Game 18, 2019

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Reds at Dodgers, 7:10 PM PDT, TV: ESPN, FS-O, SPNLA

RHP Luis Castillo (1-1, 0.92 ERA) takes the hill for the Reds. He’s had a terrific start to his year, but he’ll be overshadowed tonight by the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw, who’s making his first start of the season after suffering shoulder inflammation during the spring.

In case you missed ex-Dodger Manny Machado’s amazing snag and throw from Friday, here it is:

MLB instituted a “Play of the Week” award this season; Machado’s is the third recipient following earlier ones by Lorenzo Cain and Carlos Correa.

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1909 On Opening Day, the Superbas are no-hit by the Giants’ Red Ames for 9.1 innings. The Polo Grounds contest will go thirteen innings before Brooklyn defeats the 26 year-old right-hander, 3-0.
  • 1930 On Opening Day, Phillies’ southpaw Les Sweetland throws a three-hitter at Ebbets Field. The 28 year-old southpaw doubles and scores the lone run in the eighth inning of his 1-0 complete-game victory over Brooklyn.
  • 1933 In his major league debut, Tigers rookie Lynwood “Schoolboy” Rowe tosses a six-hitter, blanking the White Sox, 3-0. During his 15-year career, playing also with the Dodgers and Phillies, Rowe will compile a 158-101 record, posting an ERA of 3.87.
  • 1947 A year before President Truman desegregated the military, Jackie Robinson debuts for the Dodgers, becoming the first black player to participate in a major league game this century. In front of 25,623 Ebbets Field fans, the 28 year-old first baseman is hitless in three at-bats, but scores a run in the 5-3 Opening Day victory over the Braves.
  • 1958 On Opening Day, the transplanted New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers play the first major league game on the West Coast. The California contest sees Ruben Gomez blanking Los Angeles and Don Drysdale at San Francisco’s Seals Stadium, 8-0.
  • 1959 Cardinal right-hander Bob Gibson makes his major league debut at LA Memorial Coliseum, tossing the final two innings in a 5-0 loss to the Dodgers. The 23 year-old rookie becomes the first future Hall of Fame hurler to give up a home run to the first batter he faces in the major leagues when third baseman Jim Baxes takes him deep in the seventh inning.
  • 2004 Major league baseball begins the tradition of Jackie Robinson Day, an annual celebration commemorating the day the color line was broken in 1947. At big league venues across the country ceremonies are being held to honor the ground-breaking historic event, including baseball commissioner Bud Selig and Jackie’s widow Rachel Robinson attending the festivities at Shea Stadium.
  • 2005 The Dodgers, to commemorate the 58th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s first game in the big leagues, wear replicas of the old road uniforms worn by the 1947 team which played in Brooklyn. Right-hander Derek Lowe throws a three-hitter, blanking the Padres in San Diego, 4-0.
  • 2007 To honor Jackie Robinson, some players on each team, including Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter and Braves’ outfielder Andruw Jones, wear the Dodger immortal’s uniform No. 42 on the 60th anniversary of his historic breaking the color barrier in baseball. In the Cardinals and Brewers contest at Busch Stadium, every player and coach on both teams dons Jackie’s revered number.

Lineup when available.


137 thoughts on “Game 18, 2019”

  1. 1. Joey Votto (L) 1B
    2. Eugenio Suarez (R) 3B
    3. Jesse Winker (L) CF
    4. Yasiel Puig (R) RF
    5. Matt Kemp (R) LF
    6. Derek Dietrich (L) 2B
    7. Jose Peraza (R) SS
    8. Tucker Barnhart (S) C
    9. Tyler Mahle (R) P

    1. Joc Pederson (L) LF
    2. Corey Seager (L) SS
    3. Max Muncy (L) 3B
    4. Enrique Hernandez (R) 2B
    5. Alex Verdugo (L) RF
    6. David Freese (R) 1B
    7. Chris Taylor (R) CF
    8. Rocky Gale (R) C
    9. Kenta Maeda (R) P

  2. Too late for me to stay up and follow the game. Nice to wake up and see we pulled it out.

  3. Weird pitching changes on the face of it, but apparently the righty is regularly used as a PH, so they decided he could just pitch to Kershaw (he pitched 2 innings yesterday). But now lefty to face Joc.

  5. It would have been fun if Joc could have gotten that foul ball down the line to be fair and had a play at second land a throw from right.

  7. After an agonizing 24 hours getting back from Santiago – thanks to the unanticipated layover at LAX – I’m pretty well-rested and ready to watch from the comfort of my own office.

  11. Perfect end to a good ballgame. Sleep well, all of you. “See” you tomorrow.

  31. Hmmm. Not too much of a fan of the leadoff ninth inning double by the opposing team in tie games.

  32. The bullpen rested after Stripling and Kershaw go 7 innings each. So the most likely thing is that tonight’s game goes 15 to tax the bullpen again.

  35. A very nice 7 innings by Kershaw. I presume that was his final frame. Let’s get some runs and give him the win.

    • Later in the game hopefully it will change to did, can and shall – or something like that…

  46. Meanwhile, the Dodgers have runners on again and Bellin- urr Verdgo up to bat.

  50. Barnes and Martin were both hitting well when they were alternating starts. But since Martin went down Barnes has been starting every day and his average has been plummeting.

    • I also flashed back to Kelly’s pitch that broke Ramirez’ ribs in the playoffs several years ago.

        • Now that would have been something. The rightfielder fielding a ball and recording the out himself at first base! I wonder if that has ever occurred.

          • Once in a softball game, playing third base, I had a chance to take it myself when the batter didn’t run out of the box on a ground ball. I regret not doing it.

          • I once recorded an unassisted triple play while playing first base in a 6th grade softball game. The runners on first and second ran as the batter hit a soft liner to me. I caught it and stepped on first for two outs. As the runner who had been on second was near third, I ignored the shortstop’s plea to throw him the ball — realizing the magnitude of the moment, even as an 11-year-old — and ran over to second and touched the bag myself. This was before Youtube, however.

  56. I would start Verdugo more, Muncy less. I don’t understand the logic of benching Verdugo tonight after he had two hits, including a homer, and drove in three ruins yesterday.

      • Put Bellinger at first and Verdugo in right. As we have done previously. Simple solution, no?

    • His bat certainly has him knocking on the door for more time, but Max’s body of work keeps him ranked higher as a priority bat for the lineup in Doc’s view. Both have appeared in 16 games so far, with Alex getting PH opportunities, so not like his bat is riding the bench.

    • They ran the numbers a few days ago and he had above average rbi rate. Maybe not now.

  64. I wouldn’t mind seeing Puig and Kemp hit dingers after the Dodgers are up 12-2.

  66. 1. Curt Casali (R) C
    2. Eugenio Suarez (R) 3B
    3. Yasiel Puig (R) RF
    4. Matt Kemp (R) LF
    5. Jose Peraza (R) 2B
    6. Jose Iglesias (R) SS
    7. Scott Schebler (L) CF
    8. Kyle Farmer (R) 1B
    9. Luis Castillo (R) P

    An Intrasquad game

    • 5 ex-Dodgers in the lineup. I wonder if that is a Dodger record of some sort?