IZZY READY TO PLAY THIRD? APPARENTLY IZTURIS IMPRESSES AT `HOT CORNER' DODGERS 2, SEATTLE 2.Byline: RICH HAMMOND Rich Hammond Los Angeles Daily News sports writer. Instrumental in bringing the Los Angeles Kings hockey organization closer to the fans. He is the atypical "what a guy" to Kings fans everywhere. Rich Hammond on himself. Staff Writer Defense? No problem. Offense? Even better. Cesar Izturis made his debut at third base for the Dodgers on Thursday, and despite his apparent reservations about the situation, it turned out to be a rousing success, at least at first blush Adv. 1. at first blush - as a first impression; "at first blush the offer seemed attractive" when first seen . Izturis cleanly fielded all eight of his chances at third, went 3 for 4 and scored tworuns as the Dodgers broke a five-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory over Seattle in front of 46,207 at Dodger Stadium • • [ . ``It was good,'' Izturis said. ``The first inning I had some butterflies over there, but after that it was good. Once I got the first ball, I felt better.'' The Dodgers overcame a 2-1 deficit with a three-run sixth inning, keyed by a two-run single from rookie catcher Russell Martin
abbr. Baseball runs batted in Noun 1. rbi - a run that is the result of the batter's performance; "he had more than 100 rbi last season" run batted in single by struggling shortstop Rafael Furcal Rafael Antoni Furcal[1] (born August 24, 1977 in Loma de Cabrera, Dominican Republic),[2] nicknamed "Fookie", is a shortstop in Major League Baseball who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers. . Starting pitcher Noun 1. starting pitcher - (baseball) a pitcher who starts in a baseball game baseball, baseball game - a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs; "he played baseball in high school"; Derek Lowe Derek Christopher Lowe[1] (born June 1, 1973 in Dearborn, Michigan)[2] is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He throws and bats right-handed. made it stand up, as he scattered seven hits in the Dodgers' first complete game of the season. Lowe had made 112 pitches when Richie Sexson Richmond Lockwood Sexson (born December 29, 1974 in Portland, Oregon) is an American baseball player who currently plays for the Seattle Mariners. Standing at 6 feet 8 inches tall, he is currently one of the tallest overall players in MLB, and the tallest position player in MLB singled with one out in the ninth. Manager Grady Little walked to the mound as fans booed loudly, but Little allowed Lowe to keep the ball, and Lowe induced grounders from Kenji Johjima and Jeremy Reed to end the game. ``It actually started after the eighth,'' Lowe said. ``(Little) came over and shook my hand and said, `Good game,' and I said, `I'm not leaving the game.' ... He showed a lot of confidence in me all night.'' Little walked to the mound in the ninth with the knowledge that the Dodgers bullpen has been struggling of late, and liked what he saw from Lowe, who faltered in his previous start when Little allowed him to come out for the eighth inning against Oakland and he allowed two runs. ``I went out there mostly to look at his face,'' Little said, ``and his face told me that he wanted to stay out there.'' Lowe got help from Furcal furcal /fur·cal/ (fur´k'l) shaped like a fork; forked. fur·cal adj. Forked. furcal forked. , who entered the game with just 10 hits in his past 56 at-bats, but also singled home the Dodgers' first run, in the fifth. That hit also drove in Izturis, who couldn't have asked for a better first start of the year. In the second, Izturis singled through a hole in the right side on a hit-and-run play. In the fifth, he was awarded a single when shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt couldn't cleanly field his sharp grounder, and in the sixth, second baseman Jose Lopez knocked down a grounder up the middle but couldn't make a throw. The bottom of the order got it done for the Dodgers. Andre Ethier, Izturis and Martin, hitters 6-7-8, combined to go 8 for 12 with twoRBIs and three runs scored. Izturis, who had elbow surgery in September, expressed doubt about manager Grady Little's plan to play him at third, unfamiliar territory for the natural shortstop, but Izturis had seven assists and one putout put·out n. Baseball Abbr. PO A play in which a batter or a baserunner is retired. Noun 1. putout - an out resulting from a fielding play (not a strikeout); "the first baseman made 15 putouts" . Seattle didn't wait long to test Izturis, who had struggled with throws in batting practice Wednesday. Ichiro Suzuki led off the game with a soft liner that Izturis caught. Izturis had two tough but flawless assists in the fourth inning, including a sharp one-hopper, and twice in the late innings he charged grounders and threw out runners with throws on the run. ``It was hard to get used to it from a different angle,'' Izturis said, ``but hopefully I'll get used to it and everything will work out for me and the team.'' Lowe (6-3) appreciated the defensive help, as he won his fifth consecutive decision. Lowe walked none and struck out six and other than two solo homers, allowed only two runners past first base. The Dodgers' ``This Is Your Life'' week continues tonight, when former manager Jim Tracy returns with Pittsburgh. Adrian Beltre left town Thursday, after the Dodgers held him to one single in four at-bats. rich.hammond@dailynews.com (818) 713-3611 CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) The Dodgers' Nomar Garciaparra tags out Seattle's Adrien Beltre, who was caught in a run-down during the sixth inning. (2) In his first game at third base, the Dodgers' Cesar Izturis fielded all eight of his chances cleanly. John Lazar/Staff Photographer |
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