Rallying Rockies Reinforce Race

Number 16 came through with a pair of homeruns for the Los Angeles Dodgers last night. Right fielder, Andre Ethier, clubbed his 26th and 27th long balls during the 6-1 Dodgers win to give his team a three game NL West lead over the opposing Colorado Rockies. The pressure-packed month for LA has gotten even tougher with the resurging walkoff darling Rockies playing the best baseball of any NL team down the stretch. Colorado was 12 games under .500 on June 3rd, but have gone on a major-league best 52-23 since. The Rockies won Tuesday night in extra innings to trim the division deficit to two games. The series opener was a dramatic showdown of two tenacious NL West titans. After a 14 inning Monday battle with the San Francisco Giants, Colorado took game one against LA on Troy Tulowitzki’s walkoff single to center in the 10th inning. The extra frames are nothing unordinary for Colorado these days. The team has a habit of battling back and registering hits when needed most. The intensity began with a two game wildcard lead and a series against the Giants. Now the Rockies have their hearts set for meaningful games in September and October baseball. Manager Jim Tracy believes the atmosphere brings out the best in his players. Memories of 2007 are starting to spring up, and several of the players from that historic drive are on Colorado’s current roster. At 72-55, the relentless Rockies represent a real, riveting and remorseless team.
The playoff-like drama only enhances the series with NL West leading LA. Colorado trails by just a few games and had the chance to make up even more ground on Wednesday night. Los Angeles bounced back from the opening loss to increase their lead in this seesaw pennant race. The Dodgers went one up with last night’s victory behind pitcher Randy Wolf. Wolf limited the Rockies to five hits and one run over 7 1/3 innings to snag his fourth consecutive win. The LA hurler is 6-3 with a 2.79 over his last 12 starts and very much one of the reasons the Dodgers have been tearing up the league. Every game is a must-win for LA with Colorado clicking their heals right behind Joe Torre’s team. The Rockies are relaxed but are aggressively pursuing the NL West instead of simply shooting for a wildcard spot. Wolf’s only costly misstep was a solo shot from Ryan Spilborghs in the third inning. It was the 29 year old’s eighth homerun of the year and 45th RBI. Colorado’s Josh Fogg didn’t have it last night. Starting for the first time in nearly a year, Fogg was unable to recreate his 2007 magic on the mound. Fogg failed to retire any of the half dozen batters he faced in the fourth inning, when the Rockies pitcher unraveled. The few hits he allowed were big ones. He issued four walks, scattered four hits and allowed three batters to take him deep during the game. Ethier drove two into the stands and James Loney added the third with a towering three run shot over the fence. Ethier tallied a single to go along with his homeruns and brought his total of extra-base hits this month to 17.
Vincente Padilla was the named starter for the rubber game of the series this afternoon for LA. Padilla was released by Texas earlier this year and picked up by the Dodgers August 19th. He will make his debut at Denver, where he opposes 12-8 Jorge De La Rosa. The Dodgers look to build on Wednesday’s key victory and continue their season-long success against the Rockies. LA would be incredibly wise to establish an early lead. The Rockies are a good comeback team and 36-25 at home. The big bats of LA may muster enough might to expand their division lead again today. The power at the plate has been coming from Ethier, Casey Blake and Matt Kemp. The other LA sluggers, including outfielder Manny Ramirez, have not been hitting. The cold bats explain why the Dodgers have been averaging about four runs and have not been winning. The Rockies drew first blood, but which contending team will get the last laugh?

Parting points: Song of the day- “Fallin For You”- Colbie Caillat