Final/12
Dodgers eye rebound in series finale vs. Pirates
Sep 18, 2008 - 10:20 AM LA Dodgers (79-73) at Pittsburgh (64-88) 12:35 p.m. EDTPITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Stellar pitching has been a key part of the Los Angeles Dodgers' latest run atop the National League West, but that foundation was shaken with a blowout loss on Wednesday. They hope a rebound is immediate.
The Dodgers attempt to take three of four games from the Pittsburgh Pirates when they meet for the final time this season on Thursday.
Los Angeles has won 22 of its 29 games at PNC Park, but Wednesday's 15-8 loss was the antithesis of the way it usually performs in Pittsburgh. Chad Billingsley surrendered season highs in run allowed (eight) and earned runs (seven).
The Pirates' eight-run seventh did in the Dodgers, ending a stretch in which their pitching allowed only 12 runs over seven games and had not permitted more than four runs in any contest during a stretch in which they won 14 of 16.
After seeing one of their top young pitchers roughed up by the Pirates, the Dodgers will turn to 20-year-old rookie Clayton Kershaw (4-5, 4.41 ERA) in the series finale. The lefthander was sharp on Saturday against the Colorado Rockies, improving to 2-0 in September after allowing one run and four hits over six frames, striking out seven.
While Kershaw will be facing the Pirates for the first time in his career, Paul Maholm (9-8, 3.68) will be searching for his first career triumph over Los Angeles after going 0-3 with a 6.65 ERA in his four career starts.
The lefthander, who is 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA in two September starts, collected the win in Friday's 10-2 victory over the Cardinals, permitting two runs and seven hits over eight innings.
- NL
FINAL 12
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
- - - - - - - - -
LA DODGERS 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0
PITTSBURGH 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0
10 11 12 R H E
-- -- -- - - -
LA DODGERS 0 0 1 4 6 0
PITTSBURGH 0 0 0 3 8 0 (FINAL 12)
BATTERIES: LOS
Sep 18 4:38 PM - NL
AT PITTSBURGH - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JAMES LONEY SCORED RUSSELL MARTIN.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J LONEY ON FIRST, C BLAKE ON SECOND, M
RAMIREZ ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: LA DODGERS 4
PITTSBURGH 3 TOP, 12TH
DUE UP FOR LA DODGERS: M KEMP (.291, 2-FOR-4, BB)
Dodgers 4, Pirates 3 Top 12, 0 OutsSep 18 4:12 PM - NL
AT PITTSBURGH - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY LUIS CRUZ SCORED NYJER MORGAN.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, L CRUZ ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: LA DODGERS 3
PITTSBURGH 3 BOTTOM, 7TH
DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: N MCLOUTH (.282, 1-FOR-2, SF, RBI)
Dodgers 3, Pirates 3 Bot 7, 0 OutsSep 18 2:42 PM - NL
AT PITTSBURGH - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY ANDRE ETHIER SCORED MATT KEMP.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A ETHIER ON FIRST, R MARTIN ON SECOND, B
DEWITT ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: LA DODGERS 3
PITTSBURGH 2 TOP, 7TH
DUE UP FOR LA DODGERS: M RAMIREZ (.395, 0-FOR-2, BB)
Dodgers 3, Pirates 2 Top 7, 0 OutsSep 18 2:30 PM - NL
AT PITTSBURGH - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY BLAKE DEWITT SCORED MANNY RAMIREZ AND MATT KEMP.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, B DEWITT ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: LA DODGERS 2
PITTSBURGH 1 TOP, 4TH
DUE UP FOR LA DODGERS: A BERROA (.248, 0-FOR-0, BB)
Dodgers 2, Pirates 1 Top 4, 0 OutsSep 18 1:30 PM - NL
AT PITTSBURGH - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY NATE MCLOUTH SCORED NYJER MORGAN.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: LA DODGERS 0
PITTSBURGH 1 BOTTOM, 1ST
DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: J MICHAELS (.230, 8 HR, 40 RBI)
Dodgers 0, Pirates 1 Bot 1, 0 OutsSep 18 12:46 PM
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