Spoiler Alert: Dodgers Denied Chance to Clinch

The Los Angeles Dodgers needed only one victory to clinch a postseason berth, but the Pirates had other ideas.  Pittsburgh put the kibosh on the Dodgers’ thoughts of a clincher with a 3-1 victory on Friday.  Two errors paved the way for the Buccos, as Blake DeWitt threw away a grounder from former Dodger Andy LaRoche, putting men at the corners with nobody out in the first inning.  In the third, James Loney booted a possible double play ball, loading the bases with only one out.  In both cases Jon Garland could not limit the damage, allowing three runs to score on the two miscues.  Despite being unearned runs, Garland still took his first loss in a Los Angeles uniform.

The offense looked inept, managing to get a runner as far as second only three times.  Blake DeWitt had two doubles, and Orlando Hudson had the lone RBI.  Among the first five batters, only two had a hit, combining to go 2-for-20.  Not one batter managed to work a walk against the Pirates, who employed a starter-by-committee method.  The technical starter, Jeff Karstens, worked only three innings, and was followed by four different pitchers.