Dodgers lose 10-5 to fall 6 1/2 back in wild-card race; Manny Ramirez pinch hits but ejected after one pitch

To those burning Dodgers’ questions of the moment -- Will Manny Ramirez stay or will he go? Will he play or will he sit? -- now they can add a new one:

Can he stay in the game?

Ramirez, inexplicably benched for the fourth consecutive game Sunday, pinch-hit in the sixth inning, took one pitch called a strike, complained and was quickly ejected.

And that was your Manny Ramirez for the day.

Somehow symbolic for the Dodgers’ ultimately futile effort in a disheartening 10-5 loss to the Rockies.

After wining four consecutive games to give belated life to their playoff hopes, the Dodgers have now lost consecutive games and fallen 6½ back of the Phillies in the National League wild-card race.

The Dodgers open a key three-game series at Dodger Stadium against the Phillies on Monday.

The Dodgers could do precious little with Colorado right-hander Jason Hammel, who had boasted a 6.31 earned-run average in his last 12 starts.

Meanwhile, left-hander Ted Lilly ran out of Dodgers’ pixie dust.

Lilly was 5-0 in five starts with the Dodgers, but lasted only four innings Sunday.

He gave up seven runs on nine hits -- including two doubles, two triples and two home runs. He walked only one, however, and struck out eight.

All while the Dodgers were specializing on missing out on scoring chances.

In the fourth inning, they had runners on the corners with no outs and failed to score.

After scoring one run in the fifth on Jay Gibbons’ double, they loaded the bases with no outs but Andre Ethier failed to put the ball in play with one of his four strikeouts on the day.

And then in the sixth, after scoring once on doubles by Matt Kemp and James Loney, they loaded the bases with one out and called on Ramirez.

It was what you might call a quick at-bat. He took a first pitch that appeared outside that home-plate umpire Gary Cederstrom called a strike.

Manny, who almost never argues balls and strikes, turned to Cederstrom, complained about the call and was immediately ejected.

Manny argued a bit more before walking off, his day down to one pitch. Worse, Reed Johnson then hit for Ramirez and grounded into a double play.

Colorado outfielder Carlos Gonzalez got a little more for his money, continuing to kill L.A. pitching. Gonzalez went three for four, including two home runs, scored twice and drove in three runs.

The Dodgers did score three times against the Colorado bullpen in the eighth, one on a Ronnie Belliard single and two on a Ryan Theriot hit. Either struck out again, and after a Kemp infield single loaded the bases, Loney grounded out.

They had won 10 consecutive series against the Rockies until dropping two of three over the weekend.

--Steve Dilbeck

Photo: Dodgers pinch-hitter Manny Ramirez has some final words for home-plate umpire Gary Cederstrom after getting ejected in the sixth inning Sunday. Credit: Andrew Carpenean / US Presswire

Comments

[Dodger Tony]

If it comes out that Frank McCourt has ordered Manny out of the starting lineup because he refuses to waive his no trade clause in order to help Frank pay for his haircuts, it will be the single biggest scandal in a year of them.

There may be only one scandal greater: The LA Times failure to find this out.

[OldBrooklynFan]

Normally I'd say that it was one of those days that often happens, even in good times. They hit out of sync or just couldn't continue to hit enough to knock in those runners left on base, but it's been pointed out to me and I realize it's true, they just don't believe in themselves enough.

[tom]

Manny being Manny

[Since '58]

I turned the game off when it got to 5-zip. After watching the Dodgers fail to score in the 4th with runners at the corners and no outs, I found that I had better things to do with my day. It wasn't until later, while I was running errands, that I turned on the radio and heard Ethier strike out for the fourth time in 5 AB's. I saw him pop up in the 4th. It wasn't until I turned on the post game show that I found out the final score and about Manny's theatrics.
Well friends, this all began last year during the playoffs, when Frank announced the split with the lovely Jamie. It followed through a do-nothing winter. I am sure that subconsciously, the players felt abandoned by management, and reacted in kind. They're still acting that way. I don't know how many runners the heart of the line up left on base today, but I heard the number on the post game show and quickly forgot. I also learned how many times Ethier has struck out in the past couple of weeks, but I have thankfuly forgotten that stat too.
The one thing I can feel good about is that those of you who were feeling giddy about a monstrous four game winning streak, can now relax and let this team fade into the sunset. Can we not stick a fork in them?
All you T.J. Simers haters should read his column today and see what a spot on assessment of both the McCourt LAPD free ticket charade, and the Manny benching he wrote. T.J. usually can see through the B.S.
Finally, those of you who have been telling McCourt to sell the team from the safety of this blog, will have your chance tomorrow when he and Jamie have to appear in court. I'm betting none of you show.
Just like Manny.

[bob cuomo]

I could understand Torre sitting Ramirez against Jimenez in the series opener, but sorry, I don't buy Torre's reason for him sitting Saturday and Sunday...something about there being too much ground for him to cover on defense. Listen, I'm not a Ramirez fan or anything, but there's no way I sit a guy who is supposed (the key word is supposed) to be one of my main power/clutch hitters, waivers or no waivers.

[alan]

manny didn't play this weekend because if he got hurt the dodger's would be stuck with him.

there is nothing more to be said about that.

[These Dodgers Suck!!]

OMG! how appropriate is it that that little incident will be Manny's L.A. swan song?

Like any good actor, he knew how to make an entrance and how to hold the spotlight.

amazing ~

[steve turner]

Well the Giant losers up north can breath a little easier. The blue beast is dead. And the puds down south think they're good. But the blue meanies will return and take their vengeance. Count on it.