Dodgers 3 Athletics 2
Los Angeles Dodgers (44-23):
DID IT AGAIN! – The Dodgers won yet another one-run game, improving to a Major League-best 16-6 in such contests, including 13-2 at home. The 3-2 victory increases the Dodgers’ first-place lead over the Giants to 9.0 games and puts Los Angeles a season-high 21.0 games over .500 for the second time this season (June 16).
WINNING THE SERIES’ – By taking two of three from the A’s, the Dodgers’ record in series improves to 13-4-5 overall on the season. Los Angeles is unbeaten in 18 of its 22 series on the year.
THIS ORLANDO WINS – Dodger second baseman Orlando Hudson cracked a solo homer in the third inning, just his second longball since May 1. Hudson now has 36 RBI, five short of his 2008 total, and leads the club with 45 runs scored.
JUST CALL IT A RaNDy – Dodger pitcher Randy Wolf allowed just one run and five hits over 6.0 innings, but took his 10th no-decision in 15 starts this evening. In what is becoming a familiar refrain, Wolf left the game in line to get the win, something he has done in six of the 10 ND’s. The Los Angeles Dodger record for no-decisions in a season is 18, dubiously accomplished by Odalis Perez in 2004. Since 1958, the Major League record for no-decisions in a season is 20, held by the Pirates’ Bert Blyleven, who did so in 1979.
LEACHY AND BELI – Dodger relievers Brent Leach and Ronald Belisario were key tonight and both have been impressive of late. Leach, the winning pitcher, has allowed just one run and one hit over his last 11 appearances (8.0 IP), while his ERA has fallen from 7.20 to 3.46 over that time. Belisario fired 1.1 scoreless frames tonight and has now fired 6.1 scoreless innings over his last six appearances.
THE BEARDED ONE – Dodger third baseman Casey Blake went 2-for-4 and has now hit safely in a season-high nine straight games. During the streak Blake is hitting .389 (14-for-36) with five doubles and a homer.
Oakland Athletics (28-37):
NOMAR – Former Dodger Nomar Garciaparra singled in his only at-bat, a pinch-hit in the seventh inning that led to the A’s tying the contest at 2-2. Garciaparra had been retired in pinch-hit at-bats on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Whittier native played for the Dodgers from 2006-08 and has a career batting average of .312 (164-for-526) at Dodger Stadium.
W: Brent Leach (2-0)
L: Brad Ziegler (1-3)
S: Ramon Troncoso (4)
2B: Loney (14), Suzuki (18), Holliday (12)
HR: Hudson (5)
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