Recap of Final Dodgers/Reds Game - Manny's Pinch Hit Grand Slam

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Too Hot to Handle

Just under two hours till game time - yes, the Dodgers swept the Reds, and now are about to do the same to the Marlins (isn't my youthful optimism infectious)! What's amazing about the sweep of the Reds is something that I was so riled up about, in my typically highly-conflicted way, the agent of that final win (who else? Manny Ramirez!) that I was unable to post on Wednesday. Or Thursday.

So, Thursday was a quiet day off, just kind of digesting...that crazy moment in the 6th inning of that final Dodgers/Reds game. Manny comes in to pinch hit, bases loaded, one out, takes the FIRST PITCH and hits it into Mannywood, straight down the left-field line and into the open arms of his cheering peeps. A grand slam on his own bobblehead night when he was not scheduled to play, due to being hit by a pitch on the hand the night before. It was an unbelievable moment. I guess Frank McCourt compared it to the night that the Dodgers hit back-to-back-to-back-to-back home runs a couple of years ago; he said those were the two most memorable Dodger wins since he'd become owner of the Dodgers. I'll bet.

When you watch the footage, check out Dusty's face at the end - heartbreaking!

Dusty with the Reds

Happy days for Dusty Baker with Hank Aaron and young son, Darren. I do love Dusty Baker, but am still hoping the Dodgers sweep his team...

Polishing Off the Reds...I hope!

OK, OK, yeah I was at the game last night...Dodgers won, 12 - 3! A seriously sweet victory for Randy Wolf, who pitched 7-1/3 innings...Norman wasn't there, but Roy brought some new guy, Pete, who was pretty appreciative of the Dodger-doings. Everybody in my section liked how the L.A. mayor, his honorable (or not so-) Antonio Villaraigosa got booed by the entire stadium before the game. Didn't stop him from spending several innings in the owners' box, chatting up Frank.

Highlights: I think Furcal might finally be back - he doubled in the 3rd, scoring 2, then homered in the 5th, again scoring 2. Happy days are here again! James Loney went 3 for 4, scoring 2 with his long single in the 3rd inning. Matty scored 2 with his home run in the 2nd inning and, of course, Manny scored 2 with his triple in the 1st. Enough said...oh wait, my boy, Blake DeWitt was back, which is kind of exciting. As a matter of fact, he's playing again tonight!

Tonight, Wednesday the 22nd (going down in infamy as Manny Ramirez Bobblehead Night!) : So, did anyone catch Loney's triple in the 4th? Nice! I'm so attached to Loney, Martin, Kemp, Billingsly, Broxton after seeing them all play in AAA right before they came to L.A. 3 seasons ago. And then DeWitt, in his first games in the Bigs! Our new team rocks!!! Time to focus on the game - I have my broom ready; hopefully Blue will not disappoint!

Jason Schmidt "back?"

People, Holla!: Seriously, I don't think so! The McCourts may be paying him $10,000,000.00 a year but I say he's good for no better than single-A at this point in his career. 

Yes, Jason's goose is cooked, and he made the whole team look amateurish and sad in the top of the first inning...what was up with the Ethier/Kemp stuff in the field? And a throwing error on Martin, just like that?!? Ack! The only Dodger foul-up in the first that I don't blame on Schmidt's shocking incompetence is that hoo-haa stunt with MR running around in the corner of left field, letting a hit become a double that would have been an easy out if JP had been there. Kind of pathetic.

But then the Dodger bats came ON in the bottom of the first (all but MR's, interestingly enough - looking, swinging, swinging again BIG on just three pitches). But everyone else - what is Micah Owings on to let himself be lit up like this? Just wondering...aw, Dusty looks so sad! I love Dusty Baker, and I don't want him to be sad, but the Dodgers need to OWN this team!

OK, whatever, Manny actually did his job in the bottom of the second w/2 outs - he homered, scoring 2 runs. I'll take it. (#537* for anyone counting)

And, damn! Vin just cursed us, going on about how the Reds killed us in the first and haven't had a hit since that inning - oops, there's a hit in the 5th. Can't believe Schmidt's arm hasn't fallen off yet. It's really unbelievable that he's still pitching. Torre & Honeycutt say he's "in the rotation -" will be back again 5 games from now. O.Kaaaaaaay.....?!?

Ahhh, bottom of the 5th: homerun #18 this season for Andre Ethier! Casey quickly comes on base behind him. I'm feeling Dodger Blue right about now....(yeah, like I wasn't before;-/) Damn, what was Casey thinking, trying to steal second?!? Not smart - uh, his old, slow butt is out! Ah, well, we leave the inning with a 7-3 lead. I'm down with that.

uuuhhhh - been napping, but it's bottom of the 7th, still 7-3 Dodgers, but OOPS, Martin just got thrown out attempting to steal. Guess I was the only one napping!

I'm liking how Russell Martin is playing offensively...things are seriously perking up for this young man! BTW, my only Dodger player name jersey is his - purchased two seasons ago, when he was barely up from AAA.

Aw, man, something just happened and Cincinnati now has 4 runs - oops, make that 5!?! Who's on the mound - yes, I am the absent-minded GIRL Dodger Blogger - oooh, it looks like.... (waiting, waiting, waiting) Troncoso, #38 is the pitcher now. He's been fairly golden, I know - better than I ever expected - so let's hang tough, Dodger fans!

Yeah, we got out of it, still up by 2 runs! Take it home, Blue Crew!

OK, get serious. Broxton is coming on...Jeez, remember the days of "Game Over" Eric Gagne? Right now is something like those days...come on, Big John!

Attendance: 48,110 - not bad for a Monday night...ooh, some of our new stadiums can't do that even on a Saturday Bobblehead game - not enough seats!!!

Eight pitches for Broxton - Dodgers WIN!!! I'll be at the game on Tuesday, scoring each and every pitch. Can't wait. There is nothing in life better than being a Dodger fan, and living less than 3 miles from Dodger Stadium. My life is blessed!!! Game Over. Dodgers Win Again!