The Dodgers pulled off a win on Saturday but a late-inning error on Sunday allowed the Pirates to win and pull ahead in the series, putting the Dodgers’ hopes for a clinch in the West on hold for at least one more day.
The Dodgers rallied for five late-inning runs on Saturday for the win. Maholm held the Dodgers to just three runs through seven, but they came out with a four-run eighth to take the lead. They got help by getting four walks that inning, with Andre Ethier and Orlando Hudson each drawing bases-loaded walks to score runs. Jim Thome then put the Dodgers in the lead with a pinch-hit two-run single. Ronnie Belliard also knocked a two-out solo homerun in the ninth. Manny, Belliard, and Loretta each had multi-hit games.
Randy Wolf remains unbeaten still, yet he didn’t earn the win in this one. He gave up just two runs on four hits before being lifted with one out in the seventh. Sherrill came on in relief of Kuo and allowed two runners to score, but still picked up the win.
Clayton Kershaw was only able to go four innings, but he held the Pirates to two runs and left with the game tied. Weaver, Belisario, and Sherrill then held the Pirates scoreless, and Broxton came on in the ninth with a three-run lead. Broxton allowed two leadoff singles, with one eventually scoring on an error by Rafael Furcal. The bases were then loaded and what would have only been a single turned into a bases-clearing, walk-off hit, due to Ethier’s fielding error in right. Three of Broxton’s four runs were earned and he took the loss.
The Dodgers only managed two runs through the first eight innings, but they took the lead with three runs in the ninth before taking the loss. Furcal had a two-RBI hit in the ninth, and Loney and Belliard each went 2 for 4, before Belliard pulled his groin muscle while rounding the bases in the ninth.
The Dodgers have yet another day to clinch the NL West, with Hiroki Kuroda taking on Zach Duke.
