He's back! Broxton nails down win for Kershaw

Clayton Kershaw pitched his heart out Tuesday.

Then his bullpen threatened to rip it out once again before Jonathan Broxton -- of all people -- got the final out in the Dodgers' 6-0 win over the Colorado Rockies in the opener of a six-game homestand at Dodger Stadium.

The win was just the second in seven games for the Dodgers, and it came despite the fact the Dodgers' two biggest flaws -- a lack of timely hitting and a lock-down bullpen -- once again reared their ugly heads.

It's a script Dodgers starters have become familiar with lately: pitch well, leave with a lead and then hope their relievers can close it out. Sometimes they do; many times they don't.

Take Kershaw, for example. He's allowed more than two earned runs just once in his previous five starts, yet he has just one win to show for it. On Tuesday, he scattered five hits over seven shutout innings, striking out six. But before he'd gotten back to the clubhouse, reliever Kenley Jansen had allowed a single and a walk, putting the Dodgers bullpen back on a tightrope.

George Sherrill came in to quickly restore order, however, and Broxton then pitched a perfect ninth, helping Kershaw raise his record to 11-7 and drop his ERA to 3.03, best among Dodgers starters in both categories.

And to think Manager Joe Torre spent part of the afternoon lamenting his team's offense.

Or, rather, his team's lack of offense.

"We haven't been productive. And you need production," he said. "Our hitting has been erratic. And very inconsistent."

The Dodgers were stuck in neutral again for much of Tuesday, managing just a hit off Colorado starter Jhoulys Chacin through four innings. That all changed in the fifth, though, when Jamey Carroll drew a lead-off walk and catcher A.J. Ellis singled him to third.

One out later, Scott Podsednik dropped an opposite-field double just out of the reach of Ryan Spilborghs, one-hopping the short fence in the left-field corner to score a pair. That was the Dodgers' first hit in their last 26 at-bats with runners in scoring position, but it wouldn't be their last. After an out and a walk, James Loney drove in two more runs with a double to right-center then scored himself on Casey Blake's solid single.

Blake added an eighth-inning single and scored the Dodgers final run when Colorado reliever Randy Flores fielded pinch-hitter Ronnie Belliard's weak tapper back to the mound but threw wildly to first, pulling Todd Helton off the bag.

-- Kevin Baxter

Comments

[alanw19]

Great, we win a game. Seems like forever between them these days.

This is good, but we'll need many more to be sure we finish above the D-backs. With a little luck, we can pass the Rockies and nab third place. We didn't get 11 games back with one loss, and we sure aren't leaping everybody with this one win. Better than recent alternatives. I left the office last night asking colleagues, "how do you think the Dodgers will invent a way to lose tonight?"

Kevin, nice point on Kershaw. Just his last 5 starts prior to Tuesday place him in a conversation of could already be a 15-game winner and having a shot at 20. Bet there's a couple more games from earlier in the season that would inch him closer, too. The 3.03 ERA is just outstanding. As he improves efficiency with how many pitches he throws, this could be the norm - or it could be even lower.

[These Dodgers Suck!]

WOO HOO!! WE WON ONE!
Back in first by friday!!

[Humbi]

Yeah Broxton pitched a perfect ninth because there was no pressure and a 6 run lead. Woo Hoo! I hope Torre doesnt start using him in 9th inning pressure situations just because of this one game. But really, who cares? The season is over. 11 games back of the Padres and too many teams to pass for the wild card. Sad!

[Since '58]

Well, it's nice to know that Sherrill can hold a five run lead, and that Broxton is lights out when he has six to work with. A win every once in a while can be refreshing.

[N.P.Krohn]

Torre will find away to mismanage the bulpen which is a shame because all the elements are there for them to be successful. Kuo should remain the 9th inning man for the next couple of weeks(had he not been brought in too early we would have won game 4 in Atl.) letting Broxton get his confidence back in outings like last night. Saw Sherril throw multiple 90mph fastballs for the first time all yeaR IN Atl.,though last nite was only throwing 88-89, which was a first on the season. He's still not locating well but think he might be getting to where he can be counted on for outs against lefties. Limit Jansens use, we have Dotel for pressure situations. Montestarios is well above average in long relief. If by some miracle the bats come around and we get a streak together and climb back into the playoff picture, I pray that Torre will wactch old footage of the 86' Mets(McDowell/Orosco) and the 90' Reds(Dibble/Myers/Charlton) because that is how we should be closing our games in Sept. and next season. Let Kuo/Broxton pitch the 9th depending on the matchups. Broxton's a headcase but he's not done and Kuo's not invincible. The groundwork is already laid for this dream to become a reality it's just a matter of allowing it to happen.

[Rene]

Broxton is not back. he doesnt have it. if the game was being decided by a run or 2 he would have blown it. i dont trust him one bit. at the most he is a set up guy. trade this little boy in a mans body. he has a fastball that can reach a 100mph but is afraid to use it.

[steve turner]

This guy is capable of doing far too much damage. He has singly put the dodgers out of the playoff race by blowing huge game after huge game. They got swept by St. Louis and extended a losing streak. The loss to Atlanta was so demoralizing I don't care to watch games anymore. You think after last year when he blew the save to the Phils the dodgers would have fixed the closer problem but I guess not. Jansen is good but can't hold a runner on first. Dotel looks good sometimes, and Quo can't pitch everyday. That leaves an eratic Sherrill. It looks like platoon time. But if its Broxton I won't watch . I've seen this disaster movie too many times.