Padres at Dodgers, 7:10 PM PDT, TV: SPNLA, FSSD

The Padres come to town and send LHP Clayton Richard (3-5, 4.87 ERA) to the mound to face the Dodgers’ RHP Ross Stripling (1-1, 2.08 ERA). Richard’s sinker seems to be working: in his last start, a win over the Pirates, he induced 15 ground ball outs among the 22 he got during his win there. In Stripling’s last start he earned a win by going six innings against the Nationals, striking out nine while giving up four hits and only one run. Stripling has now been in 86 big league games with a record of 9-15 and an ERA of 3.57. Only 20 of those appearances have been starts, even though he’s started 53 of his 64 minor league games.

Today in Dodgers’ history:

• 1919 Casey Stengel, traded by the Dodgers in the off-season to the Pirates, calls time, steps out of the batter’s box to give the razzing Ebbets Field fans the ‘bird’. The Pittsburgh right fielder doffs his hat, allowing a sparrow to fly out, much to the amazement and amusement of the fans.
• 2002 With four homers on Thursday (5/23), one on Friday (5/24), and two more on Saturday (5/25), Shawn Green becomes the first major leaguer to hit seven round-trippers in three games. The Dodger outfielder’s nine big flies in a week also breaks a National League record, established by Ralph Kiner with eight and tied by Ted Kluszewski and Nate Colbert.
• 2002 Getting his 3,509th K, Diamondback southpaw Randy Johnson passes Walter Johnson to become seventh on the all-time career strikeout list. After fanning Shawn Green in the first to catch the ‘Big Train’, Dodger outfielder Brian Jordan swings and misses a 2-2 pitch in the second inning to become the ‘Big Unit’s’ historic victim.

Lineup when available.