Dodgers at Giants, 7:15 PM PDT, TV: NBCS BA, SPNLA
RHP Walker Buehler (13-4, 3.25 ERA) goes for the Dodgers. He’ll face RHP Johnny Cueto (1-1, 2.57 ERA), who is making his fourth and last start of the season after recuperating from Tommy John surgery. In his first two starts he was surprisingly good, going ten scoreless innings. His third start was less so: he gave up four runs in four innings against the Braves. Buehler went six innings in his last start, gave up four runs to the Rockies and took the loss.
How yesterday’s shutout was pitched:
Check out the photos up and down the Dodgers’ Twitter feed. They look a lot like these:
When the whole squad looks fresh. pic.twitter.com/Esy8ZtJYs1
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 27, 2019
On this date in Dodgers’ history:
- 1936 Replacing Johnny Mize, tossed by an ump for arguing, Cardinal rookie first baseman Walter Alston makes an error in handling two chances and strikes out in his only major league at-bat. ‘Smokey’ will, however, win seven pennants and four World Series in his 23-year Hall of Fame career as Dodger manager from 1954 to 1976.
- 1951 Bill Sharman, recently called up from Fort Worth, is one of 15 Dodgers who are ejected by umpire Frank Dascoli for bench jockeying after a close call at home plate. The future basketball Hall of Famer will never play in the big leagues, and thus he will become the only player to be ejected from a major league game without ever appearing in one.
- 1960 Ryne Duren makes his first start in two years memorable when he strikes out the first five batters he faces in the Yankees’ 5-1 victory over Washington. The feat ties a modern major league record shared by Lefty Gomez (Yankees), Dazzy Vance (Dodgers), and Walter Johnson (Senators).
- 1961 Sandy Koufax breaks the National League mark for strikeouts in a season, surpassing Christy Mathewson’s mark of 267 established in 1903. Unlike the turmoil caused by commissioner Ford Frick’s edict of having to hit 61 homers by the 154th game in the extended 162-game schedule to break Babe Ruth’s single season home run record, little is made that the Dodgers southpaw’s 268th punch-out occurs in the 151st game of the season, compared to the 142-game sked played early in the century.
- 1964 The Houston Colt .45’s play their final game in Colt Stadium, the team’s home ballpark since joining the National League in 1962. The future Astros beat the Dodgers in the 12th inning, 1-0, when Jimmy Wynn’s single plates Bob Aspromonte.
- 1993 In a 7-3 victory over the Dodgers, Cubs’ reliever Randy Myers becomes the first National League pitcher to record 50 saves in a season.
- 1993 Mike Piazza, who broke the major league rookie record for home runs by a catcher earlier in the month, sets another mark for round-trippers when he hits his 34th, surpassing the previous L.A. Dodger mark shared by Steve Garvey (1977) and Pedro Guerrero (1985). Duke Snider established the franchise record with 43 homers playing with Brooklyn in 1956.
- 2000 The United States Olympic team, managed by former Dodger skipper Tommy Lasorda, stuns the world, beating the much-favored Cuban team to win the country’s first gold medal in its national pastime. Ben Sheets ends Cuba’s 21-game Olympic winning streak with a 4-0 shutout.
- 2011 After giving up five runs in the top of the tenth inning, the Diamondbacks score six times in the bottom of the frame in an amazing 7-6 come-from-behind victory over the Dodgers. Arizona infielder Ryan Roberts delivers the decisive blow in the Chase Field contest, a walk-off grand slam with two outs.
Lineup when available.
Tonight’s Dodger lineup at Giants:
Pederson RF
Muncy 1B
Pollock LF
Bellinger CF
Seager SS
Smith C
Lux 2B
Hernández 3B
Buehler P#Dodgers | @Biofreeze pic.twitter.com/5mrUE5v4fy— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 27, 2019
Saturday Surmises – Yesterday’s game dragged on a bit, but was ultimately satisfactory. Dodgers still trail Minute Maids by one and lead Yanquis by the same margin. “Home-field advantage” might be nice, but nobody’s going to go all out for that even if it would be nice for AL teams to have to play four of seven by baseball rules. Personally, I’d like to see a 1965 rematch with Kershaw filling the Koufax role (but not on two days’ rest).
My big weekend disappointment is that BadGums will not pitch for the Gnats tomorrow, as he had a shot at a losing record for the third straight year but will instead finish 9-9. He also could’ve gotten his ERA above 4, which would’ve been a bonus.
In NL Central, both Redbirds and BeerBoys lost, though they have something to play for – the second-place finisher will have to face the Nats for the mild card, but the numerous possible scenarios include a Game 163. In the AL, my hometown Atléticos have clinched their spot but are tied with Devil Rays, so today and tomorrow will determine who hosts the mild card. I can’t work up a lot of enthusiasm for that or the AL in general, but I’d rather see the game on the West Coast.
https://twitter.com/MLB_PR/status/1177976451578114050?s=20
What’s changed? On yesterday’s pre-game radio show the guys were looking forward to Bochy’s last game with Bumgarner on the mound.
Well, BadGums’s ego may not find those statistical risks acceptable as he approaches free agency. The reality, though, is that he’s a pretty ordinary pitcher who screwed up by not demanding a big contract a few years back.
Walker has finished his tightrope walking for the night, I suppose, at 100-odd pitches.
Most likely with a win
104, and that should do it.
Buehler’s not sharp now.
Buehler’s inning off?
A lot of talk about his new pitching style…
https://twitter.com/billplunkettocr/status/1177782679363702785?s=20
NPUT @ 0800 HST, 1100 PDT, 1400 EDT
Milwaukee meltdown in the ‘pen at Coors. Seven-run sixth for the Rox, and BeerBoys looking likelier for mild card v. Nats.
Good to see Corey back out there.
Dodgers win!
Woo-HOO!!!!
Yippee!
No. 104!
Gonsolin is struggling a bit, but with a big cushion.
Dodgers opening this one up nicely late in the game.
Jimmy Reed delivers! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkqGgCCWjus
DeLux has some mad hops.
Minute Maids and Yanquis have both won tonight, so Dodgers can’t gain ground on either one.
Boo hiss.
Alls well that ends well. It only took one extra pitch to get out of the mess. That’s why LA is in first and San Fran is not.
Yimi has no idea that he is supposed to run to the baseline and follow it to the bag.
Yimi’s gotten continued chances to prove himself, and has failed to do so.
They decided that he has too much potential for a DFA (no options left) so he got to hang around all season.
I expect he’ll be gone after this year. Perhaps a Javy Guerra comp.
I tend to think that they will work with him and give him a shot at making the team next year before giving up on him.
Can they keep him, or does he need to be DFA’d?
Not an FA until 2022. Does some things well. Has swing and miss stuff (maybe needs to pitch in a more spacious ballpark).
You mean Software Stadium?
Both BeerBoys and Redbirds suffered major meltdowns in bullpen tonight, and St. Louis still leads Milwaukee by one game with two to go.
Pollock has an injured knee.
Contusion, they say. I’d say a bruise.
Buehler bending Kershaw’s ear in the dugout. Oh to be a fly on the bench.
A lot of Buehler traffic tonight.
Third base seems to be Quique’s weaker position.
Less able to avail himself of his speed asset.
Quickness is usually what matters, but that was an easy play he butchered.
Twitchiness.
Doesn’t play there much, but should be be fine. It’s easier than SS (I speak from experience).
Not for Kike’. One would think the left side would be a strength if one is good at short but he excels as a middle infielder and outfielder.
I was fine at second and third, but short was something else entirely.
Quique butchered an easy DP.
Got way ahead of himself.
Sloppy, Kiké.
But he squirms out of it.
Ugh! Walks an .042 hitter.
Whew! Glad Buehler was able to get out of that mess.
Muncy saving his splash for Sunday, settles for a double.
This is fun.
Splish splash!
TreLux.
Clever.
Corey in almost the same spot!
Bombs away from Belli!
Cody and Corey!
I with the Gnats would finish with all their cliche stuff and start the game. Meanwhile, here’s a more appropriate logo for them. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0229d8405061400b7464381d2c971768b289dd8fc7c5b86f3fcdf62861f7899b.png
I did not realize that the Colt 45’s and I co-existed. I always thought they were well before my time on this planet.
And two old friends beat us that day.
I actually have an Aspromonte baseball card as a Dodger.
Bob or Ken? Both played for the Dodgers, although maybe not at the same time.
Nice to see Cueto back (hope he doesn’t do well against us).
Well, we get to see if the prosthesis stays attached…
Bill Sharman and the Dodgers. Who knew?
Alineación contra los Jejénes de SF. https://twitter.com/LosDodgers/status/1177721099712372736?s=20