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| Lowe dominates listless Nationals LA DODGERS 6, WASHINGTON 0 |
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By Jonathan Raber PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Derek Lowe has heard his name blowing in the trade winds, yet he refuses to let the distractions creep in. Lowe allowed one hit over eight innings and Matt Kemp and Nomar Garciaparra each homered as the Los Angeles Dodgers posted a 6-0 victory over the Washington Nationals on Saturday. Casey Blake added a pair of hits and scored a run in his Dodger debut. Lowe (8-8) struck out four and walked one while throwing 68 of 107 pitches for strikes to improve to 5-0 lifetime against the Nationals. The lone Nationals' hit was a double by Ronnie Belliard in the fourth. With the trade deadline on Thursday, Lowe knows his name is bound to come up. "This time of year, especially in a free-agent year, they have those MLB rumor sites for a reason," said Lowe, who is in the final year of the four-year deal he signed in 2005. "A lot of people's names are tossed around as possible places to go, but never does that ever affect you in any form. You don't go out there trying to prove that you're worth getting traded or that you're worth (keeping), you have to go out and do you job. When you allow yourself to get caught up in those things, only negative things can happen." After retiring the side in order in the eighth, Lowe discussed going out and trying for the complete game before deciding against it given that the outcome seemed in hand. "This isn't (about) trying to be heroes and pitch complete games," Lowe said. "It's about getting wins and being strong every time out." Meanwhile, Blake started at third base after being acquired in a trade earlier in the day from the Cleveland Indians for a pair of minor league prospects. He was the Indians' leading hitter with a .289 average and 58 RBI along with 11 home runs. Los Angeles is hoping that his acquisition will help boost a struggling offense, specifically the third base position, which was being manned by struggling rookies Blake DeWitt and Andy LaRoche. After striking out in his first plate appearance, Blake doubled in the fourth before coming around to score and added a single in the seventh. "I felt pretty calm, for the most part," Blake said. "But until you get that first hit, you're a little jumpy and it's tough to focus." After only one day on the job, Blake has already become a believer in his new team's chances of making the postseason. "There's a wealth of talent on this team and their pitching staff is incredible," he said. "There is no reason that this team can't win the division." The Dodgers got to Nationals starter and former teammate Odalis Perez (3-8) early, plating three runs in the first. Juan Pierre led off the game with a single and Kemp extended his 13-game hitting streak with a homer to right field. Three batters later, Garciaparra brought home Russell Martin with a sacrifice fly that made it 3-0. Los Angeles added to its lead with another three-run outburst in the fourth. Garciaparra led off with a solo blast and Angel Berroa and Lowe supplied run-scoring hits to extend the advantage to 6-0. Lowe was in control the rest of the way. "It looked like he had movement all over the place," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. "(Washington) really didn't get many good swings in." Perez's return to Dodger Stadium - where his 23 wins are the fourth most among actives pitchers - was unkind as he lasted just four innings, allowing six runs on eight hits. "Every mistake I made, they were waiting for that pitch and drove it," Perez said. |
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