Thanks to LA Dodgers!
Game 160
Home Game 79
Fri., Oct. 2, 2009
Night Game 116
Dodger Stadium
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS – The Dodgers tonight begin the final homestand and series of the year, playing the first of three games against National League West Division rival Colorado Rockies. Following this finale weekend, Los Angeles will take Monday and Tuesday off before opening a National League Division Series on Wednesday at a site to be determined.
►The Dodgers clinched a postseason berth exactly one week ago in Pittsburgh . The club is going to the playoffs for the third time in four years and for the fourth time in the last six seasons. The Dodgers are the only National League team to accomplish those two feats.
►The Dodgers and Rockies will both play in the 2009 postseason, and this weekend’s series will determine the NL West champion and the Wild Card winner. The Dodgers enter play tonight 2.0 games up on Colorado , meaning one win will clinch the division title.
►The Dodgers enter play tonight with a magic number of one for the fifth consecutive day. That’s due to the Dodgers’ four straight losses and the Rockies ’ four consecutive wins. Because of the head-to-head matchups this weekend, the teams cannot tie for first place in the division. Even if they could, the Dodgers would hold the tiebreaker for the division crown due to a season-series victory. Los Angeles already holds a 12-3 advantage in the 18-game season set.
►With one victory this weekend, the Dodgers would secure back-to-back NL West Division titles for the first time since 1977-78. It would also mark the third time in four years that the Dodgers reached the playoffs, something they haven’t done since winning pennants in 1963, 1965, and 1966.
HOLDING ON – The Dodgers own the best record in the National League, 1.0 game better than the Philadelphia Phillies (92-67). Los Angeles has had at least a share of the league’s best record for all but one day since entering play on May 3. The Cardinals briefly took the top spot on September 11. A look at the four NL playoff teams in 2009, and where they currently rank in their bid for home-field advantage through the National League Championship Series:
Rank Team Record Weekend Opp.
1. Dodgers 93-66 vs. COL
2. Phillies 92-67 vs. FLA
3. Cardinals 91-68 vs. MIL
4. Rockies 91-68 at LAD
►The Dodgers have had the best record in the NL three times since moving to Los Angeles – 1974, 1978, and 1983.
ENOUGH’S ENOUGH – The Dodgers have lost a season-high four games in a row for the second time, losing the final two games of a four-game series at Pittsburgh and getting swept in a brief two-game set at San Diego . Los Angeles first lost four straight games from July 26-29, losing a series finale vs. Florida before dropping the first three games of a four-game set at St. Louis .
►The Dodgers are one of only three teams in the Majors that has yet to lose more than four games in a row. The Milwaukee Brewers five times have lost a season-high four games in a row, including a current four-game skid as they head into action tonight at St. Louis . The Angels lost a season-worst four consecutive games from September 22-26.
►The Dodgers last had a losing streak of more than four games from August 22-29, 2008, when they had a season-worst eight-game slide.
►The Dodgers in 2009 were the last team in the Majors to lose at least three games in a row when they dropped four straight from July 27-29. By going 99 games into the season without losing three straight, the Dodgers established a modern-day franchise record. The previous high was the 1965 squad, which finally lost three in a row in games 72-74 (June 26-28).
ROAD SLATE OVER –The Dodgers on Wednesday wrapped up their 81-game road schedule with a 45-36 record, a nine-game improvement over last year’s 36-45 road mark. In fact, the 45-36 road record this year is the club’s best since 2002, when Los Angeles went 46-35 away from Dodger Stadium.
►The Dodgers posted a .355 on-base percentage on the road in 2009, their highest since moving to Los Angeles in 1958. The Dodgers’ .275 road average ranks tied for fourth.
►The Dodgers tonight return home after a 3-6 road trip that included stops in Washington (2-1), Pittsburgh (1-3), and San Diego (0-2). The team batted just .235 (69-for-294) on the trip. The pitching staff, meanwhile, posted a respectable 3.81 ERA (32 ER/75.2 IP). Dodger pitchers gave up five earned runs or less in eight of the nine games.
LIKE A ROCK – The Dodgers hold a 12-3 advantage in the 18-game season series with the Colorado Rockies, securing their second straight season-series victory and their third in the last four years. The lone season series loss in that time came in 2007, when the Dodgers went just 6-12. Los Angeles is 5-1 against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium in 2009 and is 10-5 against them along Elysian Park Avenue since the start of the 2008 season.
►The Dodgers’ 12 wins over Colorado in 2009 are their most against any one opponent in a season since 2006, when Los Angeles went 13-6 against San Francisco and 15-4 against the Rockies .
THIS IS MY TOWN – The Dodgers are 48-30 at Dodger Stadium, and have already matched their home win total from 2008. With one victory this weekend, Los Angeles would post its best home record since 2006, when it went 49-32. With two or three wins this weekend, the Dodgers would register their best home record since 1991, when they went 54-27. The Dodgers have won two straight games at home and five of their last six along Elysian Park Avenue.
HAIL TO THE CHIEF– Hall of Fame manager and Special Advisor to the Chairman Tommy Lasorda tonight is being honored for his 60 years with the Dodgers. As part of the celebration, the first 50,000 fans at the game will receive a commemorative Tommy Lasorda Hall of Fame replica plaque, presented by Farmer John. In addition, Lasorda’s official Hall of Fame plaque from Cooperstown will be on display in Autograph Alley beyond the centerfield fence. Lasorda began his career with the Dodgers in 1949 when he was drafted as a left-handed pitcher from the Philadelphia Phillies.
TONIGHT ON THE TUBE – PRIME TICKET
TONIGHT ON THE DIAL – KABC 790 AM (English)
KHJ 930 AM (Spanish)
Date Time Opponent Scheduled Pitchers TV
Saturday, October 3 7:10 p.m. vs. COL LHP Jorge De La Rosa (16-9, 4.45) vs. LHP Clayton Kershaw (8-8, 2.89) PRIME/MLB
Sunday, October 4 1:10 p.m. vs. COL TBD vs. TBD PRIME/TBS
2009 DODGERS vs. COLORADO
DATE/SITE SCORE WP LP SV ATT
4/17 LA W, 4-3 Mota Embree Broxton 45,145
4/18 LA W, 9-5 Billingsley Cook --- 36,765
4/19 LA W, 14-2 Elbert Jimenez --- 41,474
4/24 COL W. 6-5 Kuo Corpas Broxton 36,151
4/25 COL W, 6-5 McDonald Jimenez Troncoso 31,476
4/26 COL L, 10-4 Marquis Kershaw ---- 35,505
5/25 COL W, 16-6 Ohman De La Rosa --- 37,024
5/26 COL W, 7-1 Milton Cook --- 25,384
5/27 COL W, 8-6 Kershaw Jimenez --- 22,271
6/29 LA W, 4-2 (13) McDonald Peralta --- 41,288
6/30 LA L, 3-0 MARQUIS Billingsley --- 43,437
7/1 LA W, 1-0 Troncoso Hammel Broxton 40,455
8/25 COL L, 5-4 (10) Herges McDonald ---- 31,472
8/26 COL W, 6-1 Wolf Fogg ---- 38,350
8/27 COL W, 3-2 Padilla De La Rosa Broxton 33,441
2009 at Coors Field: Dodgers 7, Rockies 2
All-time at Coors Field: Dodgers 66, Rockies 57
2009 at Dodger Stadium: Dodgers 5, Rockies 1
All-Time at Dodger Stadium: Dodgers 78, Rockies 50
2009 Record: Dodgers 12, Rockies 3
All-Time Record: Dodgers 152, Rockies 112
Game 160
Home Game 79
Colorado Rockies (91-68) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (93-66)
7:10 p.m. ET
RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (14-12, 3.52) vs. LHP Randy Wolf (11-6, 3.22)
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS – The Dodgers tonight begin the final homestand and series of the year, playing the first of three games against National League West Division rival Colorado Rockies. Following this finale weekend, Los Angeles will take Monday and Tuesday off before opening a National League Division Series on Wednesday at a site to be determined.
►The Dodgers clinched a postseason berth exactly one week ago in Pittsburgh . The club is going to the playoffs for the third time in four years and for the fourth time in the last six seasons. The Dodgers are the only National League team to accomplish those two feats.
►The Dodgers and Rockies will both play in the 2009 postseason, and this weekend’s series will determine the NL West champion and the Wild Card winner. The Dodgers enter play tonight 2.0 games up on Colorado , meaning one win will clinch the division title.
►The Dodgers enter play tonight with a magic number of one for the fifth consecutive day. That’s due to the Dodgers’ four straight losses and the Rockies ’ four consecutive wins. Because of the head-to-head matchups this weekend, the teams cannot tie for first place in the division. Even if they could, the Dodgers would hold the tiebreaker for the division crown due to a season-series victory. Los Angeles already holds a 12-3 advantage in the 18-game season set.
►With one victory this weekend, the Dodgers would secure back-to-back NL West Division titles for the first time since 1977-78. It would also mark the third time in four years that the Dodgers reached the playoffs, something they haven’t done since winning pennants in 1963, 1965, and 1966.
HOLDING ON – The Dodgers own the best record in the National League, 1.0 game better than the Philadelphia Phillies (92-67). Los Angeles has had at least a share of the league’s best record for all but one day since entering play on May 3. The Cardinals briefly took the top spot on September 11. A look at the four NL playoff teams in 2009, and where they currently rank in their bid for home-field advantage through the National League Championship Series:
Rank Team Record Weekend Opp.
1. Dodgers 93-66 vs. COL
2. Phillies 92-67 vs. FLA
3. Cardinals 91-68 vs. MIL
4. Rockies 91-68 at LAD
►The Dodgers have had the best record in the NL three times since moving to Los Angeles – 1974, 1978, and 1983.
ENOUGH’S ENOUGH – The Dodgers have lost a season-high four games in a row for the second time, losing the final two games of a four-game series at Pittsburgh and getting swept in a brief two-game set at San Diego . Los Angeles first lost four straight games from July 26-29, losing a series finale vs. Florida before dropping the first three games of a four-game set at St. Louis .
►The Dodgers are one of only three teams in the Majors that has yet to lose more than four games in a row. The Milwaukee Brewers five times have lost a season-high four games in a row, including a current four-game skid as they head into action tonight at St. Louis . The Angels lost a season-worst four consecutive games from September 22-26.
►The Dodgers last had a losing streak of more than four games from August 22-29, 2008, when they had a season-worst eight-game slide.
►The Dodgers in 2009 were the last team in the Majors to lose at least three games in a row when they dropped four straight from July 27-29. By going 99 games into the season without losing three straight, the Dodgers established a modern-day franchise record. The previous high was the 1965 squad, which finally lost three in a row in games 72-74 (June 26-28).
ROAD SLATE OVER –The Dodgers on Wednesday wrapped up their 81-game road schedule with a 45-36 record, a nine-game improvement over last year’s 36-45 road mark. In fact, the 45-36 road record this year is the club’s best since 2002, when Los Angeles went 46-35 away from Dodger Stadium.
►The Dodgers posted a .355 on-base percentage on the road in 2009, their highest since moving to Los Angeles in 1958. The Dodgers’ .275 road average ranks tied for fourth.
►The Dodgers tonight return home after a 3-6 road trip that included stops in Washington (2-1), Pittsburgh (1-3), and San Diego (0-2). The team batted just .235 (69-for-294) on the trip. The pitching staff, meanwhile, posted a respectable 3.81 ERA (32 ER/75.2 IP). Dodger pitchers gave up five earned runs or less in eight of the nine games.
LIKE A ROCK – The Dodgers hold a 12-3 advantage in the 18-game season series with the Colorado Rockies, securing their second straight season-series victory and their third in the last four years. The lone season series loss in that time came in 2007, when the Dodgers went just 6-12. Los Angeles is 5-1 against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium in 2009 and is 10-5 against them along Elysian Park Avenue since the start of the 2008 season.
►The Dodgers’ 12 wins over Colorado in 2009 are their most against any one opponent in a season since 2006, when Los Angeles went 13-6 against San Francisco and 15-4 against the Rockies .
THIS IS MY TOWN – The Dodgers are 48-30 at Dodger Stadium, and have already matched their home win total from 2008. With one victory this weekend, Los Angeles would post its best home record since 2006, when it went 49-32. With two or three wins this weekend, the Dodgers would register their best home record since 1991, when they went 54-27. The Dodgers have won two straight games at home and five of their last six along Elysian Park Avenue.
HAIL TO THE CHIEF– Hall of Fame manager and Special Advisor to the Chairman Tommy Lasorda tonight is being honored for his 60 years with the Dodgers. As part of the celebration, the first 50,000 fans at the game will receive a commemorative Tommy Lasorda Hall of Fame replica plaque, presented by Farmer John. In addition, Lasorda’s official Hall of Fame plaque from Cooperstown will be on display in Autograph Alley beyond the centerfield fence. Lasorda began his career with the Dodgers in 1949 when he was drafted as a left-handed pitcher from the Philadelphia Phillies.
TONIGHT ON THE TUBE – PRIME TICKET
TONIGHT ON THE DIAL – KABC 790 AM (English)
KHJ 930 AM (Spanish)
UPCOMING PITCHING PROBABLES (All times Pacific)
Saturday, October 3 7:10 p.m. vs. COL LHP Jorge De La Rosa (16-9, 4.45) vs. LHP Clayton Kershaw (8-8, 2.89) PRIME/MLB
Sunday, October 4 1:10 p.m. vs. COL TBD vs. TBD PRIME/TBS
2009 DODGERS vs. COLORADO
DATE/SITE SCORE WP LP SV ATT
4/17 LA W, 4-3 Mota Embree Broxton 45,145
4/18 LA W, 9-5 Billingsley Cook --- 36,765
4/19 LA W, 14-2 Elbert Jimenez --- 41,474
4/24 COL W. 6-5 Kuo Corpas Broxton 36,151
4/25 COL W, 6-5 McDonald Jimenez Troncoso 31,476
4/26 COL L, 10-4 Marquis Kershaw ---- 35,505
5/25 COL W, 16-6 Ohman De La Rosa --- 37,024
5/26 COL W, 7-1 Milton Cook --- 25,384
5/27 COL W, 8-6 Kershaw Jimenez --- 22,271
6/29 LA W, 4-2 (13) McDonald Peralta --- 41,288
6/30 LA L, 3-0 MARQUIS Billingsley --- 43,437
7/1 LA W, 1-0 Troncoso Hammel Broxton 40,455
8/25 COL L, 5-4 (10) Herges McDonald ---- 31,472
8/26 COL W, 6-1 Wolf Fogg ---- 38,350
8/27 COL W, 3-2 Padilla De La Rosa Broxton 33,441
2009 at Coors Field: Dodgers 7, Rockies 2
All-time at Coors Field: Dodgers 66, Rockies 57
2009 at Dodger Stadium: Dodgers 5, Rockies 1
All-Time at Dodger Stadium: Dodgers 78, Rockies 50
2009 Record: Dodgers 12, Rockies 3
All-Time Record: Dodgers 152, Rockies 112
