And the kids shall lead them: Dee Gordon, Rubby De La Rosa spark Dodgers' 6-2 victory as Matt Kemp homers again
Kids, what are you going to do with them? Play ’em, apparently. Lead them to the field and then let them go.
They worked just fine Tuesday night, those precocious little things. Shortstop Dee Gordon celebrated his first major-league start by collecting hits in his first three at-bats and right-hander Rubby De La Rosa, overcoming the shakiest of beginnings, settled down to win his first career start.
They led the Dodgers to a 6-2 victory over the Phillies, who were kind enough to contribute to the kids’ cause by throwing the all around for a pair of costly errors.
They did get a little assist from that old vet, Matt Kemp, who crushed a two-run homer.
Kemp, of course, is now chiseled. Gordon is a wisp of a shortstop, so thin that as he flew around the basepaths commentator Steve Lyons was worried the Dodgers might need to put rocks in his pockets to prevent him from taking flight.
Gordon became the first Dodger to collect hits in his first three major-league at-bats since Mike Piazza in 1992, which may be the first and last time those two physiques are ever compared again.
Yet after the Dodgers staked him to a 4-1 lead, he finally settled down. Say one thing for him, even when the bases were full of Phillies, he looked calm.
De La Rosa retired the Phillies in order in his final two innings. He ended up going five innings, walking the five, allowing four hits and striking out four.
He walked two in the first, but got out of it unscathed thanks partially to a pair of nice defensive plays by second baseman Juan Uribe.
The Dodgers put him up 1-0 against Roy Oswalt when Kemp doubled and scored on a Dioner Navarro single, but De La Rosa immediately gave it back when he walked two, give up a base hit and then walked Placido Polanco to force in a run.
The Dodgers took control of the game with three runs in the third after De La Rosa drew a walk. Gordon’s second hit, this one to right, advanced De La Rosa to third.
Casey Blake singled in one run, Oswalt’s pickoff attempt that sailed into right for an error scored another and Andre Ethier singled in a third.
Gordon, who singled to right to open the game, beat out an infield hit for his third single in the fifth. Then he stole second. One thing Gordon adds to the Dodgers is excitement. He ended up 3-for-5 on the night.
Gordon, De La Rosa and Jerry Sands gave the Dodgers three rookie starters against the Phillies -- and they won.
After Blake Hawksworth pitched a scoreless inning, the Phillies scored once off Matt Guerrier and Scott Elbert in the seventh.
But Kemp added his 17th home run, tying him with Jay Bruce for the National League lead, and the Dodgers had a comfortable four-run cushion.
One more rookie, however, got into the final act for the Dodgers. Javy Guerra pitched a perfect ninth, and for Tuesday, the kids were all right.
-- Steve Dilbeck
Photo: The Dodgers' Dee Gordon, right, is congratulated by Andre Ethier after scoring on a throwing errorduring the third inning of Tuesday's 6-2 victory over Philadelphia. Credit: Matt Slocum / Associated Press
A fluke, beginners luck, a dudger coach that will turn back into a pumpkin come midnight - yes, all of that be true but this night as most every an lost angeles fan, we ain't throwing this 'gift win' back.
You know it is serendipity at work when navarro gets a hit - and drives in a run too. When he also hangs onto a ball at home plate even vs the slowpoke runner who was called out to the dudgers good fortune.
rubby 'the duddy' de la rosa actually looked like a young (circa 2010) john ely out there... that he will soon enough aft some exposure to the NL likely morph into ely late 2010 & 2011 is of no concern this moment... he for the hour is a winner.
dee 'matchstick' gordon and his 150- er, 140- er, 125 lb. frame looked like Juan Pierre out there - speed, stick & glove. As long as the breezes remain friendly i.e., don't top 15 mph, he'll not blow away (likewise, rafeal furcal can concentrate on next comeback - in another team's uni.)
Yes, Philly helped us out a lot via their own inept defense and they probably mailed it in... but tonight dudger fandom celebrates: we are once again but 4 games south of .500 and mediocrity.
Tomorrow?
May tonight ne'er end... life's simple pleasures are the best.
Posted by: 16blows | 06/07/2011 at 07:27 PM
In many ways this seemed like a spring training game yet it was not. DeLaRosa was not great though did enough. Gordon did well for himself by going 3-4. Note: Man, that kid has speed(can you say Juan Piere?). In the 8th it was interesting to see Elbert pitching(popup), while Gordon makes the catch with Sands right there standing by. We won't win the division this year but at least I like what I am seeing. My only hope at this point is the sale of the Dodgers to an owner who cares. Perhaps it is time to bring back the Dodgers of the 70's-80's, Garvey in ownership and Davey Lopes at 1st base. Where are the rest of them? Have a great day!
Posted by: kevin davis | 06/07/2011 at 07:29 PM
Love it !!!
Way to go guys. No matter what have fun out there. You are a breath of fresh air and many fans will cut you lots of slack regardless of any struggles you may have, so no stress, just give it your all.
Posted by: NorCal Dodger | 06/07/2011 at 07:58 PM
Awesome show by our rookies. AND to do it in front of a team like the Phillies, really takes the cake. Good to see we can beat the big contenders. Things are looking up.
Posted by: OldBrooklynFan | 06/07/2011 at 08:17 PM
Dee Gordon makes Darrell Thomas look like Prince Fielder.
Posted by: waus | 06/07/2011 at 08:31 PM
Matt Kemp, looks like this time it's for real. He has learned "the swing".
Good luck signing him now.
Posted by: A Team With No Direction Known | 06/07/2011 at 09:44 PM
I'll take prospects over Na-Na-Na-Neddy and his 'Jects anyday. Don't expect the moon out of any of them, but at least I can get behind these guys. They give me a reason to think that there is some light at the end of this long long tunnel.
Posted by: Labeldude | 06/07/2011 at 10:23 PM
That was actually fun to watch. Heart-in-mouth for Rubby de La Rosa, but understandable... he was brought up awfully quickly. So glad he was able to settle down and find the stuff we know he has.
Posted by: Blueeyedgal | 06/07/2011 at 11:13 PM
Rubby and Dee, if you are out there reading this...
WELCOME! Tongiht was pre entertainment. Dee...way to impress man. Bring it on! Rubby, that was the most awesome calm in the eye of a storm I've seen in ages. Don't leave the rotation...keep it up man! Even when you retired 6 in a row, you still didnt look liek you were even touching yrou best stuff....with great anticipation we look to your next start.
Posted by: SANGREAZUL | 06/08/2011 at 12:37 AM
No comparison between Rubby and Ely. There's about a seven mile per hour differential in fastballs. No chuck and duck from RDLR, either.
Posted by: airedale1 | 06/08/2011 at 06:02 AM
Great first game for Dee and Rubby, but as we know, it is a humbling game, so growth pains are ahead. Still wondering about Andre's lack of power. It seems like months since he actually turned on a ball and roped it to right field. I too am okay with playing the kids in bunches and trading away the vets in July. Does it really matter if they win 80 games with the vets or 70 with the kids? Why not get a jump on 2012 and let the kids play.
Posted by: phillydodger | 06/08/2011 at 06:14 AM
Actually, I'm enjoying watching the kids. And this run scoring thing - it seems to be happening a lot more than I expected. At what point do all these fluke games start to represent a trend?
Posted by: Tom Daniels | 06/08/2011 at 07:02 AM
We win, I'm happy. Names on the roster don't matter as much as the name on the front of the jersey. Great job by the rookies.
For all those who have clamored for the chance to see these young ones, you look mighty right last night. Credit where due, even if only for a night. Hope there is much, much more.
june 22. go away frank. just go away.
Posted by: alanw19 | 06/08/2011 at 07:18 AM
"the duddy"?? Come on man
Posted by: Gangstaslapped | 06/08/2011 at 07:43 AM
yes, youth shall be served........& speed kills, & here in a grand' way for the duds, as the speed generated by both Rubby's right arm & Dee's legs.....
Dee may be the fastest rook-"dud" since another "D" (i.e., Willie-D.) burst on the L.A. scene waaaaaaay back in early 60's????
& not to be lost is the fine work of reliever Javy-G, too!!!
Posted by: NeedMorePhenoms | 06/08/2011 at 07:57 AM
I hope the "veterans" on the team who always appear to nonchalant their way through games noticed the spirit, hunger and desire of the two newbies. Congratulations, Dee and Rubby. I can get behind these guys.
Pay attention, Loney.
Posted by: Chumpy Kemp | 06/08/2011 at 08:49 AM
16blows - Please don't compare DLR to John Ely. Ely's "fastball" is about as fast as DLR's changeup. DLR was hitting 97 on the gun last night.
Posted by: vtadave | 06/08/2011 at 10:09 AM
Do you guys think the Dodgers are going to win again tonight? Lets make some predictions people!
Posted by: Brian | 06/08/2011 at 11:14 AM
@airdale1 and @vtadave
No one was comparing rubby 'the duddy' to 'tarzan' ely vis a vis 'type' pitches or pitcher as it were. Comparison was regards early success - each - and later descent ely's - which de la rosa will likely emulate due the natural process NL hitters familiarity/catching up with a pitcher.
No doubt some have already coronated de la rosa as the next pedro martinez (you know, like kershaw is the next Koufax, etc.) whether anticipated due to success, style, or just hyperventilation. Likewise, gordon is the next Aparicio of course (or at least Wills, etc.)
To borrow from Uncle Sam: 'hurry up & wait, hurry up & wait.'
Me? I'm still firmly rooted in Missouri.
ely, de la rosa, gordon, sands, dejesus, whomever - all look good to varying degrees the start, some (ely, gordon, de la rosa) moreso than others (sands, dejesus). Let us see which(if any becomes a keeper (like that fernando guy for example) - and which become wilton guerrero... or billy ashley.
That the dudgers are now playing the few (hopefully legit) prospects that they have is refreshing... just don't get drunk. Always temper 'hope' with realism.
Posted by: 16blows | 06/08/2011 at 11:56 AM
As long as Fatso Broxton has no chance of coming into the game, the Dodgers will have a chance to win.
Posted by: Chumpy Kemp | 06/08/2011 at 12:45 PM
Disagree with The Depressed One. Live and die with the rooks. Root em on and gnash teeth when it doesn't go right. Don't temper expectations. Get some LA baseball juices flowing. Make it what it was like from '71 to '73, when we watched those baby Dodgers form an infield that lasted to the final out of the championship in '81. Many youthful errors later: Perfection. And we got to watch them do it every baby step en route thru 4 pennants and 11 years of GREAT baseball. When we loved our team.
Now watch Mattingly yank them down on the bench and start the has-beens and never-weres to not hit, in fear they'll forget they ever knew how, then announce that rather than see Gordon et al sit on the bench, they need to go back down where they can play every day, as if there's some idiot other than him who's making the decisions (the spirit of Joe Torre) he is helpless to defeat in the debate in his head. Like the manager who pulled a rookie out of a no-hitter he was pitching because, as he snarled, "he's too young to throw a no-hitter". That's not the Dodger Way, but it is the managment way of McCourt's imposters up top.
Posted by: Native Angeleno | 06/08/2011 at 01:36 PM
Steve Lyons had better be more careful before he's labeled a racist:
http://www.slate.com/id/2196756/
Posted by: West Coast | 06/08/2011 at 01:49 PM
I'm not sure how to describe this, but, as I watched De La Rosa pitch, it appeared as if he had the slowest 97 mph fastball I have ever seen.
Perhaps, it's because he seems effortless in his delivery.
It was also amazing to see his 90 mph breaking ball.
Posted by: waus | 06/08/2011 at 03:12 PM