Dodgers' bats quieted by streaking KC
KANSAS CITY -- Jose Lima did to the Dodgers on Wednesday night what he did for them in the playoffs last year.A highly motivated, emotional Lima turned back the clock with a nifty five-hitter through eight innings as the Royals slipped past the Dodgers, 3-1, at Kauffman Stadium.
This from a man who hadn't won a game in 14 previous starts this year and took the mound with an 8.16 ERA. The sight of Dodger blue obviously agrees with Lima.
Stung by what he felt was a lukewarm attempt by the Dodgers to sign him for 2005, Lima took the mound looking to make a statement. And make a statement he did, putting an exclamation point behind it.
Lima didn't try to hide the fact that he felt extra incentive in facing the Dodgers.
"Could you tell?" he said. "Did you see me when I looked over there [toward the Dodgers' dugout]? Oh, yeah, definitely. I'm not happy."
Lima said he relished his relationship with the fans and media in Los Angeles.
"The fans appreciated. I know everybody was watching in L.A.," Lima said. "It's going to be pretty special for me."
For the second night in a row, the Dodgers' offense was stuck in neutral, spoiling a quality start by their man on the mound. Brad Penny was good, as Jeff Weaver had been the night before.
But the Royals took control of the game in the fifth inning, with Matt Stairs and Emil Brown contributing run-scoring singles to center for a 3-1 Kansas City lead. Then Lima kicked it into high gear.
As the outs piled up, Lima became more and more animated. When he fanned Jayson Werth to end the eighth, Lima sprinted in a low crouch toward the first-base dugout and leaped over the white lines while en route.
The show of emotion from Lima didn't bother Werth.
"That's Lima," Werth said with a shrug.
Dodgers manager Jim Tracy, who saw Lima get on some serious rolls last year, could sense that the veteran right-hander was building momentum around the third inning.
"Jose got himself going," Tracy said. "By the third inning, I think he had locked himself in. He started making pitches and continued to make them all the way through the eighth inning. He just never really allowed us to get anything going."
Jeff Kent / 2B
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The Dodgers got their only run in the fourth when Werth led off with a bunt single and reached second on third baseman Mark Teahen's throwing error. Werth collided with first baseman Mike Sweeney on the play, resulting in a Sweeney injury that forced him to leave the game. A one-out RBI single by Jeff Kent tied the score at 1, but the Dodgers struggled thereafter.
"[Lima] was definitely on his game," Tracy said. "That's not the first time I've seen him go out there and perform like that. Give him credit. He made quality pitches ahead in the count and behind in the count."
Penny didn't bemoan the lack of run support. He knew the margin for error was slim as Lima responded to the challenge of facing his former team.
"In games like that, you can't give up more than one," Penny said. "Lima threw a great game. He was locating all of his pitches. Any time a Major Leaguer is locating all three pitches, he's going to be successful. It's always great to face your old team."
With Cesar Izturis out of the lineup because of a hamstring strain, Tracy shuffled the lineup against Lima. Antonio Perez batted leadoff, Werth moved to the No. 2 slot and Hee-Seop Choi slid down to No. 6 in the order.
But the Dodgers' offense remained dormant as a struggling Lima, for one night at least, found his 2004 magic.
"I was motivated," Lima said. "Oh, yeah. It was great."
Source: http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/
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