Dodgers blow four-run lead in ninth, somehow fall to Yankees 8-6 in 10 innings
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Right there and then snatched away. A wonderful little Dodgers victory, a series-clinching victory over the rival Yankees, gone in a flash.
The Dodgers may suffer more heartbreaking losses this season, but you would never convince them of that now.
Not after Jonathan Broxton squandered a four-run lead in the ninth. Not after James Loney failed to immediately throw home to get the tying run, and then threw wide. And not after George Sherrill continued his amazing career meltdown.
To be sure, the Yankees were clutch, both young and old. They battled when all appeared lost, rallying for a stunning 8-6 victory Sunday in 10 innings.
Robinson Cano’s two-run homer off Sherrill in the 10th provided the winning margin, though the game was really lost when the Dodgers couldn’t put the Yankees away in the ninth.
The game began like an almost simple, little Dodgers victory.
Clayton Kershaw in command. Andy Pettitte struggling. Joe Torre lineup changes working like magic.
The Dodgers turned a 6-2 lead over to Broxton to start the ninth. That’s supposed to be money in the bank. A closed deal.
Broxton has been almost absurdly reliable this season. Though this wasn’t one, he has converted 15 consecutive saves.
But he never looked in command Sunday, never seemed to have his overpowering stuff.
Broxton, who had thrown 19 pitches Saturday night, struck out Mark Teixeira to start the inning and then went downhill like a rock down Mt. Baldy.
Alex Rodriguez, who had earlier hit a two-run homer off Kershaw, singled and went to second on defensive indifference. Cano doubled him home. Jorge Posada singled Cano to third. Curtis Granderson walked.
Then Chad Huffman, who entered the game in the fourth to replace Brett Gardner after he was hit by a Kershaw pitch on the forearm, singled to score two more. Granderson advanced to third.
The Dodgers’ lead was down to one and Broxton was seriously laboring.
Still with one out, rookie Collin Curtis then hit a sharp bouncer to Loney at first.
Instead of quickly firing home, Loney first stepped on the bag. Then when he did throw to the plate, it was wide. And Granderson had scored the tying run.
By the time Broxton finally got pinch-hitter Francisco Cervelli to ground out and end the inning, he had thrown a stunning 48 pitches.
The Dodgers almost dissolved after that. Two players -- Garret Anderson and Russell Martin -- were ejected by home plate umpire Chris Guccione for arguing strikes.
And then there was Ramon Troncoso coming in to start the 10th and quickly giving up a single. Followed by the lost Sherrill, who quickly gave up the two-run homer to the left-handed Cano.
Almost forgotten in the turnaround was Kershaw going seven strong innings, not walking a batter for the time in his career (68 games).
-- Steve Dilbeck