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Dodgers-Nationals Preview
The Los Angeles Dodgers seek their eighth straight win when they open a three-game series with the Washington Nationals on Friday at RFK Stadium.
Los Angeles, which was five games under .500 at 12-17 following a 3-0 loss to San Diego on May 4, has gone 15-3 since and outscored its opponents 120-57, including 55-12 during its seven-game winning streak.
The starting rotation is 10-2 with a 2.52 ERA over the last 18 games while the offense is hitting .320 with 18 homers in that span, solid numbers for a team that already has been without Nomar Garciaparra, Kenny Lofton, Bill Mueller, Cesar Izturis and others at some point this season due to injury.
''We're playing good baseball right now and getting good results,'' first-year manager Grady Little said. ''Every time we come to the park, we are expecting to win the ballgame. That's a good feeling.''
Fueled by the returns of Lofton and Garciaparra, who is hitting .375 with five homers and 30 RBIs in 29 games, the Dodgers (27-20) have won their last six series and are riding their longest winning streak since they won eight straight from April 12-20, 2005.
''I've been on some teams that have gotten on rolls - this is fun,'' said Friday's starter Brett Tomko. ''You ride a wave, hope you ride it as long as you can.''
Tomko (5-1, 3.21 ERA) is 4-0 with a 2.08 ERA in his last six starts while holding opposing hitters to a .207 batting average.
He allowed three first-inning runs against the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday, but gave up just one run over the next five innings in an 8-4 win.
Tomko is 2-1 with a 3.60 ERA lifetime versus Washington.
The Nationals (19-29) also have played well of late, winning three straight games for just the second time this season to improve to 5-2 on their 10-game homestand.
After taking two of three games from Baltimore, Washington lost 10-3 in the opener of a four-game set to Houston on Monday before rallying to win the last three by a combined score of 17-7, including an 8-5 victory in Thursday's finale.
Second baseman Jose Vidro went 2-for-3 with a three-run homer and four RBIs and third baseman Ryan Zimmerman drove in three runs.
''This has been the best,'' said Vidro, whose .347 batting average leads the NL. ''We've put everything together out there on the field, it's not just on paper.''
Nationals starter Livan Hernandez (2-5, 5.51) is coming off one of his best outings this season as he tries to regain the form that led to a staff-high 15 wins a year ago.
Hernandez snapped a personal four-game losing skid Sunday in a 3-1 victory over Baltimore when he allowed one run in seven innings and struck out four.
The right-hander continued to struggle with his control, however, and walked four batters for the fourth time in five starts.
Dodgers continue makeover, sign Lofton
LOS ANGELES - Six-time All-Star Kenny Lofton agreed Tuesday to a one-year contract with the Dodgers, filling a need in the Los Angeles outfield.
Ned Colletti, who became the Dodgers’ general manager on Nov. 15, added another veteran free agent to the club after reaching agreements with shortstop Rafael Furcal, third baseman Bill Mueller and Nomar Garciaparra, who will play first base.
“I know they’re looking to win, and that’s what I’m all about,” Lofton said. “At this point, I see that the Dodgers are making their move forward, putting guys on the field who have been there, done that, know how to win.”
Colletti thinks the Dodgers have enhanced what he thought was a good group of players.
“We’ve added a ton of postseason experience,” he said. “We’d like to improve a little more here and there, like to add a pitcher.”
The 38-year-old Lofton hit .335 in 110 games for Philadelphia last year, the NL’s highest average among players with 350 or more at-bats. He had a .392 on-base percentage and hit .330 with runners in scoring position.
“His skills are very similar to earlier in his career,” Colletti said. “He knows how to play, how to win. His ability to get on base and score runs, combined with his speed and defense, are great additions to our club.”
Lofton thinks he knows how to play well despite being in his late 30s.
“I understand what I can and can’t do and just go out and play the game my way,” he said.
The Dodgers’ center field spot opened last week when they traded Milton Bradley to Oakland.
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