Exhausted, But Happy Dodgers Return Home For Final Series Before All-Star Break

Dodgers Lineup vs. Colorado

Drew Pomeranz-0-2 vs. Chris Capuano-2-6

The Dodgers needed all 24 players in their 14 inning marathon win over Arizona last night. The game lasted five hours and fourteen minutes, and both teams used up just about all of their players. Who knew the Dodgers would miss Skip Schumaker? Before the game, Schumaker’s appeal ran out, and he was forced to serve his two game suspension from the June Brawl with these same Snakes.

So without Schumaker, the Dodgers were a man short on the bench. That came into play, when the Dodgers were forced to use pitcher Zack Greinke as a pinch-hitter late in the game. (They also had to stick Fedex at first base for a couple of innings) Since Greinke is 10 for 27 this season at the plate, I didn’t complain.

A huge big ups needs to go to right hander Chris Withrow. The rookie made 59 pitches, and threw three scoreless frames to help the Dodgers get the win. He allowed just one hit and two walks, and whiffed three. The Dodger bullpen was spectacular last night, pitching nine shut-out frames. The Dodger bullpen only allowed three hits, three walks, and whiffed eight. A.J. Ellis’s clutch RBI single with two outs in the ninth, tied the game off of embattled closer Heath Bell. Then with the ticking time bomb of Brandon League set to go off in the bullpen at any moment, the Dodgers finally broke the tie in the top of the fourteenth inning with back-to-back solo home runs from Hanley, and A.J.

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Tim Federowicz (18) hands the ball to starting pitcher Chris Capuano (35) in the first inning of the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium.-Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers return home with a .500 record for the time since May 1. With the bullpen having been used up, there is talk of Withrow being sent down to swap him out with a fresh arm. I am hearing Javy Guerra’s name called. Since Withrow made 59 pitches, I don’t see him pitching for the rest of the first half, so getting a fresher arm for the next few games could be important. We’ll see if the Dodgers make a move before tonight’s game.

The Dodgers will begin a four game series against Colorado starting tonight. The Rockies roll into town and will have their shortstop, mullet man Troy Toluwitzki back from the DL. No mattter how the Rockies are playing the big three of Cargo, Mullet man, and Helton are always annoying. This will be the final series before the all-star break. The Dodgers enter play with a 45-45 record, and are just 1.5 games behind Arizona for first place in the NL West. The Dodgers went 7-2 on their nine game trip, and have now won 15 of their last 18 games.

The rest of the NL West is just tanking. Arizona was just swept by these very same Boys in Blue, and is sinking like a stone. The rest of the division is floundering. San Diego lost ten in a row, and the Giants have sunk into last place. With all of the scathing hatred being spewed at Puig and the Dodgers throughout this season, I can’t help but enjoy the other divisional rival’s failures. Honestly I don’t feel sorry for any of them, not for one moment I tell you. They get no sympathy from me, or any other Dodger fans.

Listen up GIants, San Diego, Colorado, and Arizona. We don’t care about you

We better hit this guy.-Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

Tonight will be a battle of lefties, as Colorado’s Drew Pomeranz will counter Chris Capuano. Pomeranz has only pitched in two games with the big club this season. The 24 year old Memphis native is 0-2 with a 9.72 ERA. He’s allowed 12 hits, and nine walks in eight innings. Pomeranz has only faced the Dodgers a few times in his short career. He has an 0-1 record against the Dodgers with a 3.68 ERA. He’s only pitched one game at Dodger Stadium, in which he tossed four scoreless frames, and whiffed seven. He does have 16 whiffs in 14 innings against the Dodgers. The Dodgers have hardly faced him and only have 28 at-bats versus the young left hander.

The Dodgers will counter with Chris Capuano. He was originally going to be transferred to the bullpen, but Fife’s shoulder bursitis changed that plan. With the newly acquired Ricky Nolasco filling a spot, the last spot in the rotation will be given to Capuano for now. Capuano hasn’t pitched since July 4 at Colorado when he allowed six runs on seven hits in 4.1 frames. Capuano is 5-9 with a 4.24 in 16 games against Colorado. Capuano is 2-6 with a 5.19 ERA, and a 1.46 WHIP. Colorado has hit him well in the past. Check out what they’ve done versus Capuano below.

Yasiel Puig’s 1 for 7 game took his average down to .394 at the start of play tonight. Which reminds me to tell you that this is the last day to vote for Puig in the final vote. Apparently Puig is second to Freddie Freeman, and that sucks. Please help him get into the all-star game. The voting ends today at 1 PM pacific time. You can vote as many times as you want. Vote For Puig here.

I am sure exhaustion will play a part tonight for the Dodgers, so it will be interesting to see who rests. The Dodgers will be a man short for one more game, since Schumaker has one more game left to sit. The game time tonight is set for 7:05 PM. The game will be shown on Prime Ticket. I’ll be up in the press box for tonight’s game, while Stacie will bring you the game coverage. After the game stop over here for our Daily Dodger recap. Last night’s win was thrilling! Another win tonight, may make me go dance like this………

Go Blue!