May 25

Game 52, 2019

Dodgers at Pirates, 4:15 PM PDT, TV: Fox

LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (6-1, 1.52 ERA) looks to continue his stellar work for the Dodgers against the Pirates’ RHP Joe Musgrove (3-4, 3.67 ERA). Ryu has the lowest ERA in the big leagues, helped mightily by a startling 0.28 ERA in four May starts. Musgrove had two consecutive bad starts but won his last two, giving up just four runs in 13 2/3 innings. He went 6 2/3 innings against the Dodgers on April 27 and gave up three runs, only one of which was earned.

Freese hit his grand slam in his first AB after an appreciative ovation honoring his work as a Pirate for two-plus years.

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.