Giovanni Carrara #55

Giovanni Jimenez Carrara...he and his wife, Dorian, have twin sons, Giovanni and Cristian (4/13/03)...has been a longtime friend of Dodger shortstop Cesar Izturis, who grew up in the same area of Venezuela...has been a big supporter of the Manny Mota International Foundation and participated in numerous community baseball clinics, including one on June 10, 2004 at Northeast Los Angeles Little League...signed by Toronto scout Epy Guerrero.

2006

Invited to Spring Training with the Pittsburgh Pirates as a non-roster invitee...Appeared in nine games, going 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA for Triple-A Indianapolis before requesting his release and being signed by the Dodgers to a minor league contract on May 5...was sent to Triple-A Las Vegas...Was 2-1 with four saves and a 4.62 ERA (13 ER/25.1 IP) in 21 appearances for the 51s...Began his third tour of duty with the Dodgers when he had his contract purchased from Las Vegas on July 4 and made his debut with 2.0 innings that night...Has enjoyed far greater success with Los Angeles than anywhere else, going 24-11 with an 3.32 ERA for the Dodgers, compared to 29-17 with a 4.70 ERA elsewhere in the Majors...Has a 2.71 career ERA at Dodger Stadium, tying him with teammate Brett Tomko for the lowest among all active Major League pitchers (minimum 75 innings)...Posted an 3.97 ERA (5 ER/11.1 IP) on the road...Had a 2.30 ERA (4 ER/15.2 IP) in the month of July...Was 0-1 with an 3.29 ERA (5 ER/13.2 IP) against NL West foes...In night games, went 0-1 with one save and a 2.92 ERA...Retired 17 of the first 18 left-handed batters faced, giving lefties an .056 average against him...finished the year with a .157 opponent average against southpaws (8-for-51)...Came on with one out and the bases loaded on July 7 against San Francisco and retired the next two batters without allowing a run to score...Struck out a season-high five batters on Aug. 5 vs. Florida...Allowed just three runs over his first 9.2 innings for an ERA of 2.79...Appeared in one game for Venezuela in the inaugural World Baseball Classic...Pitched in three games in the NLDS in 2004, tying the Dodger franchise Division Series record for appearances in a series.

2005

In his fourth season with the Dodgers and ninth Major League campaign overall, he pitched in a career-high 72 games, all out of the bullpen...compiled a 7-4 record, with the wins total setting a career high, eclipsing his six victories for the Dodgers in both 2001 and 2002...compiled a 3.93 ERA in 75.2 innings of work...his previous career high in games pitched was 63 for the Dodgers in 2002...his seven wins tied for fourth among National League relievers...at Dodger Stadium, was 3-1 with a 2.70 ERA (13 ER/43.1 IP) over 39 outings...in 49 overall night games, posted a 4-1 mark and 3.12 ERA (18 ER/52.0 IP).

2004

Returned for his second tour of duty with the Dodgers in early July and wound up being a valuable and busy member of the bullpen...was called upon to make 42 appearances and compiled a 5-2 record, a pair of saves and a 2.18 ERA in 53.2 innings...over 11 outings from July 27-Aug. 23, pitched 18.2 consecutive scoreless innings, the season high for a Dodger hurler...tossed 2.0 or innings 11 times...allowed just two of 16 inherited runners to score...had previously pitched for the Dodgers during the 2001 and 2002 seasons...was a non-roster invitee to Spring Training with the Cleveland Indians, but was released...signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs and spent the first two months of the season with Triple- A Iowa before becoming a free agent...signed with the Dodgers organization on June 2 and was assigned to Triple-A Las Vegas, where he spent a month... had his contract purchased by the Dodgers on July 1 when Hideo Nomo was placed on the disabled list...on July 2 at Anaheim, pitched 3.0 scoreless innings in his first Major League appearance since June 14, 2003 vs. Atlanta while with Seattle...earned win on July 5 vs. Arizona after entering in 10th inning with two on and one out and retiring only two batters he faced to end inning...marked his first victory since May 15, 2003 at Cleveland...retired all six batters faced, three on strikeouts, in club's 7-2 win vs. Houston on July 8...matched career high with six strikeouts in 3.0 shutout innings on Aug. 6 vs. Philadelphia...pitched 4.1 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and a walk with four strikeouts, in relief of injured starter Brad Penny, who departed with two out in the first inning on Aug. 8 vs. Philadelphia...posted his third win by pitching 2.0 scoreless innings on Aug. 20 vs. Atlanta in club's 3-2 11-inning victory...the following day, recorded second big league save by pitching a scoreless ninth in Dodgers' 7- 4 triumph vs. Atlanta...his other save came on April 20, 2002 vs. San Diego...hurled 1-2-3 seventh inning and notched fourth victory on Aug. 28 at New York...collected third Major League save by pitching a perfect ninth inning on Aug. 31 to close out 4-1 triumph at Arizona...did not give up a run in his final eight appearances of the season, a span of 7.0 innings...appeared in three games in the National League Division Series against St. Louis and allowed two earned runs in 2.0 innings pitched...while with Las Vegas, was 0-1 with two saves and a 2.51 ERA in 11 appearances, allowing four earned runs, 11 hits and eight walks with 15 strikeouts in 14.1 innings...was scored upon in just one of those 11 outings...did not surrender a run in his first seven games with the 51s, a stretch of 9.2 innings...was 0-1 with two saves and a 2.51 ERA in 11 appearances for the 51s, allowing four earned runs, 11 hits and eight walks with 15 strikeouts in 14.1 innings...was scored upon in just one of those 11 outings...went 2-0 with a 3.07 ERA in 10 games for Lara in the Venezuelan Winter League striking out 14 batters in 14.2 innings.