Vin Scully to return, Matt Kemp goes 30-30, Dodgers win, 6-1
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On a night the best news came in the middle of the game from the broadcast booth, the Dodgers managed to keep it going on the field.
Out of seemingly nowhere Friday night, Vin Scully announced on the air that he would return next season as the voice of the Dodgers.
Trailing 1-0 at the time on another solo home run given up by Ted Lilly, the Dodgers then rallied with a six-run seventh inning, as Matt Kemp hit his 30th home run of the season to become only the second Dodger to steal 30 bases and hit 30 home runs in the same season.
A balk forced in the tying run, rookie Justin Sellers hit a go-ahead single to drive in two, hot-hitting James Loney hit a two-run home run and Kemp followed with a solo shot in the Dodgers 6-1 victory over the Rockies.
Up in the Dodger Stadium press box, Scully had to be smiling.
Scully, 83, will broadcast his 63rd consecutive season for the Dodgers next season. The Hall of Fame broadcaster debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1950.
On the field, the Dodgers earned their fourth consecutive victory while ending a five-game streak by Colorado.
Lilly came in with a 2.64 ERA in his last five starts, when he also happened to go 1-4. He looked like he might be in more trouble after giving up a solo home run to Carlos Gonzalez in the first. It was the 28th home run allowed by Lilly on the season, and 20 have been of the solo variety.
With Esmil Rogers keeping the Dodgers off balance, it remained a 1-0 game going into the seventh. But Rogers walked Andre Ethier and Aaron Miles to open the bottom of the inning and then Rod Barajas singled to load the bases.
It was looking bad for the Dodgers when Jamey Carroll flied out to medium center, Ethier tagged and ran through third base coach Tim Wallach’s stop sign and was doubled up at home.
The Rockies intentionally walked pinch-hitter Tony Gwynn Jr. to load the bases, but when Miles feigned rushing home, Rogers was called for a balk and Miles trotted home with the tying run.
Sellers then delivered his two-run single, and Loney and Kemp their home runs.
Raul Mondesi is the only other Dodger in the 30-30 club. Mondesi accomplished it twice, but never as early as Kemp (130th game), whose blast carried well over the wall in center.
Lilly (8-13) went seven strong innings, allowing only the one run and three hits. He walked one and struck out five.
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