Broxton blows it in 9th for Dodgers | shenhuajie's Blog

By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA(UGG Boots )—Jonathan Broxton(notes) got the Los Angeles Dodgers to the brink of a tying win in the NL championship series. Then he gave it away.

Broxton lost his control in the ninth inning of Game 4 on Monday night, failing in his attempt at his eighth save of at least four outs this year.

He walked Matt Stairs(notes) and hit Carlos Ruiz(UGG 5803) before Jimmy Rollins(notes) drove a 1-1 pitch into the gap in right-center for the winning double in the Philadelphia Phillies’ 5-4 victory.

Broxton went 7-2 with 36 saves in 42 opportunities and a 2.61 ERA as Los Angeles won the NL West title this season. He had two saves in two chances and a 1.59 ERA in the postseason before his meltdown against the Phillies.

Manager Joe Torre went to Broxton with runners on first and UGG 5815 second and two out in the eighth. The hard-throwing right-hander recorded at least four outs in 10 games this year, including two of Los Angeles’ wins in its division UGG 5819 series sweep against St. Louis.

This time it didn’t work out.

Broxton got Jayson Werth(notes) to fly out to end the eighth and retired Raul Ibanez(notes) on a grounder to begin the ninth. But Stairs walked on four pitches, starting Philly’s UGG 5825 rally.