NLDS Games Two, 2017

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First game: Cubs at Nationals, 2:30 PM PT, TV: TBS

The visiting Cubs trot out veteran (133 2/3 playoff innings!) LHP Jon Lester (13-8, 4.33 ERA), who made two starts against the Nats this season and came away with no decisions but a 2.84 ERA. He’ll face LHP Gio Gonzalez (15-9, 2.86 ERA), who saw the Nationals just once this year; he gave up two hits and five walks over six innings and took the loss in June.

Second game: Diamondbacks at Dodgers, 6:00 PM PT, TV: TBS

The D-Backs send LHP Robbie Ray (15-5, 2.89 ERA) to the mound to face the Dodgers, three days after pitching 2 1/3 innings of relief and making 34 pitches in the Wild Card game. He’ll face LHP Rich Hill (12-8, 3.32 ERA), who was 0-3 with a 5.03 ERA in four starts against the D-Backs this season. That ERA was skewed by one bad game in which they scored six runs in 3 2/3 innings against him.

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1952 In the decisive Game 7, the Yankees beat the Dodgers at Ebbets Field, 4-2, to win their fourth consecutive World Championship. Gil Hodges finishes the Fall Classic hitless in twenty-one at-bats, which had prompted some Brooklyn fans to gather at local churches asking for divine help for their beloved first baseman.
  • 1977 In Game 3 of the NLCS, the Dodgers rally for three runs with none on and two outs in the top of the ninth inning to take a one-run lead in their eventual 6-5 victory over the Phillies at Veterans Stadium. The game appeared to be over when LA’s Davey Lopes is picked off first base for the final out, but a throwing error by Gene Garber advances him to second base, from where he will score the decisive run on Bill Russell’s single.
  • 1978 In Game 4 of the NLCS, Ron Cey scores in the 10th inning on Bill Russell’s two-out game winning single, giving the Dodgers a 4-3 victory over the Phillies and their second consecutive National League pennant. Cey, who walked after the first two batters were retired, advanced into scoring position when Garry Maddox misplayed Dusty Baker’s fly ball in center field.

  • 2001 Barry Bonds extends his major league record for home runs in a season to 73 as he drives a 3-2 first inning knuckleball off Dodger Dennis Springer over the right field fence. The blast also secures two more major league records for the Giants’ left fielder when he surpasses Babe Ruth (1920 – .847) with a .863 season slugging percentage and bests Mark McGwire (1998 – one HR every 7.27 AB) by homering in every 6.52 at-bats.
  • 2006 The Mets defeat Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium, 9-5, to complete a three-game sweep in the NLDS. The Dodgers have won only one postseason game in 13 attempts since beating the A’s in the 1988 World Series.

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376 thoughts on “NLDS Games Two, 2017”

  3. Taylor wears Willie Davis’ and Steve Sax’ number 3. Wonder if he will wind up being a second baseman or a center fielder.

  9. Crazy stuff this series. AZ has out homered LA 6-1 and have barely been close in these two games.

    • I know it is very early yet, but the Dodgers are doing something successful playoff teams seem to do, string together a series of singles and doubles. Its these types of rallies that seem to break the back of opponents, when they cannot seem to get out of an inning.

      • It wasn’t the singles and doubles per se, but rather wearing down the Snakes’ pitchers – Dodgers saw upwards of 170 pitches in each game. Even with the day off, the Phoenix pen could be tired.

        Grandal still has considerable value, but has only one more year before becoming a free agent. They might shop him, if they can fill another need. Barnes does look capable of taking over the job, and the farm system is also deep in catching – Farmer could probably be the backup.

    • He needs to stop swinging for the fences. Just hit the ball. The home runs will come.

  45. Woah. Feel asleep on the couch there for a moment. and woke up to crazy scoring by AZ.

  50. Radio said Doc would not be opposed to a 6-out save situation for Kenley.
    The problem is he didn’t have a short inning last night.

    • The article I linked below talks about how historically bad it is for Kershaw, at least in the postseason. Doc acknowledged that.
      Apparently it’s contagious.

    • Like you say, hindsight. There was a good basis for bringing in the lefty at that point. Lamb pretty much owns Maeda.

      • Don’t know those stats, but really don’t like pulling someone just because of lefty/righty. Success/failure vs. a particular batter is another question.

          • That is definitely showing success.
            For the sake of discussion, you have a 5-run lead and no one’s on base. Why not let him face that one guy, as long as he’s strong against successive ones?

  60. 4 SB for Dodgers, ties record set in ’65 and ’88 . . . those were very good years.

  61. Seeing Cody swing and have the bat hit his back reminds me of Jim Gentile, who did that so often he had a leather pad made for protection.

    • Jim Gentile? Wow. That goes back a ways. Broke in with Dodgers in Brooklyn in ’57?

      • 54K+
        I sit corrected — it’s at least the largest since the 2012 renovation -I assumed that increased capacity but it may have cut it down.

  67. Guessing Watson stays in to face Lamb, so he may go the full inning and then Morrow and Kenley.

  82. Came back to the room. Put on my 1988 Championship shirt. Put on Gameday. Score moved from 2-1 to 2-6 Just sayin…

  99. Ray still in. I hope he leaves mid-inning and the Dodgers don’t see him again until next season.

    • You’re way of me, future person. It takes the edge off when things are going well, though.

  112. I’m impressed with Farmer’s ability to hang in there in his first postseason AB.

  132. Hello Mr. Ray. Can you throw one away when we have a runner on third? Like now? Thank you.

  135. Let’s make this a open up inning – or whatever the opposite of shut down is.

  141. Rich equals Kersh’s BB total from last night.
    Hope the only other thing he equals is Kersh’s W..

  157. Could hear the crowd cheering before the play was described to end that half-inning — nice to be at home!

  166. Kersh and Hill, bit by walks and HRs.
    Hopefully bats are eager to pick up from last night.

  171. The crowd was really into the game yesterday and are packed in again for tonight. Makes the game more fun to watch with a big boisterous crowd, whether on TV or in person. I haven’t been to a game in LA for a few years and miss the games where the full crowd was really into the game.

  174. Maddon decided to stick with the righty against Harper, with only 18 PA since coming back from injury. Rendon on deck seemed to be his bigger worry. Rendon manages a walk. Brings in lefty to face Murph, who singles. Leaves the lefty in and Zim homers. Baseball is tough.

  177. The Cubbies seem on their way to humiliating the Nats (gnot the Gnats, who got humiliated by everybody this year).