NL Division Series: Game 3 Dodgers v. the Cards

On to game 3. What a great comeback victory yesterday. I remember a few days ago someoen posted:

"Paging Steve Finley. Steve Finley. Report to the Dodgers clubhouse for possible pinch hitting duty in the bottom of the ninth.

Paging Kirk Gibson. Kirk Gibson. Pick up any white paging phone anywhere in the terminal.

Paging Rick Monday. Rick Monday. Report to the on deck circle near the third base dugout.

Paging Orel Hershiser. Orel Hershiser. Report to the left field bullpen for possible middle relief."

Well, Mr. Mark Loretta heard the page!

We still need 1 more victory! For all the thought about 7 more and 11 more, etc. . . . for now we just need 1 more to move forward. I've tried to focus this year on enjoying the ride wherever it may go. And, so far it's been a great ride. For many years I'm going to remember the Mark Loretta hit and the Dodger comeback victory last night regardless of how far we go (like the Finely HR). Hopefully, by the end of Sat we are going to th NL Campionship series. Let's go Dodgers!

Padilla v. Pinerio.

I was that "someone". Having suffered through that abysmal series in Pittsburgh, and waiting at the airport for my flight, those airline pages kept echoing for days in the vacuuous chambers of what used to be my mind.

Blake, Belliard, Martin, and Sweet Loretta all answered the page at final call!!!

BluePastorKyle:

I was watching a MLB classic from 1986 - the "Buckner" game, where Gary Carter was interviewed immediately following the game. What he basically said was, "Nobody was gonna make that final out. We all went up there thinking, 'I'm not gonna make the final out.'"

That's exactly what yesterday's game felt like to me once we recorded two quick outs. Very patient ABs knowing Franklin has a propensity for getting riled. Good times...

That was the feeling I got, also. Blake, Marlon and Getback were not to be denied. Again, the pen was nails. I still can't believe TSN feels we have the third best pen going into the playoffs - clowns. The nice thing is that Kuo got a day off and I think we are going to need him on Saturday. I am 50/50 on a sweep. I see the Stones/Phillies going the distance and I think that the time off, if we sweep, could be detrimental. It would be nice if the Stones sweep Philly in that icebox they call Coors. Gonna be a rockin' 20 degrees on Saturday. Weather only suitable for skiing or Gintfans. Might see some players lose toes in that icebox.

There is one other advantage of not sweeping - Bills would go tomorrow. If he doesn't, and then pitches Game 4 of the NLCS, that's 19 days off between starts, which is a lot ot ask.

Game 3 starting lineups, courtesy of Riverside Press-Enterprise columnist Jim Alexander:

Dodgers
Furcal, SS
Kemp, CF
Ethier, RF
Ramírez, LF
Loney, 1B
Blake, 3B
Belliard, 2B
Martin, C
Padilla, P
 
Cardinals
Schumaker, 2B
Ludwick, RF
Pujols, 1B
Holliday, LF
Rasmus, CF
Molina, C
DeRosa, 3B
Ryan, SS
Piñeiro, P
 

For the record, someone at "Dodger Thoughts" says that, according to Bob Nightengale's Twitter page, Carpenter will definitely go if there's a game 4.

Makes tonight's game all the more important. Though I don't have a lot of faith in Carpenter on short rest, if we lose tonight it's not at all improbable to have guys like Carpenter and Wainwright each come away with a win.

Also, unlike the first two games I won't be glued to my computer tonight, in favor of watching with friends at a bar... so enjoy the thread without me. GO BLUE.

Furcal flies out to center. 1 out, for Kemp.

Holiday actually catches a ball.

and the crowd gives a big cheer when Holliday actually catches the fly ball

MANNY DOUBLES IN KEMP!! 1-0 DODGERS!!

Afternoon Guys,

Nice bit of hitting by Manny.

Padilla gets the hitter to ground out back to him. 1 out.

WickedCurves:

Hey all! A teeny bit late, but here. Woo!

You are late. Did all those "OH YES!! YES!!..." entice someone?

and another single to albert