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Dodgers drop Freeway Series finale
In starting debut, Hoffmann clubs first Major League homer
By Ken Gurnick / MLB.com
05/24/09 9:34 PM ET
LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers had the starting ace on the mound, a four-run lead on the board and an Interleague series with their Southland rivals there for the taking.But the Angels didn't become one of the toughest Dodgers opponents this decade by politely caving, and they battled back this time for a 10-7 win.
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The Dodgers got a three-run homer and four RBIs by rookie outfielder Jamie Hoffmann in place of the injured Andre Ethier and three more hits from Casey Blake (now batting .305) in a 12-hit attack, scoring twice in the eighth inning and once in the ninth.
"I was glad to see the bats wake up today," manager Joe Torre said. "We kept coming back. Hopefully, that will be our signature all year."
Nonetheless, the Dodgers lost two of three in this Freeway Series and since 2000 are 22-35 (.379) in Interleague Play against the Angels. Of their regular opponents, the Dodgers have a worse winning percentage against only St. Louis (.356).
That trend transcends managers (Davey Johnson, Jim Tracy, Grady Little and Torre), general managers (Kevin Malone, Dave Wallace, Dan Evans, Paul DePodesta and Ned Colletti) and even ownerships (News Corp. and the McCourts).
Players, though, aren't buying it.
"They're a scrappy team," said catcher Russell Martin. "We're a good team."
Not good enough Sunday, though. Chad Billingsley, for example, checked in with his worst start of the season. It wasn't anything horrible -- five runs (four earned) on nine hits in six innings -- but it was only the third time a Dodgers starting pitcher has lost since April 29.
He struck out six with only one walk and struggled as much trying to explain it to reporters as he did doing it against Angels hitters.
"They chipped away and got the big hit when they needed it," he said. "They're a very good hitting ballclub. I couldn't get my curveball over to put guys away. They make things happen and put a lot of pressure on you. They just found ways to push runs across. They hit good pitches, I don't know how to explain it. They just found holes."
The Angels scored as many runs against the Dodgers' bullpen as they did against Billingsley. They touched Cory Wade for two runs for the second time in three games (his ERA is up to 6.14) and added three in the ninth. One was charged to rookie Brent Leach, two to an unlucky Ramon Troncoso, who got the ground balls as requested, but the defense couldn't turn them into outs.
Meanwhile, despite scoring seven runs, the Dodgers had some taken away. If you've seen SportsCenter, you've probably seen the latest Torii Hunter highlight, slamming into the center-field fence to rob best buddy Matt Kemp of extra bases. Hunter, who also drove in three runs, was flat on his back for several minutes on the warning track, momentarily holding up his glove to verify the catch.
"Before the series, he told me, 'Don't hit it to center,'" said Kemp. "I'll get him back. Hey, he's got eight [Gold Gloves]. He's been doing that for years. He's the best. He just comes out of nowhere."
Out of nowhere also describes one of the Dodgers stars, Hoffmann, who drew his first Major League start because of Ethier's beaten-up toe. It went a lot better than Hoffmann's at-bat Saturday night.
"I just froze up -- a fastball down the middle. That's a little uncharacteristic of me," he said of the called strike three with a runner on third in the ninth inning. "I've never been in front of 55,000 people. I guess it was butterflies. I have to fall back on all the work I've done and what I'm comfortable doing and calm down."
He said he calmed down by looking at the ground prior to his at-bat in the second inning, when his first Major League hit was his first home run, a three-run blast off Matt Palmer on an 0-2 pitch.
"It felt like I was floating going around the bases," said Hoffmann, who was goaded by teammates into a curtain call.
Hoffmann, a Minnesota native, said the home run wasn't the only highlight of his first weekend in the Major Leagues.
"I got to meet Torii Hunter," he said. "Growing up, I watched two guys -- Kirby Puckett and Hunter. It was really cool to get to meet him. He's a great outfielder and fun to watch. He's a legend in Minnesota; everybody loves him."
Ken Gurnick is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
