Game 131, 2023

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Diamondbacks at Dodgers, 7:10 PM PDT, TV: Diamondbacks (see listings at prior game post), MLBN (out-of-market only), SPNLA

RHP Merrill Kelly (10-5, 2.97 ERA) pitches for the D-Backs and LHP Clayton Kershaw (11-4, 2.52 ERA) does so for the Dodgers.

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1939 Wheaties sponsors the first telecast of a baseball game when their ads are aired during the Ebbets Field contest between the Reds and the Dodgers. The commercial broadcast is available only in New York City, where an estimated 500 people own television sets.
  • 1948 Jackie Robinson hits for the backward cycle when he homers in the first inning, triples in the fourth, doubles in the sixth, and completes the rare event with a single in the eighth. In addition to his ten total bases, the Dodger second baseman drives in two runs, scores three times, and steals a base, helping Brooklyn beat the Cardinals at Sportsman’s Park, 12-7.
  • 1951 With his second home run of the game, the sixth time he has accomplished the feat this year, Gil Hodges hits his 36th round-tripper to establish a new franchise record for homers in a season. The Dodger first baseman’s seventh-inning three-run blast in the team’s 13-1 rout of Cincinnati at Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field surpasses the mark of 35 set by Babe Herman in 1930.
  • 1989 Giving up just three singles, recently acquired Mets southpaw Frank Viola outduels Orel Hershiser and beats the Dodgers, 1-0. The classic contest between two aces marked the first time in baseball history that the reigning winners of the Cy Young Award have faced one another in the regular season.

Cultural history note: On this date in 1966: On a typically cool night, the Beatles play their final concert at Candlestick Park, the home of the San Francisco Giants. The “Fab Four’s” performance on a five-foot stage, which is located just behind second base surrounded by a six-foot high wire fence, is less than stellar due the ballpark’s inadequate lighting, poor acoustics, and the group’s growing disdain of doing live shows.

Lineups when available.

108 thoughts on “Game 131, 2023”

  7. Oh man. That was the worst inning by the Dodgers. Lol
    45mph soft toss got three easy outs.

  14. I kinda want Phillies, Cubs and Reds to get the wild card spots. Maybe AZ. Obviously not San Fran.

  24. Free agency question:
    Would you rather the Dodgers get Ohtani (at whatever it costs) this off-season or Juan Soto (at probably slightly less $ than Ohtani) after the 2024 season?

  26. There is the three outcome game and there is the put the ball in play and see what might happen game.

    • This ump has been pretty consistent for both teams. Everything missed has been very close.

  45. I took advantage of the MLB.tv deal tonight – only $20 (well I guess that’s close to $30 Canadian) for the rest of the season. Waited 5 month but saved a lot of money! And now I can watch and hear Joe Davis.

    • I really thought both of the first 2 games of this series could be low-ish scoring affairs. 4 good to very good pitchers.