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LOS ANGELES — You expect this kind of series in October, not July.
When the Dodgers, the National League's best team, collided with the Rockies, the NL's hottest team, there intensity befitted the Fall. Nothing specifically was a stake. But the Rockies earned a measure of respect and hinted strongly that the season's final three games in Los Angeles could take on special significance.
On a blistering hot day, the Rockies fell 1-0, Jason Hammel the victim of one mistake.
It didn't seem fair. As people became mouse potatoes following the game cast on their computers — the game wasn't televised — Hammel muzzled the Dodgers for seven innings. Entering the eighth, the Dodgers' scoreless streak sat at 16 straight innings in the wake of Jason Marquis' brilliance.
The drought ended not with a gush, but a spit. Pinch-hitter Rafael Furcal dumped a blooper into right field in front of Brad Hawpe, scoring pinch-runner Russell Martin with the lone run.
"It's a bummer, it is frustrating, but that's baseball," Hammel said of Furcal's flip swing on a 2-0 changeup. "I think we showed who we are. Nobody is looking at the Rockies anymore and thinking we are pushovers."
It is a rather remarkable achievement that the Rockies did not use a reliever in the last two games, yet lost the series.
"We are disappointed that we didn't win this series, but we showed we can play with them," manager Jim Tracy said.
"We are going home for a long period of time, and the way we played on the last two road trips (13-7 record), we have set ourselves up to do some very special things in front of 30,000 to 50,000 fans."
The explanation lies in the Dodgers' bullpen. Clayton Kerhsaw held the Rockies scoreless through five innings, but was wild. He left after 97 pitches and a season-high five walks. Then the tandem of Ronald Belisario and Ramon Troncosco — "They are joined the hip," said Hall of Famer announcer Vin Scully — took over, mauling the Rockies for three innings with a steady diet of fastballs.
The Rockies' best scoring chance came in the seventh when Hammel's liner into the right-field gap was chased down by Andre Ethier, standing Ian Stewart at second base. Rockies' players were amazed that Ethier was playing Hammel so deep and not on the line.
Said Hammel, "I thought it was going to be a double. It just hung in the air too long."
The two relative unknown Dodgers' relievers have become a sturdy bridge to the beast that is Jonathan Broxton. The 300-pounder blew gas in the ninth, fanning two before getting Stewart to fly to left for the final out for this 19th save.
When the Dodgers, the National League's best team, collided with the Rockies, the NL's hottest team, there intensity befitted the Fall. Nothing specifically was a stake. But the Rockies earned a measure of respect and hinted strongly that the season's final three games in Los Angeles could take on special significance.
On a blistering hot day, the Rockies fell 1-0, Jason Hammel the victim of one mistake.
It didn't seem fair. As people became mouse potatoes following the game cast on their computers — the game wasn't televised — Hammel muzzled the Dodgers for seven innings. Entering the eighth, the Dodgers' scoreless streak sat at 16 straight innings in the wake of Jason Marquis' brilliance.
The drought ended not with a gush, but a spit. Pinch-hitter Rafael Furcal dumped a blooper into right field in front of Brad Hawpe, scoring pinch-runner Russell Martin with the lone run.
"It's a bummer, it is frustrating, but that's baseball," Hammel said of Furcal's flip swing on a 2-0 changeup. "I think we showed who we are. Nobody is looking at the Rockies anymore and thinking we are pushovers."
It is a rather remarkable achievement that the Rockies did not use a reliever in the last two games, yet lost the series.
"We are disappointed that we didn't win this series, but we showed we can play with them," manager Jim Tracy said.
"We are going home for a long period of time, and the way we played on the last two road trips (13-7 record), we have set ourselves up to do some very special things in front of 30,000 to 50,000 fans."
The explanation lies in the Dodgers' bullpen. Clayton Kerhsaw held the Rockies scoreless through five innings, but was wild. He left after 97 pitches and a season-high five walks. Then the tandem of Ronald Belisario and Ramon Troncosco — "They are joined the hip," said Hall of Famer announcer Vin Scully — took over, mauling the Rockies for three innings with a steady diet of fastballs.
The Rockies' best scoring chance came in the seventh when Hammel's liner into the right-field gap was chased down by Andre Ethier, standing Ian Stewart at second base. Rockies' players were amazed that Ethier was playing Hammel so deep and not on the line.
Said Hammel, "I thought it was going to be a double. It just hung in the air too long."
The two relative unknown Dodgers' relievers have become a sturdy bridge to the beast that is Jonathan Broxton. The 300-pounder blew gas in the ninth, fanning two before getting Stewart to fly to left for the final out for this 19th save.
