Dein erstes Forum » Me Out to the Ballgame played in the seventh inning

LOS ANGELES -- Scott Kazmir is running short on time to prove he belongs on the Dodgers postseason roster. Fresh off the disabled list, the veteran pitcher was dealt another blow when spasms cut short his start.Ross Stripling picked up the slack with three scoreless innings of relief, Joc Pederson and pinch-hitter Andre Ethier hit back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning and the Dodgers defeated the Colorado Rockies 5-2 on Friday night after an emotional pre-game ceremony honoring Vin Scully.Their third straight victory trimmed the Dodgers magic number for clinching a record fourth consecutive NL West title to two. Their division lead increased to seven games after San Francisco lost at San Diego 7-2.Kazmir allowed two hits while tossing just 19 pitches in his first start for the Dodgers since Aug. 22. He left after one inning because of right spasms in his ribs and chest. The left-hander spent the past month on the disabled list with neck inflammation.It was tough for me to swallow, he said. Its frustrating.Kazmir said the pain on his front side was similar to what he felt during a brief stint at Triple-A Oklahoma City.You cant stay strong, he said. I had to not throw as hard.Dodgers manager Dave Roberts removed Kazmir to avoid the risk of further injury.I feel bad for Kaz, Roberts said. Hes gone through a lot and had high expectations for tonight, and the body wasnt responding.Pederson worked the count to 3-2 during a nine-pitch at-bat before homering off Jon Gray (10-9) with two outs. Ethier followed with his first homer of the season into the lower right-field seats, extending the Dodgers lead to 4-0.Yasmani Grandals RBI single gave Los Angeles a 2-0 lead in the first. Corey Seager scored from third and Colorado catcher Tom Murphy had his back to the plate as he fielded the throw from right field, allowing Justin Turner to score from second.Stripling (5-8) allowed two hits in three innings, struck out four and walked two.Its long relief, so its kind of like a start, Stripling said. I can still pitch the way Im used to.Kenley Jansen retired the side with two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth for his 47th save in 53 chances.Gray gave up four runs and three hits in four innings. The right-hander struck out 10 and walked three on 106 pitches. Gray was coming off a franchise-record 16 strikeouts in a complete-game 8-0 win over San Diego last weekend. His combined 26 strikeouts are the most in a two-game span in Colorado franchise history.I knew from the beginning it would be a tough day with no fastball command, Gray said. Fastball command is number one when it comes to pitching. Without that it is incredibly tough to succeed.Colorado scored its runs in the sixth on Nolan Arenados 40th homer leading off and Tom Murphys RBI single.The Dodgers honored Scully on his appreciation night with fellow left-handers Sandy Koufax and Clayton Kershaw among those paying tribute to the 88-year-old Hall of Fame broadcaster who is retiring when the regular season ends next weekend.I should be on my knees to pray in thanksgiving for all the wonderful things that have happened to me, said Scully, showered with the same roar of the crowd that first enticed him while listening to college football games on the familys four-legged radio as an 8-year-old in the Bronx.Ive loved this game for 80 years, he said.TITLE BELTThe Dodgers player of the game belt went to Stripling. The large decorated blue belt resembles one given to a prize fighter. That thing weighs like 10 pounds, Stripling said. Technically, it goes to the whole bullpen but they let me keep it in my locker.WORKING `PENThe eight innings of relief set a single-season Dodgers record for most bullpen innings pitched with 559.0. The old mark of 553.0 was set in 2009.SINGING SCULLYScully did a bit of lip-synching while his pre-recorded version of Take Me Out to the Ballgame played in the seventh inning. He had his arm around wife Sandi and a banner reading Ill Miss You! was unrolled from his booth while the sellout crowd of 52,320 cheered him as they had all night.QUOTE OF THE NIGHTAs many times as Ive been on this field, Ive never been this nervous. -- 80-year-old Koufax said before addressing the crowd.WHAT A CATCHJosh Reddick charged a ball hit by Colorados DJ LeMahieu to right field, catching it on the run and completing a cartwheel to hold the runner at third base with two outs in the third. LeMahieus 38-game on-base streak and 13-game hitting streak ended as he went 0 for 4.UP NEXTRockies: RHP Chad Bettis (13-7, 4.79) has career highs in victories, starts (30) and innings pitched (174 2/3). He is 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in seven career games, including four starts, against Los Angeles.Dodgers: Kershaw (11-3, 1.73) is 7-1 with a 1.19 ERA in nine home starts. NEW YORK -- Amanda Zahui B. scored 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting and the New York Liberty never trailed in their 75-65 win over the San Antonio Stars on Sunday.Sugar Rodgers added 11 points, while Shavonte Zellous and Tina Charles scored 10 apiece for the Liberty (15-6), who have won three in a row and 11 of their last 12. Carolyn Swords tied her career high with 11 rebounds.Zahui B. scored eight points during a 16-7 spurt that gave New York its biggest lead, 71-58, with 3:25 remaining.ddddddddddddThe Liberty, ranked third in the AP WNBA power poll, got 38 points from the bench.Monique Currie led the 12th-ranked Stars (5-15) with 17 points. Sydney Colson scored a career-high 12 and Moriah Jefferson added 11 points and three steals.San Antonio has lost eight of its last 11 overall and fell to 1-9 on the road. ' ' '