News
Closer Broxton builds steam with fast start
Los Angeles (20-8) vs. Washington (7-17), 7:10 p.m. PT
By Ken Gurnick / MLB.com
05/06/09 2:52 AM ET
LOS ANGELES -- Jonathan Broxton's numbers are good, crazy-good, almost Gagne-good.Oops. Don't try to compare Broxton to Eric Gagne, at least not to Broxton.
"What did he have? Eighty-four saves in a row?" asked Broxton, knowing the number by heart and shaking his head.
Fair enough. Going by Gagne's ridiculous record of converted save opportunities, Broxton has 82 to go. But the rest of his numbers? Pretty interesting.
He comes into Wednesday's opener against the Nationals 3-0 with a 0.64 ERA, having just converted his eighth save in nine opportunities. He has 25 strikeouts in 14 innings over 13 games.
In Gagne's National League Cy Young season of 2003, after 13 games he had eight saves and 24 strikeouts in 14 1/2 innings.
"He's consistent right now," manager Joe Torre said. "He has a lot of confidence in what he's doing, evidenced in the number of breaking balls he's throwing, even when he's behind in the count. Last year, you wouldn't have seen that. He has an idea of not trying to be perfect with every pitch."
Broxton's two strikeouts Tuesday night came on sliders. He said he's keeping his strategy simple.
"I'm just out there having fun," he said. "Go get three outs and go home."
Coming into Spring Training, Broxton was the focus of speculation whether he was ready to take over for Takashi Saito as the closer. Broxton said he never doubted how he'd do.
"I've felt like the closer all year," he said. "I've gotten to the point where I've got to use all my pitches."
Pitching matchupLAD: LHP Clayton Kershaw (0-2, 5.46 ERA)
Kershaw rebounded from his worst start in Colorado with one of his best. He matched Jake Peavy on Friday for seven scoreless innings, allowing four singles and two walks. Kershaw was able to work his way out of four jams with runners in scoring position. Kershaw relied on his 94-mph fastball and was able to pitch deep enough to give the tired bullpen a bit of a break one night after James McDonald's 1 2/3-inning start. WSH: RHP Daniel Cabrera (0-2, 4.44 ERA)
Cabrera set a team record by uncorking four wild pitches on Thursday night against the Cardinals. Cabrera's first two wild pitches were thrown in the first inning. With Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols at the plate, Cabrera tossed a wild pitch that allowed Colby Rasmus to advance to second base. On the next pitch, Cabrera threw another wild pitch, sending Rasmus to third. In the second inning, after Jason LaRue singled, Cabrera uncorked his third wild pitch, allowing LaRue to advance to second base. The wild pitch tied former Nationals right-hander John Patterson for the team record. In fifth inning, Cabrera set the record by throwing his fourth wild pitch, allowing Skip Schumaker to advance to third. Cabrera ended up having a quality start, pitching six innings while giving up three runs on four hits in a 9-4 loss. Tidbits
The Dodgers have won six in a row, seven of eight, 10 of 13 and are 18-5 since a 2-3 start. They are 23 of 26 at Dodger Stadium going back to Aug. 21, 2008. ... The Dodgers go into Wednesday night's game with a nine-game home win streak against Washington dating to 2005. ... The Nationals have activated former Dodgers reliever Joe Beimel, who had been on the disabled list with a sore hip. ... The Dodgers have scored 27 first-inning runs in 28 games and are 13-1 when they score in the first inning. ... Rafael Furcal went 0-for-4 on Tuesday and did not reach base for the first time in 25 games this season. Tickets
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• Thursday: Dodgers (Randy Wolf, 1-1, 3.93) vs. Nationals (Jordan Zimmermann, 2-1, 4.24), 7:10 p.m. PT
• Friday: Dodgers (Chad Billingsley, 5-0, 2.21) vs. Giants (Barry Zito, 0-2, 3.99), 7:10 p.m. PT
• Saturday: Dodgers (Eric Stults, 3-1, 4.94) vs. Giants (Jonathan Sanchez, 1-2, 3.80), 12:40 p.m. PT
Ken Gurnick is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
