LAst Night's Action: Dodgers Rally But Lose in Milwaukee

Milwaukee Brewers defeat LA Dodgers 5-4. The game really did look over when Andre Ethier hit the two-run homer in the top of the eighth inning to give the Dodgers the 4-3 lead. It still looked over when Dodgers' closer Javy Guerra had runners on first and second with no outs in the bottom of the ninth, that triple play on Sunday still within sight through the rear view mirror.

It still looked over after Brewers' manager Ron Roenicke got some stupid idea stuck in his head that he should have his catcher Jonathan Lucroy lay down a bunt — Lucroy eventually struck out. But then Roenicke made a brilliant decision. With a light hitting shortstop Cesar Izturis coming up to bat and no shortstop left on his bench, Roenicke decided to play to win the game and put in pinch hitter George Kottaras.

As former New York Jets' head coach Herm Edwards famously preached, "You play to win the game," Roenicke's decision confirmed that if you play to win the game, you usually win the game. Kottaras hit a double off the right field wall scoring both runs in a walkoff.

Both starting pitchers gave up only two runs, Chad Billingsley through six innnings for the Dodgers and Yovani Gallardo through seven for the home team.

It should be noted that throughout the homestand, Matt Kemp told the media that everyone on the team had each other's back. Ethier's eighth inning go-ahead homer bailed out Kemp who struck out swinging in the previous at-bat against Francisco Rodriguez. Of course the first person to greet Ethier at the top of the steps was a very emphatic Kemp.

With the loss comes the end of the Dodgers' six-game win streak, however the Dodgers still have the best record in the Major Leagues — only now they share that distinction with the Texas Rangers who are also 9-2 after their 18-3 demolition of the Boston Red Sox.

As a complete aside, a big congratulations to Colorado Rockies' starter Jamie Moyer who becomes the oldest pitcher to win a Major League game at the age of 49 years, 150 days.

San Antonio Spurs defeat LA Lakers 112-91. A recipe for disaster: 20 turnovers that yielded 24 points; allowing the opponents shoot almost 60%. At least the Lakers went 11-for-11 on the free throw line.

Oakland Athletics defeat LA Angels 5-3. The Angels' bullpen strikes again. Leading 2-1 in the top of the eighth, Kevin Jepsen gave up two runs and left two runners on base for rookie David Carpenter. Carpenter gave up a two-run single to the Cuban wonder Yoenis Cespedes. All four runs were charged to Jepsen who got charged with the loss.

TONIGHT'S ACTION
Vancouver Canucks at LA Kings. Game 4 of Western Conference Semifinals. Kings lead series 3-0. 7:00 p.m. NBC Sports Net, AM 1150 KTLK.
LA Dodgers at Milwaukee Brewers. 5:10 p.m. FS Prime Ticket, AM 570 KLAC.
Oakland Athletics at LA Angels. 7:05 p.m. FSWest, AM 830 KLAA.
LA Clippers at Denver Nuggets. 6:00 p.m. KCOP, AM 980 KFWB.
LA Lakers at Golden State Warriors. 7:30 p.m. KCAL, ESPN, AM 710 KSPN.