| Joe Gutierrez. 8th April, 2006 - 1:32 am
 Friday brought some good news to Dodger camp as Eric Gagne’s second surgery on his elbow was deemed a success by team surgeons. Gagne’s timetable for return is said to be about eight weeks, although a second surgery to the elbow raises concern not only for his season, but career. The closer role is now being handed over to new reliever Danys Baez, with Yhency Brazoban most likely commanding the setup position.
Friday, the Dodgers invaded the “City of Brotherly Love” to take on the Phillies in their first rode trip of the new season. Los Angeles would strike in their first at-bats as CF Jason Repko, who started over SS Rafael Furcal because of shin pain, singled to start the inning. While batting second in the lineup and continuing to thrive there, LF Jose Cruz Jr. reached on an error by 1B Ryan Howard.
Recently called up 1B James Loney followed with his first triple of his career, clearing the bases and giving LA an early 2-0 lead. The birthday man Brett Tomko shut down the Phils’ in the second while the Dodgers would add two more runs to their lead. SS Ramon Martinez, who singled to start the inning, would score on a double to centerfield by C Dioner Navarro. Opposing pitcher Gavin Floyd couldn’t buy a strike for anything, and would eventually walk in Navarro after walking RF J.D. Drew with the bases loaded.
LA added one more in the third on Repko’s single to left, scoring 3B Bill Mueller and giving Tomko a five run lead. The shut out wouldn’t last long as LF Pat Burrell started the bottom of the fourth with a solo blast to left field. Howard reached on base, but scored on a two-run homer from C Sal Fasano, trimming their deficit to just two.
Tomko was yanked after six innings yet his lead didn’t disappear. RP Hong-Chih Kuo dominated the seventh and eighth innings while striking out four Phillies, allowing no hits. Kuo was absolutely over powering the Philadelphia offense, giving the Dodgers a lefty reliever capable of pitching to both right and left handed batters.
The bottom of the ninth brought Baez to the mound to close it out. He did exactly that, striking out two Phillies’ and giving up one hit as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 5-3.
Game Notes- Furcal was a late scratch to the lineup after complaining of soreness to his right shin. He received the injury after bumping legs with Andrew Jones of the Braves Wednesday.
Final Score: Dodgers 5, Phillies 3
Coming Up
Derek Lowe attempts to rebound after his performance Opening Day when he takes on the Phils’ Ryan Madson
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