Werth Goes Mile High to Rob Rockies

By Jason Reid

July 30, 2004 12 AM PT

Times Staff Writer

DENVER — Many teams are interested in trading for Jayson Werth, and the Dodgers are not surprised.

The emerging outfielder continued to strengthen his position with a home run and dazzling catch Thursday, leading the Dodgers to a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies in front of 28,472 at Coors Field.

“Jayson Werth had a huge impact on the game today,” Manager Jim Tracy said. “His home run is a difference-maker, and the catch is the difference in the game.”

Werth homered in the first inning and slammed into the left-field wall in the sixth to rob Jeromy Burnitz of at least an extra-base hit. Werth’s catch started an inning-ending double play that enabled the Dodgers to preserve a 3-2 lead, which they took in the top of the sixth on David Ross’ two-run homer against reliever Scott Dohmann (0-1).

The Dodgers overcame a one-for-15 performance with runners in scoring position, Wilson Alvarez delivered a solid five-inning start, four relievers combined for four hitless innings and Eric Gagne was typically dominant in his 30th save in 31 opportunities.

Gagne entered in the eighth with a runner on first and struck out Vinny Castilla, then retired the side in order in the ninth, throwing only 13 pitches. However, the National League West leaders, who improved to 59-42, said they wouldn’t have earned a split in the four-game series without Werth.

“Oh, man, J Werth ... I think he saved the game,” said Ross, who hit his third homer and first career triple.

“Forget my home run. You’ve got to give credit to Jayson Werth for that catch. It’s one of the best catches I’ve ever seen.”

Said Gagne: “He’s a pretty nice player, isn’t he?”

Duaner Sanchez started the sixth inning after Alvarez (6-3) gave up four hits -- including Todd Helton’s 22nd homer -- and two runs. Preston Wilson walked with one out, bringing Burnitz to the plate.

Burnitz tormented the Dodgers in the series, getting timely hits in the first three games and batting .467 with three homers and seven runs batted in. Thursday, on a 1-and-1 count, Burnitz hit a fly ball to deep left and Werth raced back to the wall.

Werth leaped and slammed into the wall while making the catch, possibly robbing Burnitz of another homer. Despite being dazed from the crash, Werth threw the ball toward the infield while lying on his back, and Wilson, between second and third before he realized the ball had been caught, was doubled off first to end the inning.

“I looked on the [TV] replay, and it’s hard to see from the angle, but there’s a chance it might have gotten out,” said Werth, who said he might have suffered bruised ribs. “I knew it was over my head, and the ball carries so differently here, it just kept going, kept going, kept going.

“Initially, I didn’t think I was going to have to rob a home run or anything like that. As it kept going and kept going, I got onto the track and I knew it was going to be close. I jumped, caught it and ran into the wall all at the same time.

“Everything happened so fast. On the replay, it looked like it probably would have hit the top of the fence or gone out. It just knocked the wind out of me initially. Once I got my wind back I was OK.”

Center fielder Milton Bradley made sure.

“He hit the wall pretty hard, I figured it probably knocked the wind out of him,” Bradley said. “I know he’s a maniac, so he was going to get up like, ‘I’m all right.’ I just told him to chill out for a minute and let the trainer get out there.

“He caught the ball the same time he was hitting the wall. I thought there was no way he was going to hold on to it, and he held on to it. It was pretty awesome.”

Werth received a standing ovation as he jogged off the field.

“That catch ranks right up there as one of the better defensive plays that we’ve made all year,” Tracy said. “And as I said, it’s the difference in the game.

“If that ball falls, they’re going to get a run and still have only an out. They’ve got another runner in scoring position, and it could have potentially set up a big inning.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Western Front

Breaking down the Dodgers and the NL West as August approaches:

STANDINGS

*--* Record Pct. GB Dodgers 59-42 584 -- San Diego 57-45 559 2 1/2 San Francisco 56-48 539 4 1/2 Colorado 44-58 431 15 1/2 Arizona 33-71 317 27 1/2

*--*

DODGERS VS.

* NL West: 30-17

* San Diego: 6-3

* San Francisco: 7-6

* Colorado: 6-6

* Arizona: 11-2