Tag: Dodgers

  • Ramirez returning to Dodgers next season (AP)

    Manny Ramirez is coming back to the Dodgers next season. The team said Friday that the slugger exercised his $20 million contract option for 2010. His agent Scott Boras informed general manager Ned Colletti of the decision, which Ramirez had until this month to make. He could have exercised an out clause in the two-year, $45 million deal he signed in March.

  • Phillies win second straight NL pennant (AP)

    Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel waves after the Phillies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 10-4 in Game 5 of the National League Championship baseball series to win the league title Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009, in Philadelphia.

    Ryan Howard and the defending champs are back in the World Series — proving last year was no fluke and looking even more dangerous this time around. Jayson Werth homered twice, Shane Victorino and Pedro Feliz also connected and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 10-4 in Game 5 on Wednesday night to win their second straight NL pennant.

  • Dodgers, GM Colletti agree on extension (AP)

    Ned Colletti agreed to a long-term extension Tuesday to stay on as general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Under him, the team has reached the postseason in three of his four seasons, the first time a Dodgers GM has accomplished that feat. Colletti joins New York's Brian Cashman and Boston's Theo Epstein in doing so among active GMs.

  • Phillies roll 11-0, take 2-1 NLCS lead (AP)

    Los Angeles Dodgers' James Loney(notes) hangs his head in the dugout after the Dodgers lost 11-0 to the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 3 of the National League Championship baseball series Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009, in Philadelphia. The Phillies take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

    Cliff Lee sprinted off the mound after throwing his final pitch, nearly breaking a sweat for the first time. Heck, he almost outhustled the Phillies' newest speed demon, Ryan Howard. With their ace and slugger leading the way, the defending World Series champions got back their swagger. Lee dominated the Dodgers, Howard and Jayson Werth provided the big swings early and Philadelphia cruised past…

  • Dodgers rally off Phils’ pen, tie NLCS (AP)

    Los Angeles Dodgers, including Rafael Furcal(notes) (15), celebrate after they beat the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1in Game 2 of the National League Championship baseball series Friday, Oct. 16, 2009, in Los Angeles.

    A grounder off a fielder's glove. A bunt that slipped by two players. The Los Angeles Dodgers' latest postseason rally began in the weirdest, wackiest way. Another throwing error by Chase Utley, a pinch-hit single and two walks also were part of the Dodgers' crazy eighth inning that produced a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday, tying the NL championship series at one…

  • Phils use 3-run HRs to top LA in Game 1 (AP)

    Philadelphia Phillies' Raul Ibanez(notes), left, is congratulated after hitting a three-run home run during the eighth inning of Game 1 of the National League Championship baseball series against the Los Angeles Dodgers Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009, in Los Angeles.

    Brad Lidge has regained that nasty slider. Ryan Howard and Carlos Ruiz are stroking big hits. Cole Hamels is winning postseason games without his best stuff. Boy, this is looking real familiar for the Philadelphia Phillies. Ruiz and Raul Ibanez hit three-run homers, reliever Ryan Madson got a key out and Lidge finished off the Phillies' 8-6 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the NL…

  • Kershaw, Hamels to start in NLCS Game 1 (AP)

    Philadelphia Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz(notes), left, laughs with manager Charlie Manuel during practice Wednesday,Oct. 14, 2009 in Los Angeles. The Phillies will play the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League championship series Thursday.

    The Phillies and Dodgers are back in the National League championship series for the second straight year, making them the closest thing the NL has to a couple of dominant teams. They are the first repeat teams since Houston and St. Louis squared off in 2004 and '05, and only the third repeaters since Atlanta and Pittsburgh met in 1991 and '92.

  • Torre not anticipating new contract (AP)

    In this Sept. 25, 2009, photo, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre sits in the dugout before a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh. The Dodgers won their second consecutive NL West title for the first time since 1977-78. Both have come under manager Torre. He is never too high, never too low and rarely meddles in his players' business, even when Manny Ramirez(notes) was suspended 50 games for violating baseball's drug policy.

    Joe Torre says he doesn't plan to manage the Los Angeles Dodgers after his contract expires. "I have one year on my contract and I don't anticipate it being more than that," he said Tuesday, two days before the Dodgers open the NLCS against Philadelphia. However, he noted, "I've said that before and my wife doesn't believe me at all." The 69-year-old manager is…

  • Padilla helps Dodgers sweep Cardinals (AP)

    Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Jonathan Broxton(notes), left, is congratulated by teammates after striking out St. Louis Cardinals' Rick Ankiel(notes) for the final out in Game 3 of the National League division baseball series Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, in St. Louis. The Dodgers won the game 5-1 to sweep the Cardinals and advance to the National League Championship Series.

    Unemployed in August and a star for the Los Angeles Dodgers in October. Once Vicente Padilla got out of the first inning, he slammed the door on the St. Louis Cardinals' season. The second-chance pitcher kept Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday quiet in a 5-1 victory Saturday night that gave Los Angeles a second straight trip to the National League championship series.

  • Dodgers beat shaky Carpenter, win Game 1 (AP)

    From left, Los Angeles Dodgers' Manny Ramirez(notes), Andre Ethier(notes) and Matt Kemp(notes) celebrate their team's 5-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at the end of Game 1 of the National League division baseball series in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009.

    Scoring early against St. Louis ace Chris Carpenter gave the Los Angeles Dodgers the shot of confidence they needed. Then their bullpen came in and closed out the Cardinals. Randy Wolf survived a shaky first inning before five relievers combined to give up one run in the Dodgers' 5-3 victory on Wednesday night in an NL playoff opener full of missed chances for both teams.

  • Dodgers finally clinch West over Rockies (AP)

    Los Angeles Dodgers' Juan Castro(notes) scores on a double by Mark Loretta(notes) as Colorado Rockies catcher Chris Iannetta(notes) looks on during the seventh inning of their Major League Baseball game, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009, in Los Angeles.

    The Dodgers' magic number for clinching the NL West is down to zero — finally. After a season-worst five-game losing streak, they came through with one game left in the regular season and beat the stubborn Colorado Rockies 5-0 on Saturday night with a five-run seventh triggered by an RBI single from pinch-hitters Ronnie Belliard and an RBI double by Mark Loretta and six scoreless innings by…

  • Dodgers blow lead, don’t clinch NL West (AP)

    Los Angeles Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton(notes) (51) and catcher Russell Martin(notes) walk off the field after serving up a bases loaded double to Pittsburgh Pirates' Lastings Milledge(notes) in the ninth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009. The Pirates won 6-5.

    This should have been so easy for the Dodgers: Jonathan Broxton on the mound, a three-run lead in the ninth inning against the dismal Pirates and an NL West title to celebrate as soon as they closed it out. Instead, easy turned into excruciating as Los Angeles let a victory slip away when the majors' second-worst team pulled off a four-run rally aided by several defensive lapses.

  • Dodgers clinch at least wild-card berth (AP)

    Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Andy LaRoche(notes) (15) can't hold onto a foul ball hit by Los Angeles Dodgers' Andre Ethier(notes) in the eighth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009. The Dodgers won 8-4.

    The celebration was a couple of bottles of champagne and a few hugs, nothing more. Maybe it's because the Los Angeles Dodgers expect to have bigger bashes before the season is over. The Dodgers locked up their fourth NL playoff appearance in six years, getting a two-run single from pinch-hitter Jim Thome during a four-run eighth inning in which Pirates relievers walked four before going on to…