Dodgers Scratch Out Win over Rox

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Colorado Rockies 1-0, taking the series 2-1. Both teams had trouble scoring, collecting only three hits through the first seven innings. However, Brad Ausmus singled to start the eighth, Juan Castro bunted him to second, and with Russell Martin pinch-running, Rafael Furcal hit a pinch-hit single that scored Martin. Clayton Kershaw went five innings, allowing only one hit, and the bullpen held Colorado to nothing for the rest of the game. Jonathan Broxton pitched a perfect ninth for his 19th save of the season. Brad Hawpe had two of the Rockies' three hits, including a double.

This was the last game the Dodgers played without Manny Ramirez. The embroiled slugger will return to the lineup Friday due to tomorrow's off-day.

The victory gave the Dodgers their 50th win, the first team in baseball to reach that mark.

The Dodgers made a few moves during the day. Eric Stults was activated from the 15-day disabled list and optioned to Triple-A so he could play regularly. Catcher A.J. Ellis was sent down to Triple-A as well, and Mitch Jones was designated for assignment. Jones now has 10 days to be traded, claimed by another team, or released. If he clears waivers, he will return to the minors. Claudio Vargas is expected to be activated from the 60-day DL, a move that could force the Dodgers to move Hong-Chih Kuo to that same list from the 15-day DL. Manny Ramirez will be activated from the Restricted List now that his suspension is over.

Kuroda Gets Elusive Second Win

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Chicago White Sox 5-2, their seventh win in 11 days. The Dodgers jumped to an early lead after Rafael Furcal and Orlando Hudson hit back-to-back doubles. James Loney insured the lead with a two-run homer, his third bomb in four games. That was all LA needed as Hiroki Kuroda pitched a gem to get his second win of the year, allowing only two runs on four hits in 8 and two-thirds innings, striking out nine. Jonathan Broxton was brought in with two outs and the tying run on deck, and struck out Jim Thome to get his 18th save. Hudson scored a run, and Casey Blake had two RBI's. Mitch Jones had two hits, including a double, and scored his first career run. Former Dodger Paul Konerko hit a solo home run, and Jermaine Dye had two hits and a run-batted-in.

Manny Ramirez made his Isotope debut today, playing left field for Triple-A Albuquerque in a rehab start permitted by Major League Baseball. Manny batted lead-off as he struck out and grounded out to the shortstop in his only two at-bats.

Dodgers Can't Capitalize in Loss

The Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the Oakland Athletics 5-2, snapping a three-game winning streak. The Dodgers were in an early hole after Oakland jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the third inning. However, LA tried to come back, and cut the deficit to one in the seventh. The Dodgers' fatal flaw was their poor clutch-hitting, as five men who reached third-base failed to score. Dodger hitters left 10 men on base during the game. Both Juan Pierre and Rafael Furcal had a hit and scored a run, and Orlando Hudson had a hit, run, and RBI. Ethier had a double and drove in two, and Matt Kemp collected a run-batted-it. Rajai Davis and Jack Cust each had a homer for the A's, and Matt Holliday had a hit, run scored, and RBI.

Mitch Jones got his first major-league hit, a single into right-field. Jones was subsequently erased on a double-play.

Dodgers Mirror History with Win

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Oakland Athletics 5-4 in 10 innings, their third victory in a row. The Dodgers took an early 2-0 lead, but Jason Giambi hit a three-run homer that put Oakland up by one. One out later Bobby Crosby hit a solo-shot that gave the A's a 4-2 lead. However, LA came back as they scored twice in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game. The contest entered extra-innings, and with Orlando Hudson at third and two outs, Matt Kemp singled to win the game. The matchup with Oakland evoked memories of the two teams' meeting in the 1988 World Series, with many similarities between this game and Game 1 of the series: The Dodgers taking a 2-0 lead, a homer giving the A's the lead, LA fighting back to keep themselves in the game, and a walkoff hit to the right-side with two out. Kemp also doubled, as did Casey Blake, Rafael Furcal, and James Loney. Hudson had two hits and scored twice, and Blake collected two runs and two RBI's. Furcal scored a run. Former Rocky Matt Holliday scored a run for Oakland, and Kurt Suzuki had two hits.

Mitch Jones made his major-league debut, striking out on a full-count. Jones has been a journey-man minor-leaguer his entire professional career, but got his first real opportunity to appear in a game after the Dodgers optioned Jamie Hoffmann to the minors. Because Jones was not on the 40-man roster, Jason Schmidt was transferred from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL.

Dodgers Send Hoffmann, DeWitt to Minors

The Los Angeles Dodgers optioned infielder Blake DeWitt and outfielder Jamie Hoffmann to Triple-A Albuquerque, and called up catcher A.J. Ellis. The move leaves the Dodgers with 24 men on their 25-man roster, with a call-up expected before tomorrow's game. The Dodgers could call up power-hitting outfielder Mitch Jones who impressed club officials in Spring Training. However, Jones is not part of the 40-man roster, and his promotion would require another move. Ellis was called up briefly before in the season, but never entered a game; his presence instead allowed the Dodgers to use Brad Ausmus as a pinch-hitter. Hoffmann struggled in his major-league stint, but hit his first home run and totaled 7 RBI's despite only collecting four hits. DeWitt has bounced between the majors and the minors, and had only three hits in his limited appearances.