Rocket bombed!

What a fine way to pass an afternoon.

As I mentioned earlier today, I was invited to go see the Dodgers by Tom earlier this week. We were joined by his daughter (for her first baseball game) and his brother Pat. We got to see a well played game, talk quite a bit of shop, drink some beer, eat Dodger dogs, sweat and generally have a fine time.

They were playing Houston and Roger Clemens (The Rocket) did start. For quite some time, he appeared to be beyond reach of the Dodgers. Wilson Álvarez was looking pretty darned impossible too.

In the bottom of the sixth, things changed.

Dave Roberts walked and drew several throws between Clemens and Bagwell (also drawing a lot of boos from the fans). On the second pitch to Izturis, Roberts took off and stole second base. And then things got really weird. César Izturis hit a blooper which Bagwell could probably have gotten, but Lance Berkman (who normally plays left but was in right field today) called him and Jeff Kent off and proceeded to let the ball drop a few feet inside the line. Izturis gets a double and Roberts moves to third. It wasn't scored as an error, but it was one in my book. Next up was Paul Lo Duca, the crowd was making a lot of noise and all he needed was a solid hit to right to score. Instead, he hit a powerful shot which floated into the left field bleachers and the crowd roared its approval. Dodgers, 3 - 0. Houston got out of the inning, but the damage had been done.

The top of the seventh was pretty wild. Bagwell walked. Berkman singled, moving Bagwell to third. Guillermo Mota came in and the crowd applauded Álvarez. Jeff Kent was hit by a pitch, the bases are loaded, none out. Carlos Beltran was sent in as pinch hitter (why isn't he starting?), hits a liner to second. Mike Lamb (in as pinch hitter), his foul in mid left field is caught and Bagwell scores. One more out to go. Ausmus hits a shot which Izturis covers, tossing to third for the force (and final out).

The Dodgers went quietly in the seventh and then to start the eighth, people started yelling. I was pointed toward left where Gagne was walking in. I asked, "isn't this a bit early?" and no one had a response. Turns out he hasn't worked since July 6, the all star game is coming up and the possibility of more runs was about zero. So why not?

Gagne shut down the side in the eighth and fanned 'em all in the ninth. Job done, game saved, Dodgers win.