The 2001 Dodgers - Game Reports

Game 15
Dodgers 16 - Cardinals 9

To say it wasn't pretty would be an understatement. To say it was down right ugly would be veritable. The Dodgers walked past the Cardinals 16-9 in a game that featured a total of 22 walks, 11 by each team. To add to the unsightliness of the affair, there wasn't much defense played on either side of the ball as well. The difference for the Dodgers, was that they mixed in 10 hits compared to 5 for the Cards.

The Dodgers got out of the gate quickly in the 1st getting 7 hits and 7 runs while sending 11 batters to the plate. The resilient Cardinals responded with 4 runs on 2 infield singles, 4 walks and a hit batter. After the Dodgers scored 1 in the 2nd, the Cardinals cut the lead to 8-7 with 3 runs in the bottom of the 3rd. The Dodgers were the beneficiary of a couple of big breaks in the inning, when Cory Miller made contact with a bunted ball outside of the batter's box and was called out on his way to first. The Cardinals had 1 run in and runners on 1st and 3rd with nobody out at the time. Later in the inning, the Cardinals had runner picked off 3rd base after wandering too far when a batter who had just walked continued around first and got hung up in a run down.

Bobby Vriezen held the Dodgers in check giving up only 1 run in 3 innings of work, a performance that was typical of him, but uncharacteristic for the day. The Cardinals then took the lead in their half of the 4th on 2 walks, a single and an error where 2 Dodgers collided after both undoubtedly called for the lazy in-between pop up that allowed both runs to score.

With the 1 hr. 45 min. time limit looming, things were not looking good for the National League leaders. BUT, Sam Markham started the Dodger 5th with a single. Free swinging Tanner Davis hit a sharp grounder to second that was mishandled and the comeback was underway. 4 of the next 5 Dodgers walked, the 2 biggest at bats of the inning belonging to Ike Neher and Dustin Rucinski who walked to bring in the tying and go ahead runs respectively. Markham then got his second hit of the inning, coupled with 2 more walks to Tanner Davis and Matt Weaver, and the game was out of reach for the battling redbirds. Tanner Davis finished the time-shortened game on the mound for the Dodgers mixing a walk between an infield pop up and 2 strikeouts in the Cardinals final frame.

The Dodgers return to action tomorrow morning with a game against the Twins at 11:00 a.m. at Little League Park.