Jerry Sands brings the buzz, Ted Lilly the pitching in Dodgers' 4-2 victory
First major league games should be memorable. Safe to say, Jerry Sands will remember his Monday night against the Atlanta Braves.
Sands, called up earlier in the day after spending only 10 games at triple A, had a series of at-bats to remember in the Dodgers’ 4-2 victory.
His first at-bat came in a three-run first inning, and he promptly doubled against Tim Hudson.
When he batted for the second time, in the third inning, the Dodger Stadium crowd of 28,292 chanted, "Jer-ree, Jer-ree" ala Jerry Springer. Then he hit a sacrifice fly to right field to drive in his first run.
They chanted his name again in the fourth inning when, after seeming to lose Brian McCann’s low line drive in the lights, he recovered to make an awkward shoe-string catch in left field.
Then in the sixth inning, after more chants, Hudson seemingly grew tired of the Jerry Sands Show. He threw his first pitch at Sands’ helmet. And welcome to the majors.
Ted Lilly, who threw seven scoreless innings in his best start this season, retaliated in the top of the seventh inning, throwing a pitch behind Nate McLouth. A little "It’s OK, kid, we have your back."
After more "Jer-ree, Jer-ree" chants, Sands struck out in the sixth inning and in the eighth. Still, a night to remember for the Dodgers' reigning minor league player of the year.
Lilly took advantage of a run-scoring single by Matt Kemp and a two-run single by James Loney in the first inning to shut down the Braves on four hits for seven innings. He looked a lot like the pitcher who first joined the Dodgers on July 31, walking two and striking out six.
Jonathan Broxton gave up two runs in the ninth inning.
-- Steve Dilbeck
Photo: Dodgers left fielder Jerry Sands watches his double in the first inning Monday night at Dodger Stadium. Credit: Kirby Lee / US Presswire
Seriously, Broxton? Seriously...
Posted by: dodgersfan | 04/18/2011 at 10:31 PM
How fitting is that? "Jonothan Broxton gave up two runs in the ninth." A great game overall by the Men in Blue, then clunky Broxton nearly loses the game again; guy should NOT be our closer. He has one pitch (fastball) that EVERYONE is teeing off of now!
Posted by: Darin | 04/18/2011 at 10:33 PM
I wonder if bringing this kid up from the minors is one of McScum's attempts to pull some Jedi mind tricks on us. It's funny to see how the fans already dig this kid more than any other Dodger. The lineup is so weak and starless that a minor leaguer steals the show. A crowd under 27k is like music to my ears, I'll watch this kid from home and hope he takes Loney's job.
Posted by: Wilton "Corky" Guerrero | 04/18/2011 at 11:01 PM
The crowd chanting "Jer-ree, Jer-ree" will draw the inevitable comparisons between Dodger Stadium a la Frank McCourt and the Jerry Springer show. And like it or not there are many similarities. Although you probably don't have to pay $15 to park at the Jerry Springer show.
Posted by: skyharbor | 04/19/2011 at 12:05 AM
Every time Broxton comes up to "close" it's a ticket for some free runs to the apposing team. Why is he still our closer!!? That guy simply sucks and could easily lose every game if he gives up one or two runs at a time. Do the managers not know what a closer looks like?? Brian Wilson (SF), Mariano Rivera (NY) just to name a couple. These guys go out there and pitch 10-12 pitches max and here is Broxton pitching 33 with a batter to go! He should have been fired for good ever since he lost the game against the Yankees last year when he came on the ninth with a SIX run lead! Pathetic!
Posted by: ThatOneArtist | 04/19/2011 at 01:34 AM
Broxton has an ERA > 6 and consistently gives up runs in the 9th, yet he is still our closer. It seems that Donny Baseball is highly overated.
Posted by: Kid Kuo | 04/19/2011 at 01:45 AM
Good to get a win, much less 2 straight. Two more at home, try to string something together.
Posted by: alanw19 | 04/19/2011 at 03:32 AM
a "minor" feel-good nite, as pitching STILL the name of the game, & w/BroX-the-TON still getting prime-time spots, it's gonna be a VERY LONNNNNG yr
Posted by: BroXtheTON | 04/19/2011 at 06:37 AM
Jerry Sands has hit consistently every where he has been. The kid hit 61hr in college. He led the minor leagues last year with 36hrs, he is ready and prooved that by hitting .400, 5hr and 17rbi in 10 games at AAA. I dont know if you had a chance to watch the post game, but the interview with him showed his poise and confidence. This guys is a star in the making.
Go BLUE
Posted by: Justin | 04/19/2011 at 07:47 AM
Broxton = garbage time.
It's a miracle he didn't lose that game.
Posted by: Chumpy Kemp | 04/19/2011 at 08:30 AM
Ted Lilly is performing MIRACLES.I've seen better arms in the High School levels.The only difference is his ability to change speeds and Major League hitters are use to hitting 90 mph plus pitching not 80 mph.Lilly is signed for three years.I predict on his third year of his contract, his fastball velocity will be in the 70 mph range.Lilly will also receive a 13.5 million dollar paycheck in 2013.Can we still keep the FAITH ?
Posted by: LA42 | 04/19/2011 at 09:26 AM
HOW IS BROXTON HUMANLY POSSIBLE?
Posted by: Hollywood Dodger Mark | 04/19/2011 at 10:50 AM
4-0 lead and Broxton again 1 pitch away from tying game up. Not humanly possible. Really, not possible.
Posted by: Hollywood Dodger Mark | 04/19/2011 at 10:52 AM
I love how the headline is about Sands and Lily and most comments are about Broxton (as they should be!). This needs to stop already. Donnie shouldn't wait till Broxton actually blows games to remove him as the closer, because in reality he should have lost 3 maybe 4 of his saves if it wasn't for the fact they were up by 2 or more runs. This is ridiculous. Even winning 4-0 in the 9th, I knew Brox would find a way to almost blow it.
In positive news, I like the attitude of this team, I like the retaliation pitch by Lily. I also liked when Kershaw hit Posey twice after Lincecum hit Uribe twice. None of this would have happened under Torre.
Posted by: A-Man | 04/19/2011 at 12:07 PM
Broxton has not had one outing this year that says anything but middle relief. We are not going to win many games by a wide margin and to let Broxton keep walking the tight rope while Guerrier is pitching so well is a little crazy. Loved Sands starting in left. A little disappointed he struck out twice on the same pitch from two different pitchers but he did battle in both ABs so I'll chalk it up first game jitters and be more the happy with the double and love the sacrifice fly which we haven't seen too much of since Manny started taking pregnant pills.
Posted by: N.P.Krohn | 04/19/2011 at 12:26 PM
It's quite a commentary that a discussion that begins with a positive topic like Jerry Sands can end up with the overriding negativity of Broxton. He'll continue to be the Achilles heel of this team. I can see Loney and Uribe improving somewhat. But Broxton won't. Mattingley, unfortunately, has no other choice that I can think of on the 40 man roster. If we can see it coming when Broxton comes in from the bullpen, you can imagine what Mattingley is thinking. Too bad Jansen is still a work in progress.
Posted by: Since '58 | 04/19/2011 at 12:51 PM
Hey Steve, where's my post ? I posted it early, about 5-6 AM this date as I even named Darin, Sky & 2 others in my reply as I agreed with them. I see others that were posted well after I Submitted mine!
Off topic, I wish kiss-a$$ dylan hernandez would find a job elsewhere as he is a horrible beat writer!
Posted by: Dallas | 04/19/2011 at 06:49 PM
Dallas: Your comment is there, you left it under the Kershaw post.
Posted by: Steve Dilbeck | 04/19/2011 at 07:05 PM
Steve, thanks; I also apologize as I remember the 4 others I referred to - sorry for the screw up & thanks for your patience.
Just between you & me, & the others here (!), I wish you'd become the Dodger's beat writer; DH is far too soft & never calls anyone out & as we all know, there's many that could, should be called out on this team!
Posted by: Dallas | 04/20/2011 at 02:21 PM