get him back because you haven't activated him and he hasn't appeared in a major league game. Just my two cents' worth, which is about ALL it is worth. Speaking of worth, Jayson Werth is on the Phillies' DL and apparently not on the trip because no one I have asked has seen him. More bad luck for one of the all-time good guys.

The Phillies got their milestone defeat out of the way yesterday so it's not an issue coming into this series. The Dodgers haven't played that well against these guys in recent years, especially at home, but the boys are hot right now, so we'll see what happens. ... One final Barry Bonds note, in response to his postgame comments yesterday and the completely classless way in which they were delivered: I agree, he IS an embarrassment to the, uhhhhh, &#$% uniform (not to mention to humanity in general), and HE should go away. ... A hearty thank you goes out to Delta Air Lines, which, as I have mentioned before on this blog, is basically the only airline I fly. They have FINALLY added nonstops from LAX to all the NL West cities, so I no longer have to fly through their Salt Lake City hub to go to San Francisco, Phoenix and Denver (sounds ridiculous, I know, but if any of you are elite-level frequent fliers, you understand). The nonstops are these tiny little regional jets that are so small there is only one seat on the left side of the cabin (two on the right), and all the overhead bins are on the right because the left is too narrow. But that's a small price to pay for the convenience. I left SFO at 6:30 this morning and was walking into my house at 9:15. Reminded me of when I was covering the Reds (Cincy is a Delta hub), and they would play a weekend series at Milwaukee, St. Louis, Pittsburgh or Chicago, and I would board a dawn flight on Monday and be home (and usually napping) by 8:30 or 9. It's a wonderful thing.

You hate to say this when he stands on the brink of breaking Henry Aaron's all-time record (eventually), but Barry Bonds simply doesn't strike fear in the hearts of pitchers or opposing managers the way he once did. He came to the plate 10 times during this series when he could have either tied a game, put the Giants ahead or, in two cases, even given them a walkoff victory with career HR No. 752. And yet, he finished the series 0 for 12 with three walks, three Ks and three GIDPs. To me, the three walks are the most telling. Not one of them went into the books as intentional, and I honestly don't think the Dodgers were pitching around him in any of them, either -- not even yesterday's walk to lead off the ninth inning against Saito, who ended up paying for it when Bonds came around to score the tying run. As usual, his Barryn-ness is the runaway major-league leader in walks with 94, but only 30 of them have been intentional. And while both those numbers put him well ahead of last year's pace of 115/38, the more appropriate comparison is to 2004, when he set the all-time, single-season records for both with 232/120. He isn't going to come anywhere NEAR that this year, and no one even pays any attention anymore to the rubber chickens they hang on the wall down the rightfield line here. The Giants play a three-game set at Dodger Stadium starting July 31. If this keeps up, Bonds may still be sitting on 751 when he gets to town.

Broxton pitched into, then out of, a big jam in the eighth inning, getting Dave Roberts to strike out swinging after a long at-bat, and Saito didn't come close to blowing this one. Visiting club has now won all nine games in this storied rivalry this season, and the boys have now won 11 in a row at AT&T. His Barry-ness popped to short to end the game and went 0 for 12 with 3 walks in the series. Dodgers go to 52-40, matching their season high 12 games above .500. Pods are beating the Snakes 4-0, top 8