Saturday, October 10, 2009

Dodgers 5, Cardinals 1: NLDS Game 3 Recap: Notes From Saturday's Game

  1. The Dodgers swept the Cardinals, the second consecutive year they have swept their NLDS opponent.
  2. Vicente Padilla was pretty darn good in his first postseason start (7 IP, 0 Runs, 4 Hits, 4 K, 1 BB, 97 pitches - 69 for strikes).
  3. I made my feelings known about my preference of starting Chad Billingsley instead of Padilla, and this start changes nothing. I'm thrilled Padilla pitched well, but I still believe it was the wrong decision to pick him ahead of Chad. Results, good or bad, don't justify the logic used to come to a decision. Batting A-Rod 8th in a playoff game isn't intelligent, even if you win the game. I just hope Chad is given the opportunity to start at some point this postseason.
  4. Bullpen: 2 IP, 1 Run, 2 Hits, 2 K, 1 BB.
  5. Andre Ethier hit a huge 2-run HR in the 3rd inning, a 400+ foot shot. It was his 2nd HR of the postseason, and his second in as many games.
  6. Jonathan Broxton has earned himself a rest, pitching in all three games. He threw 3.2 IP total over the 3 games, including 2 stints where he recorded 4 outs. Albert Pujols was the first batter he faced in each game, and Big Jon retired him 2 of the 3 times, with the third being a single. He struck out 4 and walked none in the series, and the one run charged to him was aided by fielder's indifference and a horrible defensive play by Matt Kemp in Game 1, which probably would have led to the run being unearned had they correctly charged Kemp with an error.
  7. Ethier (HR, Triple, Double) and Manny (2 Doubles, Single) reached base 3 times each, while Rafael Furcal (2 Singles) reached base twice.
  8. The offense needs to exhibit more patience, like in Game 1, as they struck out 11 times while drawing no walks in the clincher.
  9. The Dodgers begin the NLCS Thursday against the Rockies or Phillies, barring anymore snow-related postponements.
Game Log.











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