From Deseret News archives:

Knowing when to celebrate

Published: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 12:35 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
MIAMI — When Florida Marlins catcher Mike Rabelo spiked the ball to punctuate an inning-ending play in the eighth inning, the Los Angeles Dodgers took note.

"Excitement from a kid, and he'll probably learn from it," Los Angeles second baseman Jeff Kent said.

An inning later, it was the Dodgers doing the celebrating. Kent's two-out single broke a ninth-inning tie, and the Dodgers won their fourth game in a row Tuesday night, 7-6.

Andre Ethier walked with one out against Kevin Gregg (3-1), took second on a groundout and scored easily on Kent's single. The Dodgers won even though Derek Lowe was unable to protect a 6-1 lead, and with the score 6-all, twice failed to convert scoring chances.

Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla made a strong relay on a double by Mark Sweeney to throw out Blake DeWitt trying to score from first with two out in the eighth. Rabelo held onto the throw despite taking a tumble in a collision with Sweeney, then rose and slammed the ball to the grass as he headed for the dugout.

Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said Rabelo's show of emotion was excessive.

"That's not the way we want to be portrayed as an organization," Gonzalez said. "I spoke to him afterward, and he'll be fine."

Story continues below
Los Angeles, coming off three-game sweep at home against the NL champion Colorado Rockies, improved to 4-8 on the road. The game started a stretch where the Dodgers play 19 of 31 games on the road.

"It was a great grind-out game, especially with our record on the road (4-8) where we haven't seemed that comfortable," manager Joe Torre said. "It's just good practice for us, because with the type of pitching in our division, there aren't going to be many runaways. You're going to have to get used to playing games like this."

Three Los Angeles relievers combined for four shutout innings. Joe Beimel (2-0) pitched the eighth, and Takashi Saito followed with a perfect ninth for his third save in five chances.

National League

PHILLIES 7, PADRES 4: At Philadelphia, Cole Hamels had an impressive outing and the Phillies beat San Diego, denying Greg Maddux his 350th career victory. Hamels (3-3) allowed five hits, two runs and struck out six in 7 1/3 innings. Tom Gordon worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth and the Phillies scored four insurance runs in the bottom half.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Image
Alan Diaz, Associated Press

Dodger reliever Takashi Saito, left, and catcher Russell Martin celebrate L.A.'s win over Florida.

previousnext

Latest comments

Stocks climb on hopes for debt help

There's that word - HOPE again. Hope without proper action is depressing.

RE: Do as I say or I'm calling cops "That's the problem that people don't...

I am so sorry that the parents have lost both their sweet, beautiful little...

15-month-old Rachel Toone dies

We Love you Toone family and are praying for you.

Those who don't believe there is a God who created the earth and heaven, tend...

Aggies knock off Nevada

How many WAC teams are ranked right now?

The EPA decided to clean up the pollution in eastern Kentucky and Tennessee....

Get your heart checked out

It's nice to read an article discussing a Super Bowl ad and it has nothing to...

To Clueless at 5:13, My great grandfather's journal recounts that it was...

RE: Do as I say or I'm calling cops The instances you bring up are why I...

Advertisements