Game 9, 2017

After the first ten days of the season we can say the NL West is showing depth beyond the Dodgers and Giants. Whether the D-Backs and Rockies can keep up their good play remains to be seen, but so far the division looks more competitive than anticipated.

Dodgers at Cubs, 5:05PM PT, TV: SPNLA, MLBN (out-of-market only)

Brandon McCarthy (1-0, 2.00 ERA) goes for the Dodgers against John Lackey (1-0, 4.50 ERA) of the Cubs. McCarthy allowed two runs on four hits in six innings last Thursday against the Padres. Lackey went 7-4 with a 2.62 ERA at home last season; this is his first start at Wrigley this year.

The Cubs got their banner Monday; tonight they’ll get their rings.

Late news: Franklin Gutierrez goes on the 10-day DL with a strained left hamstring.

Lineup when available.

138 thoughts on “Game 9, 2017

    • The last regular season one-run game that the Dodgers won was Sept. 25, 2016. You might remember it as the Culberson walk off, division clinching, last Vin broadcast at DS game.

    • Last one run win was against these here Cubbies at Wrigley, with Klayton winning 1-0 in second game of the NLCS.

  1. Took a break to finish washing the dinner dishes, just returned to the computer, and Voila! Very nice, important early-season win.

  2. One more, Kenley . . .
    Taste of things to come, 6 months from now?
    Definitely plenty of tension for this early in the year!

  3. Like Scoop, saw the Toles K on Gameday and thought it was the end of the half inning. Lo and behold.

  4. That must have been one heckuva throw by the catcher for Utley to score from first, even with him running on the 3-2, two-out pitch.

  5. I saw “swinging strike” and Gameday and assumed the inning was over. Remarkably, it isn’t. Bob’s WOW! was the tipoff.

    • Getting nice messages from the future is always nice! — been there, done that.

  6. I saw a segment on TV showing how Hershiser had been working with Avilan to build up his self-confidence. So far, so good.

  7. It’s still frustrating, but I’ll be happy if it’s true tonight: The first shall be last (scoring).

  8. Been loving Stripland in the bullpen. Along with Wood (prior to Monday), Dayton and even Romo – they seem pretty solid.

      • Jinx!
        You owe me water . . . since my kidney stone earlier this year precludes just about everything else!

        • Yikes. A buddy of mine had kidney stones.
          Not. Fun.
          Take care of yourself Bob.

          • Thanks, Dave — I’m trying.
            Speaking of trying, the stone hit Jan. 19 and continued until the next night. So not only was I in physical pain, I was suffering because the 20th was the inauguration.

          • Thanks, Scoop. Drinking lots of water, not adding salt and avoiding (for the most part) caffeine and dark-colored soda.
            Never have I wanted a phrase to be true as I did for “This, too, shall pass.” Lol
            (Tho I didn’t know it at the time, I had it easy — mine lasted less than 48 hours. A colleague had some hit the Sunday after me . . . the next Thursday morning, they finally had to operate on him!)

    • –and unfortunately, he;s not the only one on the team . . . 1 per game now, right?
      If you’re not getting the runs, you can’t be giving them away . . . hopefully this won’t amount to that.

  9. One could argue that all of the current division leaders are a surprise to be there. Certainly Arizona, Cincinnati, Detroit, and LA Angels. And to lesser degrees NY Mets and Baltimore.

  10. I am enjoying being a part of the fuller comment thread tonight. Nice to be in conversation with many here again!
    Yay for our little Dodger community! 🙂

    • Don’t know if Brandon is a horse rider or not – but did hear a story that he doesn’t like to share his dessert with anyone. Apparently he is as deadly serious about that as Adrian Beltre is about not wanting his head touched.

  11. The Dodgers’ unusual run-scoring this season:
    10 or more runs (3-0)
    4 through 9 runs (0-0)
    0 through 3 runs (1-4)
    In eight games we have scored 42 runs (an average of 5.25) and allowed 25 (3.13).

  12. Baltimore hit five homers before there were any outs in the third tonight at Boston to take a 9-0 lead. It is now 9-5 Orioles in the top of the 6th.

  13. Lackey at 81 pitches. I was going to say this game is flying along but perhaps it only feels like that after Monday’s 2 hour delay of game to start.

  14. I didn’t like the cheer I heard on radio when Bryant hit that, but I guess the fans were watching with their hearts (and nearly stopping mine!).

    C’mon, bats!