Game Eight, 2023

Dodgers at Diamondbacks, 6:40 PM PDT, TV: Bally Sports Arizona Extra, SPNLA

LHP Clayton Kershaw (1-0, 1.50 ERA) makes his 400th regular season start at Chase Field. He’ll face fellow LHP Madison Bumgarner (0-1, 11.25 ERA); this will be his 353rd regular season start. I think it’s safe to say that, based on recent performances, Bumgarner is closer to the end of his career than Kershaw is.

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1969 After throwing just two pitches to start the season, Don Drysdale finds himself and his team trailing by two runs when Pete Rose and Bobby Tolan hit back-to-back homers. The 32 year-old right-hander settles down, and the Dodgers come back to win the Crosley Field contest, 3-2.
  • 1969 Bill Singer becomes the first major league reliever to officially record a save, a new stat which will be kept starting this season, in the Dodgers’ 3-2 win over Cincinnati in the season-opener at Crosley Field. The ‘Singer Throwing Machine’ does not allow a hit, hurling three scoreless innings en route to saving Don Drysdale’s victory.
  • 1977 Gary Thomasson starts the game by walloping the first pitch in the Dodgers’ opener for a home run off Don Sutton, who had apparently thrown a gopher ball. Unbeknownst to the Giants’ leadoff hitter, the ball was to be taken for a pitch and handed to the home plate umpire to be sent to Cooperstown.
  • 1977 Frank Sinatra keeps his promise to Tommy Lasorda by singing the Star-Spangled Banner on Opening Day at Dodger Stadium. ‘Old Blue Eyes’ had told the team’s new skipper he would perform the National Anthem if his friend ever became the L.A. manager.

  • 2012 Octavio Dotel, playing for his 13th team, breaks a major league record he previously shared with Mike Morgan, Matt Stairs, and Ron Villone. The 39 year-old Tiger reliever, who throws 1.1 scoreless innings against Boston, has also appeared with the Mets, Astros, A’s, Yankees, Royals, Braves, White Sox, Pirates, Dodgers, Rockies, Blue Jays, and Cardinals.

Lineups when available.

73 thoughts on “Game Eight, 2023

  1. Our starting pitching has been very good so far. Our bullpen has been inconsistent.

  2. Pretty sad to be given 8 walks and not have any of them come around to score.

  3. Frustrating because the 5th looked so good – so can’t really say he shouldn’t have started the 6th.

  4. Kershaw may not be at his sharpest, but he’s a heckuva lot sharper than Bumgarner.

  5. So many LOB tonight. I’m sure that won’t be a problem later in the game.

  6. Dodgers (5-2)
    Diamondbacks (3-4)

    Clayton Kershaw L
    1-0 1.50 ERA 6IP 9K
    M. Bumgarner L
    0-1 11.25 ERA 4IP 2K

    Lineup:
    RF Mookie Betts R
    1B F. Freeman L
    DH J. Martinez R
    3B Max Muncy L
    2B M. Vargas R
    CF T. Thompson R
    LF James Outman L
    SS Chris Taylor R
    C A. Barnes R

  7. WBBsAs linked to Molly Knight’s Substack in the previous post. Within her post was a link to an article she wrote for Vulture which looked into the history of White House visits by sports champions. It’s a fun read.