Dodgers win again, turning back the Tigers, 6-4

The Dodgers won again Saturday.The opponent this time was the Detroit Tigers, the same squad the Dodgers beat the night before. The score: 6-4. 

Indeed, the preceding paragraph does seem somewhat redundant, but since May 8, when the Dodgers sat in last place in the National League West six games behind San Diego, the team has gone on a surge, winning 12 of 13, and entered Saturday tied for first place in the division. 

Since the Dodgers won Saturday, they're now a half-game ahead of the Padres, who play the Mariners tonight in Seattle. 

Regardless of that outcome, the Dodgers have remained consistent in their winning ways, using pitching as the starting point. Saturday, that began with John Ely, who threw six solid innings, giving up eight hits and two earned runs. He gave up both runs in the first inning, but settled from there.

Manny Ramirez's sacrifice fly in the first inning got the Dodgers on the board and Casey Blake's solo home run in the second, his sixth of the season, tied the score, and a three-run fourth inning gave the Dodgers the lead. 

It began with James Loney singling to left to drive in Matt Kemp from second base. Then, after a Blake single to right, Blake DeWitt hit a triple down the right-field line and into the corner that scored two more runs. For good measure, Kemp added a home run in the fifth inning, his ninth of the season, to put the Dodgers ahead, 6-2. 

Ramon Troncoso, on to replace Ely, gave up a home run to Brennan Boesch in the eighth and Jonathan Broxton gave up another run in the ninth on a ground-rule double by Boesch. 

But with runners on second and third, Broxton struck out Brandon Inge to pick up his 10th save. 

The Dodgers look to sweep the three-game series against Detroit on Sunday (1:10 p.m.). They'll take the day off Monday, then begin a six-gametrip by facing the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday and then the Colorado Rockies next weekend.

--Baxter Holmes

Photo: Dodgers starting pitcher John Ely delivers a pitch against Detroit on Saturday afternoon at Dodger Stadium. Credit: Luis Sinco

Comments

[OldBrooklynFan]

Just want to add that I think Troncoso might be burnt out and Broxton needs some rest.
It was a shaky start for Ely than we got some more of his terrific work. This kid is amazing.
Good to see Blake come out of his funk on this home stand and happy Kemp hit another one out.
I think we're going to need some help from Sherrill and Ra Ortiz, we need some good innings from these two before we kill the rest of the pen.

[fredyt3]

Old Brooklyn gets a raise cause he's right on the money. Troncoso is dangerous. Brox gets in trouble but manages to escape so OK for now. Dewitt and Carroll need some work on executing the basics as too many plays not fully converting, but we're winning so who cares about my whining. lastly I know the Kempster and Manny will cut down on their K's. To take 2 from a first place team is huge -

[KoufaxFan]

McDivorce has whiffed on Halladay, Lee, Sabathia, Lackey, Peavy, & Santana when having an opportunity to land a real ace because of his narrcasstic/lavish lifesytle needing $$$ to buy more & more mansions and pay his sons high salaries for doing nothing. Now Oswalt is available & I'm sure McCreep will continue to not add salary so he can pay poor Jamie McCreep the $8 mill he owes her. Perhaps Jamie can be the Dodgers 5th starter.

[These Dodgers Suck]

I'm reminded of the old thriller, "Seven Days in May" .......

its too bad the season is six months huh?