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Dodgers clinch playoff berth on enemy soil
By Daniel Dullum September 30, 2006 |
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SAN FRANCISCO- The scenario was simple enough. All the Los Angeles Dodgers had to do was “win to get in.” And the last thing the San Francisco Giants wanted to see was their archrival doing a celebration dance on their turf. On this day, it was the Dodgers dream that came true in this 117-year rivalry. Their nationally-televised 4-2 victory over the Giants ensured Los Angeles of at least the National League Wild Card, and a shot at the NL West Division championship. Since both Los Angeles and San Diego won their games Saturday, both teams are assured a spot in the 2006 postseason, eliminating the Philadelphia Phillies in the process. The Padres hold the tiebreaking edge – 13-5 in head-to-head games with the Dodgers – for the division. Shortstop Rafael Furcal, who joined the Dodgers from perennial division champion Atlanta, said the experience doesn’t get old. “It’s my seventh year in the playoffs and I’m so excited,” Furcal said. “I worked so hard to be where I am right now. … I’m hungry to win. “It doesn’t matter who we do it against. We just need to be ready now for the playoffs. I’m so happy.” Greg Maddux (15-14), no stranger to locker room celebrations after his long tenure with the Atlanta Braves, won his sixth game for Los Angeles after he was acquired from the Chicago Cubs at the July 31 trading deadline. "It feels great," Maddux said in his customary low-key approach, following career win No. 333. "I had a great time in Chicago. I'm glad I got traded to Los Angeles, so it's been a very good year for me personally. Hopefully it'll get better. I wasn't expecting to be in the playoffs until I got traded." The 40-year-old Maddux was in classic form, scattering three hits, striking out four, issuing no walks and even stole a base after he singled in the fourth inning. As proof that statistics are kept for almost everything, it was noted that Maddux leads MLB pitchers in stolen bases with two. In the top of the first inning, Kenny Lofton tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Julio Lugo to give Los Angeles a 1-0 lead. The Dodgers went ahead to stay with two runs in the third off losing pitcher Matt Cain (13-12). After Furcal doubled and Lofton singled to lead off the third, Lugo’s double scored Furcal and Lofton scored on a rare sacrifice popup to second by J.D. Drew. Lance Niekro drove in both San Francisco runs with a ground out RBI in the first inning and a leadoff home run in the fourth (his first since May 30). But Los Angeles pitching retired the last 18 Giants hitters. With two out in the ninth, Niekro was San Francisco’s last hope to spoil the Dodgers’ party. Facing LA closer Takashi Saito, Niekro was quickly behind in the count and badly fooled on the last two pitches, striking out to end the game. The AT&T Park diamond soon became a sea of raucous Dodger Blue. As per normal at a locker room celebration there was as much champagne on the clothing and carpet as there was consumed. In the midst of the jubilant and chaotic Dodgers clubhouse, team chairman Frank McCourt was doused more than once with multiple champagne showers. “I loved it, I loved it,” McCourt said through a mix of beer and champagne running down his face. “It tastes sweet, believe me!” “This win shows the character of this team,” McCourt said. “I don’t know if you heard it, but there were a ton of Dodger fans out there today. They’ve supported this team all year long. “This rivalry goes back over 100 years and the fans here are very vocal. They let you hear it. But that’s what makes it a great situation.” Former Giant Jeff Kent, who played on San Francisco’s 2002 World Series club, couldn’t stop smiling while being doused repeatedly with the bubbly. “I've always wanted to be in position to get back to the World Series, and we have that here. It's been an emotional rollercoaster for us this year with all of the winning and losing streaks and personnel changes. It has been gratifying that everyone has been able to maintain it without the boat tipping over." Few people in attendance at AT&T Park savored the win more than former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, who still works for the club as a special advisor to McCourt. “It’s the greatest thing that can happen to you,” Lasorda said. “If you’re going to clinch it, you want to clinch it against the San Francisco Giants. They just love to beat us. They wanted to beat us so bad, they could taste it. That’s why it’s sweeter than ever. “Teams go into slumps – some at the beginning of the year, some go in the middle of the year and some go at the end. I’ve been through all three of them,” Lasorda added. “But this was a slump in the middle where we were able to recover. They just battled back. They didn’t quit. Seven-and-a-half games behind, jeez … everybody in Los Angeles didn’t think they’d amount to anything.” “The bottom line is, when we first got here, we stated our commitment to the fans and the community and stated our goals – it’s all about winning championships and giving our fans a great experience,” chairman McCourt said, “Obviously, when you win [a playoff berth], it’s a great feeling, but it’s all about championships.” Nearly 11 months ago, things weren’t moving in that direction for a stagnant Dodgers team. The turnaround began with the hiring of General Manager Nick Coletti from the Giants and no-nonsense Manager Grady Little. “What you’re seeing right now is that this team is starting to establish an identity again – a culture around winning,” McCourt said. “We have the leadership in place, we have the goals, now we’re developing a philosophy that we’re champions and we expect to win from year to year. “We have a ways to go, but we’re on a good track. When you have good people all pulling in the same direction, you can achieve amazing things.” Despite losing closer Eric Gagne for most of the season with two stints on the disabled list (surgeries on his pitching elbow and back), the Dodgers were able to take advantage of the National League’s weak overall competition and make a playoff run. Coletti’s astute acquisitions of veterans like Maddux, Lofton and Comeback of the Year candidate Nomar Garciaparra didn’t hurt. “We have a lot of guys that know how to win,” Furcal said. “That’s what you’re looking for – some guy that’s happy to win, happy to play baseball, try to win every day … It’s so exciting!” “The way I look at it, we haven’t won anything yet,” McCourt said. “We’ve got more baseball to play and these guys want to win a world championship. This is a team that’s unbelievably resilient. They never quit. They keep coming at you.” To the Dodgers many critics of a year ago, McCourt offered an invitation: “Enjoy it along with us.” Meanwhile, in an understandably subdued San Francisco clubhouse, Giants manager Felipe Alou said of the Dodgers’ amazing turnaround, "It's well deserved. We have to accept the truth that they were better." DIAMOND DUST: In what might be the worst kept secret in Bay Area sports, there is strong speculation that Felipe Alou will be replaced as Giants manager. General Manager Brian Sabean said the two would meet after the season. Sabean also said that OF Barry Bonds must be willing to accept a considerable pay cut to play for the Giants in 2007. Bonds made $18 million in the final year of his current contract, which expires on Oct. 31. … The age gap between Saturday’s starting pitchers Greg Maddux and Matt Cain – 18 years, 170 days. … Cain leads NL rookie pitchers in wins (13), innings pitched (190 2/3), strikeouts (179) and is tied with Florida’s Scott Olsen in games started with 31. … Los Angeles 2B Julio Lugo’s third inning RBI two-bagger gave the club a franchise record 304 doubles in a season, surpassing the Brooklyn Dodgers’ 303 in 1930. … If the Giants are forced to make up a Sept. 17 rainout in St. Louis on Monday, the game would start at noon PDT. |
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