GAME THREAD: NL: COLORADO (62-59) at LA DODGERS (63-59)

NL: COLORADO (62-59) at LA DODGERS (63-59)

<h3>Dodgers hope to continue recent offensive success</h3>

<div class="pre">Colorado (62-59) at LA Dodgers (63-59) 10:10 pm EDT</div>

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) - After rediscovering their offense overthe last three games, the Los Angeles Dodgers will look tocontinue their long climb up the division ladder as theycontinue a three-game series with the Colorado Rockies onSaturday.


The Dodgers have posted six runs in each of the past threecontests - all wins. The 18 runs scored over that time arethree more runs than the team managed over their nine previouscontests - a stretch in which they won just two of nine games.

Since occupying at least a share of the top spot in the NationalLeague West as late as July 29, Los Angeles has fallen 6 1/2games off the pace behind division leader Arizona (70-53) injust over two weeks, due in large part to an offense thatstruggled mightily in August.


No Dodger pitcher has dealt with that issue more so recentlythan Chad Billingsley (7-4, 3.54 ERA), who will look to win forthe first since July after winning his first seven decisions asa reliever and starter.


However, he is hardly to blame for his last three setbacks,allowing a total of six runs over 17 2/3 innings (3.07 ERA) -striking out 18 - but receiving only a single run of supportfrom his offense in that time.


That lone run of support came in Monday's 4-1 loss against theAstros in which the righthander surrendered four runs and sixhits over five innings to extend his losing streak to four.

Franklin Morales (NR) will make his major league debut againstthe Dodgers. In two stops in the minors this season, the21-year-old lefthander is 5-4 with a 3.51 ERA.

 

NL: COLORADO at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">COLORADO AT LA DODGERS -- LINEUPS

COLORADO LA DODGERS
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Kaz Matsui 2B .299 3 29 Rafael Furcal SS .278 5 41
Cory Sullivan CF .323 0 7 Juan Pierre CF .289 0 30
Matt Holliday LF .338 21 95 Matt Kemp RF .321 7 26
Todd Helton 1B .299 11 66 Jeff Kent 2B .291 16 64
Garrett Atkins 3B .283 18 86 Olmedo Saenz 1B .187 3 16
Brad Hawpe RF .289 21 79 Russell Martin C .289 14 71
Troy Tulowitzki SS .284 15 64 Luis Gonzalez LF .280 11 53
Geronimo Gil C .000 0 0 Shea Hillenbrand 3B .200 0 1
Franklin Morales .000 0 0 Chad Billingsley RHP .105 0 2
(NO RECORD) (7-4, 3.54)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL AT LA DODGERS
WARMUPS: COL - FRANKLIN MORALES (NO RECORD)
LOS - CHAD BILLINGSLEY (7-4, 3.54)

UMPIRES: HP - TIM WELKE
1B - TRAVIS REININGER
2B - MIKE EVERITT
3B - JIM REYNOLDS

WEATHER: 86 Degrees, clear
WIND: 3 mph, out to center</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL AT LA DODGERS
STARTING BATS: COL - FRANKLIN MORALES AND GERONIMO GIL
LOS - CHAD BILLINGSLEY AND RUSSELL MARTIN

DUE UP FOR COLORADO: K MATSUI (.299, 3 HR, 29 RBI)
C SULLIVAN (.323, 0 HR, 7 RBI)
M HOLLIDAY (.338, 21 HR, 95 RBI)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
COLORADO 0 0 0 0
LA DODGERS 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - FRANKLIN MORALES
LOS - CHAD BILLINGSLEY

DUE UP FOR LA DODGERS: R FURCAL (.278, 5 HR, 41 RBI)
J PIERRE (.289, 0 HR, 30 RBI)
M KEMP (.321, 7 HR, 26 RBI)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">COLORADO (0) VS LA DODGERS (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
K Matsui 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298
C Sullivan cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .323
M Holliday lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .337
T Helton 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
G Atkins 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
B Hawpe rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
T Tulowitzki ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
G Gil c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
F Morales p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 2 0 0 0 1 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
J Pierre cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
M Kemp rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .321
J Kent 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
O Saenz 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .187
R Martin c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
L Gonzalez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
S Hillenbrand 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
C Billingsley p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .105

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
COLORADO - 0 -- 0
LA DODGERS - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era
F Morales 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ###

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Billingsley 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 3.50

Pitches-strikes: C Billingsley 15-7. Ground balls-fly balls: C Billingsley
0-1. Batters faced: C Billingsley 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Tim Welke. 1B--Travis Reininger. 2B--Mike Everitt. 3B--Jim
Reynolds.

Weather: 82 degrees, clear. Wind: 3 mph, out to center.</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL AT LA DODGERS
CONFIRMED STARTERS: COL - FRANKLIN MORALES
LOS - CHAD BILLINGSLEY</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL AT LA DODGERS - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY MATT KEMP (8) TO CENTER WITH 2 OUT IN THE
1ST OFF FRANKLIN MORALES.
CURRENT SCORE: COLORADO 0, LA DODGERS 1

DUE UP FOR LA DODGERS: J KENT (.291, 16 HR, 64 RBI)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
COLORADO 0 0 0 0
LA DODGERS 1 1 1 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - FRANKLIN MORALES
LOS - CHAD BILLINGSLEY

DUE UP FOR COLORADO: T HELTON (.299, 11 HR, 66 RBI)
G ATKINS (.283, 18 HR, 86 RBI)
B HAWPE (.289, 21 HR, 79 RBI)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">COLORADO (0) VS LA DODGERS (1) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
K Matsui 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298
C Sullivan cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .323
M Holliday lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .337
T Helton 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
G Atkins 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
B Hawpe rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
T Tulowitzki ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
G Gil c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
F Morales p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 2 0 0 0 1 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
J Pierre cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
M Kemp rf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .325
J Kent 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
O Saenz 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .187
R Martin c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
L Gonzalez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
S Hillenbrand 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
C Billingsley p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .105

Totals 4 1 1 1 0 0 0

BATTING: HR - M Kemp (8, 1st inning off F Morales 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - M Kemp
(27). 2-out RBI - M Kemp. Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
COLORADO - 0 -- 0
LA DODGERS - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era
F Morales 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 9.00

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Billingsley 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 3.50

Pitches-strikes: F Morales 9-7; C Billingsley 15-7. Ground balls-fly balls: F
Morales 3-0; C Billingsley 0-1. Batters faced: F Morales 4; C Billingsley 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Tim Welke. 1B--Travis Reininger. 2B--Mike Everitt. 3B--Jim
Reynolds.

Weather: 82 degrees, clear. Wind: 3 mph, out to center.</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL AT LA DODGERS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY TROY TULOWITZKI SCORED TODD HELTON.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, T TULOWITZKI ON FIRST, B HAWPE ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: COLORADO 1
LA DODGERS 1 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR COLORADO: G GIL (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL AT LA DODGERS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY FRANKLIN MORALES SCORED BRAD HAWPE.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, F MORALES ON FIRST, T TULOWITZKI ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: COLORADO 2
LA DODGERS 1 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR COLORADO: K MATSUI (.298, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
COLORADO 0 2 2 4 0
LA DODGERS 1 1 1 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - FRANKLIN MORALES
LOS - CHAD BILLINGSLEY

DUE UP FOR LA DODGERS: O SAENZ (.187, 3 HR, 16 RBI)
R MARTIN (.289, 14 HR, 71 RBI)
L GONZALEZ (.280, 11 HR, 53 RBI)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">COLORADO (2) VS LA DODGERS (1) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
K Matsui 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .297
C Sullivan cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .323
M Holliday lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .337
T Helton 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .300
G Atkins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .283
B Hawpe rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .291
T Tulowitzki ss 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .285
G Gil c 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .000
F Morales p 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1.000

Totals 9 2 4 2 1 2 6

BATTING: RBI - T Tulowitzki (65), F Morales (1). 2-out RBI - F Morales. Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - K Matsui 1. Team LOB - 2.


LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
J Pierre cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
M Kemp rf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .325
J Kent 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
O Saenz 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .187
R Martin c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
L Gonzalez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
S Hillenbrand 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
C Billingsley p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .105

Totals 4 1 1 1 0 0 0

BATTING: HR - M Kemp (8, 1st inning off F Morales 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - M Kemp
(27). 2-out RBI - M Kemp. Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
COLORADO - 02 -- 2
LA DODGERS - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era
F Morales 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 9.00

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Billingsley 2 4 2 2 1 2 0 3.65

Pitches-strikes: F Morales 9-7; C Billingsley 40-22. Ground balls-fly balls:
F Morales 3-0; C Billingsley 1-2. Batters faced: F Morales 4; C Billingsley 10.


UMPIRES: HP--Tim Welke. 1B--Travis Reininger. 2B--Mike Everitt. 3B--Jim
Reynolds.

Weather: 82 degrees, clear. Wind: 3 mph, out to center.</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
COLORADO 0 2 2 4 0
LA DODGERS 1 0 1 2 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - FRANKLIN MORALES
LOS - CHAD BILLINGSLEY

DUE UP FOR COLORADO: C SULLIVAN (.323, 0-FOR-0, BB)
M HOLLIDAY (.337, 0-FOR-1)
T HELTON (.300, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">COLORADO (2) VS LA DODGERS (1) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
K Matsui 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .297
C Sullivan cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .323
M Holliday lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .337
T Helton 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .300
G Atkins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .283
B Hawpe rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .291
T Tulowitzki ss 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .285
G Gil c 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .000
F Morales p 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1.000

Totals 9 2 4 2 1 2 6

BATTING: RBI - T Tulowitzki (65), F Morales (1). 2-out RBI - F Morales. Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - K Matsui 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (K Matsui-T Helton).


LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
J Pierre cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
M Kemp rf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .325
J Kent 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
O Saenz 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .185
R Martin c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .291
L Gonzalez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
S Hillenbrand 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .188
C Billingsley p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .105

Totals 7 1 2 1 0 0 2

BATTING: HR - M Kemp (8, 1st inning off F Morales 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - M Kemp
(27). 2-out RBI - M Kemp. GIDP - S Hillenbrand. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
COLORADO - 02 -- 2
LA DODGERS - 10 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era
F Morales 2 2 1 1 0 0 1 4.50

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Billingsley 2 4 2 2 1 2 0 3.65

HBP - L Gonzalez (by F Morales). Pitches-strikes: F Morales 24-16; C
Billingsley 40-22. Ground balls-fly balls: F Morales 5-1; C Billingsley 1-2.
Batters faced: F Morales 8; C Billingsley 10.

UMPIRES: HP--Tim Welke. 1B--Travis Reininger. 2B--Mike Everitt. 3B--Jim
Reynolds.

Weather: 82 degrees, clear. Wind: 3 mph, out to center.</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
COLORADO 0 2 0 2 6 0
LA DODGERS 1 0 1 2 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - FRANKLIN MORALES
LOS - CHAD BILLINGSLEY

DUE UP FOR LA DODGERS: C BILLINGSLEY (.105, 0 HR, 2 RBI)
R FURCAL (.277, 0-FOR-1)
J PIERRE (.289, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">COLORADO (2) VS LA DODGERS (1) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
K Matsui 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .297
C Sullivan cf 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 .333
M Holliday lf 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .336
T Helton 1b 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 .302
G Atkins 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .282
B Hawpe rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .291
T Tulowitzki ss 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .285
G Gil c 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .000
F Morales p 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1.000

Totals 13 2 6 2 1 2 8

BATTING: 2B - T Helton (27, C Billingsley). RBI - T Tulowitzki (65), F Morales
(1). 2-out RBI - F Morales. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G Atkins
1, K Matsui 1. GIDP - M Holliday. Team LOB - 3.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (K Matsui-T Helton).


LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
J Pierre cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
M Kemp rf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .325
J Kent 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
O Saenz 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .185
R Martin c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .291
L Gonzalez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
S Hillenbrand 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .188
C Billingsley p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .105

Totals 7 1 2 1 0 0 2

BATTING: HR - M Kemp (8, 1st inning off F Morales 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - M Kemp
(27). 2-out RBI - M Kemp. GIDP - S Hillenbrand. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Kent-R Furcal-O Saenz).


----------------------------------------------------
COLORADO - 020 -- 2
LA DODGERS - 10 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era
F Morales 2 2 1 1 0 0 1 4.50

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Billingsley 3 6 2 2 1 2 0 3.61

HBP - L Gonzalez (by F Morales). Pitches-strikes: F Morales 24-16; C
Billingsley 53-31. Ground balls-fly balls: F Morales 5-1; C Billingsley 4-2.
Batters faced: F Morales 8; C Billingsley 14.

UMPIRES: HP--Tim Welke. 1B--Travis Reininger. 2B--Mike Everitt. 3B--Jim
Reynolds.

Weather: 82 degrees, clear. Wind: 3 mph, out to center.</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
COLORADO 0 2 0 2 6 0
LA DODGERS 1 0 0 1 2 0 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - FRANKLIN MORALES
LOS - CHAD BILLINGSLEY

DUE UP FOR COLORADO: B HAWPE (.291, 1-FOR-1)
T TULOWITZKI (.285, 1-FOR-1, RBI)
G GIL (.000, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">COLORADO (2) VS LA DODGERS (1) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
K Matsui 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .297
C Sullivan cf 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 .333
M Holliday lf 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .336
T Helton 1b 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 .302
G Atkins 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .282
B Hawpe rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .291
T Tulowitzki ss 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .285
G Gil c 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .000
F Morales p 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1.000

Totals 13 2 6 2 1 2 8

BATTING: 2B - T Helton (27, C Billingsley). RBI - T Tulowitzki (65), F Morales
(1). 2-out RBI - F Morales. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G Atkins
1, K Matsui 1. GIDP - M Holliday. Team LOB - 3.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (K Matsui-T Helton).


LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
J Pierre cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .288
M Kemp rf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .325
J Kent 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
O Saenz 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .185
R Martin c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .291
L Gonzalez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
S Hillenbrand 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .188
C Billingsley p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .100

Totals 10 1 2 1 0 2 2

BATTING: HR - M Kemp (8, 1st inning off F Morales 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - M Kemp
(27). 2-out RBI - M Kemp. GIDP - S Hillenbrand. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Kent-R Furcal-O Saenz).


----------------------------------------------------
COLORADO - 020 -- 2
LA DODGERS - 100 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era
F Morales 3 2 1 1 0 2 1 3.00

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Billingsley 3 6 2 2 1 2 0 3.61

HBP - L Gonzalez (by F Morales). Pitches-strikes: F Morales 35-25; C
Billingsley 53-31. Ground balls-fly balls: F Morales 6-1; C Billingsley 4-2.
Batters faced: F Morales 11; C Billingsley 14.

UMPIRES: HP--Tim Welke. 1B--Travis Reininger. 2B--Mike Everitt. 3B--Jim
Reynolds.

Weather: 82 degrees, clear. Wind: 3 mph, out to center.</div>