Hold the Champagne: Dodgers Can’t Finish Clincher

After the Rockies’ loss on Saturday, the Dodgers’ magic number stood at a single 1: One Dodger win or one Colorado loss would lock up the division title.  Los Angeles was two outs away from popping some Dom Perignon in the PNC Park visitor’s clubhouse, but the champagne will have to remain on ice.  Jonathan Broxton fell apart faster than a house of cards in the ninth, giving up four runs to hand the Pirates a walk-off win, delaying any celebration for at least another day.

The game was more than just a clincher with Clayton Kershaw making his first start since injuring his right shoulder.  He struggled through four innings, giving up two runs that were made possible due to two wild pitches.  The Boys in Blue tied the game in the seventh on a bases-loaded ground-out from Jim Thome.  In the ninth though, the Dodgers exploded.  Russell Martin had an RBI single, Rafael Furcal had an RBI-groundout, and Martin scored on a passed ball, giving LA a comfortable three-run lead.  All looked well, and the Dodgers’ clincher seemed inevitable, especially with Jonathan Broxton on the mound to close out the game.

Unfortunatley, things only went downhill.  Broxton gave up a single to former Dodger Delwyn Young to start the game.  Brandon Moss singled as well, and there were two men on with nobody out.  Andrew McCutchen grounded into a fielder’s choice, but Rafael Furcal could not field it properly to turn a double-play.  Andy LaRoche hit a grounder to Furcal, who tried to through it to second.  However, the throw got away, and Orlando Hudson tried to keep his foot on the bag, keeping him from reaching the errant throw.  Young scored on the error, and the lead was cut to two.  Broxton intentionally walked Garret Jones to load the bases for Lastings Milledge.  With the count even at 2-2, Milledge hit a line-drive to right field that Andre Ethier misplayed, allowing all three runners to score and the Pirates to win the game.