Dodgers at Braves, 4:08 PM PDT, TV: ESPN, MLBN (out-of-market only)
There’s kind of a “Lord of the Rings” flair to this game today; both pitchers names are close to those found in the books. RHP Tony Gonsolin (9-0, 10.58 ERA) faces RHP Spencer Strider (3-2, 3.40 ERA). Gondolin was an Elvish city in Beleriand, while Strider is the Rangers’ name for Aragorn, ultimately King of Gondor and Arnor.
Gonsolin has flirted with the league lead in ERA all year and is tied for the MLB lead in wins. Not bad for a guy who’s celebrating the anniversary of his major league debut in 2019. Strider was strictly a reliever until May 30, when he made his first start. His June appearances have all been as a starter.
Today in Dodgers’ history:
- 1944 At the Polo Grounds with over 50,000 fans looking on, the New York major league teams face each other in a six inning three-team game (a team played consecutive innings against the other two teams then sat out an inning) to raise money for war bonds. The charity contest, billed as the Tri-Cornered Baseball Game, ends with the final score of Dodgers 5, Yankees 1, Giants 0.
- 1968 Cardinals right-hander Bob Gibson tosses his fifth consecutive shutout as he blanks the Pirates, 3-0, in the first game of a doubleheader played at Busch Stadium. The future Hall of Famer’s accomplishment is one shy of the major league mark, set earlier in the month by Don Drysdale of the Dodgers.
- 1993 Hall of Fame (1969) catcher Roy Campanella passes away at 71 after suffering a heart attack in Woodland Hills (CA). The wheel-chair-bound former Brooklyn Dodgers backstop, permanently disabled in a 1958 traffic accident, ten-year career included three NL MVP seasons, 242 home runs, 856 RBIs, and five World Series appearances.
- 1999 At Candlestick Park, Todd Hundley’s second homer of the day, a ninth inning three-run shot to deep right field off Giants’ closer Robb Nen, sparks the Dodgers’ 7-6 comeback win. Ellis Burks had put San Francisco ahead in the bottom of the eighth, 6-4, with a three-run homer off Alan Mills.
- 2011 Three days after Jim Riggleman’s sudden resignation, the Nationals name senior advisor Davey Johnson as the team’s manager for the remainder of the season. The 68 year-old former skipper compiled an 1148-888 (.564) record during his 14 years in the dugout with the Mets, Dodgers, Reds, and Orioles, finishing lower than third place on only three occasions.
Lineups when available.
Today’s #Dodgers lineup at Braves: pic.twitter.com/69LXMWhfhZ
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 26, 2022
First pitch at 7:08 tonight at @TruistPark!#ForTheA pic.twitter.com/4YjLiyGCHz
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 26, 2022
NPUT
Game of the year to this point. If there’s a hangover on Monday, I won’t be able to get that upset.
Grrrrr
Entertaining hit and catch. Need more of that.
Sure. Hits this half inning. Catches next half.
DP please
Let’s make it a K.
Oh man. Take the lead, then Muncy crushes one that’s caught. Then Kimbrel does his part, blowing the save just like Jansen did. Blech.
Now he gets a K.
Just read the lead-in Link. Love the LOTR mention.
It just struck me seeing the names.
Strider is an easy one. I’m impressed with the Gondolin – Gonsolin matchup.
Thanks for reminding me. I meant to say that previously. Nice job on that, Link.
Good job Tony. Offense needs to show up.
Reds putting the wood to the Gnats.
Kimbrel blows the save and gets the win. Something wrong with the scoring system.
It’s always been so, though.
Congratulations to the Dodgers on their first extra-inning win of the year, and to the Colorado Avalanche for their Stanley Cup win.
Yippee!
Big win!
Ha! Color me shocked and pleased!
Sweet!! Probably the sweetest win of the year so far.
I think you may be right!
Dodgers win!
Woo-HOO!!!!!
THREE
Brewster better than yesterday!
Imagine Brewsters celly if he gets this done.
TWO
ONE
Only Price remains in the pen.
He will need to pitch about 15 innings in Colorado after this game.
Want this one! Make it happen Dodgers.
So, it’ll be Brewster.
Now hold ’em!
Mr. Smith, put us on the road to Colorado.
Gee, CT3 pinch-hit for Alvarez and all he’s done is get three hits and score two runs.
But can he pitch the bottom of the 11th?
CT3 don’t like the bench.
I like him in a utility role.
Yes.
Burn them Willy.
Burn them Freddie.
I’d definitely take 2 more still.
Yay!!
THAT’S better!
More gooder. LOL
Things are looking up
And Freddie could lock it up.
Yes!!
Yes! Finally!
Answering my earlier question: Kimbrel will make $16 million this season and will be a free agent at the end of the season,
Can’t be gone soon enough for me.
Burning up the bulllpen before a redeye to Denver.
Who pitches the 11th?
Price?
Trayce, hit it the heck out, willya?
Harris made a good running catch, but Bellinger’s was blah? Is that what they’re implying here?
Apparently so
Like I said – they are fans of the Braves.
Maybe there is Dodger greatness fatigue after 8-10 amazing years?
Ump better be giving us those pitches.
Can Belli score the go ahead run now too?
And could it be the winning run?
He is still rusty being on the basepaths.
He’s been stealing bases, and he’s fast in any event.
Piece of cake for Belli.
Center cut fast ball. Kimbrel got
lucky.
Easy catch
Oh goodness. That was a heart-stopper.
Phew!
Can this thing go to 11?
It’s past 11 in Atlanta already
Good one. LOL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOO5S4vxi0o
That was what I was trying to set up with my comment
The stuff is there, the command is not.
Yup
How long is Kimbrel’s contract?
Day to day?
Lifetime or so it seems
I think this year only.
He doesn’t seem to have the determination against his old team as Jansen did.
They both literally blew saves this game however. And Jansen had 2 outs nobody on when his happened.
It was fair in his glove!
Not catching any breaks in Atlanta.
Belli would be on 2nd if they make it out alive here
After I go outside and kick the kids off my lawn, I am going to say something old-man-like about Kimbrel’s hair.
Wait and see if they mow your lawn for you first before kicking them off.
I’m over Kimbrel. Sorry.
Dodgers are painful to watch in extras.
Kimbrel sucks.
Dang.
Jansen had trouble pitching two days in a row for the last few years.
I would take 2 k’s and a little ground ball out.
Here’s one for Kimbrel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv5xonFSC4c
He didn’t hear it.
Sugar. Need to get a scoreless inning here. No moral victories. Want the real deal.
Oh boy. Close game here. We could have had three, needed two, have to settle for one.
Baseball gods not giving us a break here.
Arghhhhh! Couldn’t hit that one any harder, Max.
He’s no Trayce, obviously.
Almost, Will! Almost! But get this run in now anyway, guys.
Gotta get two here.
Freddie says hello and goodbye?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rblYSKz_VnI
Time for Fredrick to hit one out.
Or down the line. Woo-Hoo..
A double works, too!
Extras!
Moronta auditioning for an expanded role.
The big guy working hard tonight. Pitching a second inning
If it goes to extras, Trea’s the ghost runner.
I was thinking that as well. Hope they can improve their record in extras.
If only that had gotten by!
Oh man. That Harris just saved a big hit.
No loss for Tony.
Another steal!
Nice! Second steal in the inning.
They know Kenley’s weakness.
Who pitches bottom 9?
Kimbrel, probably.
Sticking with Moronta.
Says a lot about how they feel about Kimbrel.
Trayce!
He’s no Pillar!
TIE GAME!
Yes, yes, yes……
Tie game!!!
!!!!!!!
Oh man.
Ok TT #2 – keep it rolling
Please, please, please.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vruy2GRUsV8
Steal second off Kenley?
Done.
No pressure, Trayce.
Ok. CT3 – let’s keep this one going!
Done!
Tying run at the plate!
Now go ahead!
Having to pitch Moronta in a high leverage situation is testament to the dire state of the pen.
It appears he was pretty goodl
Stiil alive!
Freddie now yawning in the dugout.
Good pitch, Kenley.
Ump. They don’t need your help.
Let’s go Gavin
It feels like we have half a lineup tonight, and it’s a weak half.
Kenley, on the other hand, is having no problem concentrating against his old team.
JT – make me a believer you haven’t lost it this year
Sadly, I think he has lost it.
Kenley time… for Atlanta.
Still weird.
Last shot.
I gotta head across the street for a prescription. Pull the game out for us, y’all.
Discouraging inning so far.
Freddie’s head just not in the game.
Too much heart?
Yes. I like the guy a lot but it’s on his sleeve this weekend.
Clayton Kershaw: “Hope Dodgers aren’t ‘second fiddle’ to Freddie Freeman”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/clayton-kershaw-hope-dodgers-arent-second-fiddle-to-freddie-freeman/ar-AAYTdrW
Ah thanks!
When did he say that?
Here’s hoping Kershaw never has to have the experience Freddie is having this weekend.
We’ve got this.
Does Freddie seem a little depressed to you guys? This must be like attending a party at your old home where your ex still lives only now with his new mate.
And the dog lives with the ex.
Got off cheap again. Need to cash in our opportunities.
Freddie and Will to tie it up next inning.
That could have been a whole lot worse.
Yup!
Oh fiddle-de-dee.
So that was a checked swing. Sure.
Not sure this is our game.
That’s my thought as well. Weird to say in what is still just a 1-0 game (at least for now).
I was hoping for your natural optimism to challenge my statement, but yeah. Well, let’s prove ourselves wrong!
Next time put it off the helmet. (Not really.)
Illegal screen
That sounded by batter’s interference to me.
Very odd play. Not sure what you can call it. Batter didn’t move and Smith’s throw hit the bat.
We’re falling apart.
No bueno. Need to bear down, Vesia.
Lux juuust missed
Misread it off the bat.
Trea sees the ball and thinks it is 3 inches outside so he has to swing and it winds up 5 inches outside. That’s just as much on the ump as it is on Trea.
Good point. That outside ball called for a strike happened at two at bats.
Oh Trea. Good grief…
Oh man, way outside.
Oh, Trea. Sigh.
Swung at ball four?
Yup
Hugely.
I have no video tonight. Maybe that’s a blessing.
Wayyyyy outside.
Ump!
Nice AB Trayce. Walk to pass it along to Trea
Well that was a swing – and a clean single.
Cody’s upright stance really doesn’t help him square up.
No one seems to be able to figure out what is wrong with Cody.
I don’t understand why he doesn’t look at video from his MVP year and copy his stance from then.
Exactly.
I don’t know but I will offer a guess that everybody knows what’s wrong with Cody.
Please explain.
Every ex-player doing color has stated there is no way for Cody to be consistent with his vertical stance and head moving vertically when he swings. It’s a big upper cut swing and up and in is a huge hole.
Thanks.
Opposing pitchers do.
Yikes!
One run here to get Gonsolin off the hook. And two to take the lead.
Gonzo did his job. It is on the offense.
Missing Mookie for sure.
Oh definitely. Just don’t need to see him take the L.
Phew.
Nice play. Got the out!
They have started up the rant (chant) again
Horrific. Get. The. Out.
They did, but it was scary.
Doc looking foolish right now. Tony did not want to come out.
Hit one guy, throw one behind a guy…Roberts, this may not be Almonte’s night.
Nice snag Will!
Just got back from a friend’s birthday picnic at a Calistoga winery, and now I get this? (Have been following on Gameday in the car, but no audio).
I’m in such a sad and angry mood today and I could really use a win. What do you say, Dodgers?
A baseball win wouldn’t make up for yesterday’s loss, but…
It’s Friday’s loss for the country I’m still reeling from.
Two losses in two days.
Dang
Meanwhile, argh.
I watched the Angels Mariners brawl and what led up to it and must say the Mariners had a point.
One more Tony.
Perfect pitch!
Oh great. Chop chant. My favorite. (Not.)
Agreed. That got old 10 years ago.
And here I was *worried* that they might have stopped doing the racist chant.
(Not worried at all. Hopeful.)
Does seem to be more muted this series.
Small mercies!
Needs to go away.
Absolutely.
It’s 2022, guys.
Traditions die hard and slow in the south.
We’ve talked about this before. I don’t have a problem with the chant. It does not mock or disrespect the American Natives.
Yeah but either way it’s really annoying.
It does, actually.
These announcers are in love with Strider.
Well, he has done a very good job. So has Tony.
I am hearing a difference in the praise department but maybe I am overly sensitive today.
Young love
Rats!!
Nice rundown, Freddie. If JT can come thru…and so much for that.
ugh
Go JT go!
C’mon JT.
Up to JT
Damn, just missed a homer.
Will! Just missed the HR.
ESPN just chatted about Trea signing with the Braves next year – and Swanson signing with the Dodgers. Didn’t realize Trea didn’t love being on the West Coast…
I don’t know whether that’s true or not. They said it was “rumored” he’d rather be on the East Coast. Someone should ask him.
Yes. That’s true. Asking is always a good way to avoid all kinds of confusion.
Freddie needs to put an exclamation point on this weekend with a homer.
I guess he will do it in the 9th.
Sweet! DP
Come on Tony. Stay sharp here.
Thompson has now K’d 14 times in 28 ABs with the Padres and Dodgers this season.
Goose keeping them at bat. Hope we can scratch out some runs.
Nice job Trayce.
Surprised Will didn’t tag and try for 3rd on that fly. Would have scored on WP.
Or a surprise Muncy bunt could have set up a run.
Strider is tough.
Got a K!
Need a K.
Ugh. WP.
A double on an 0-2 pitch. Ouch.
Phillies vanquished the Padres, 8-5. Reds dominated the Giants, 10-3. With a win we will pick up a game on each of the defeated squads.
Gonsolin still wheeling and dealing.
Just got back from a week in the ol’ US of A. Most of it was in Madison Wisconsin for a work conference – but last night saw the Twins vs Rockies in Minneapolis. It was my first MLB game outside of seeing a few in Toronto.
Twins shut ’em out, right?
6-0. Rockies messed things up by getting 1 hit in the second inning otherwise I would have seen a no-no.
Oh wow. One of many things I’ve not seen at a ball game.
Even if they had the hit in the 8th or 9th – to really build the excitement – that would have been something!
I have been lucky to see two No-Hitters in person. Valenzuela in 1990 and Kent Mercker in 1994.
Very cool!
Two is quite something. Think someone else here saw the Mercker one. My luck was Sandy’s perfecto (and Bob Hendley’s one hitter).
I would have loved to have seen Koufax pitch in person.
Saw him twice. Once in an exhibition game in DC and once at Shea in 1964.
Only thing better would have been to see the Beatles there.
I have never seen a no-hitter in person. I was at the L.A. Coliseum when Koufax struck out 18.
Got to see Scherzer K 20.
Sounds like you had a good time.
I did indeed.
Good for you. Welcome back.
Thanks.
Also – never been to Madison before. That is a beautiful capitol/college city.
Yes it is. Went there for an OSU Buckeye-Wisconsin Badger game. My brother in-law went to college there.
Madison is a lovely town on a great (small g) lake.
Welcome back. Were there any hassles crossing the border either way?
Nice play Luxor.
Phillies up 8-5 in the 9th.
Phils just put up 3 in the 7th — a 3-run homer by Schwarber — to take a 6-5 lead over the Padres. Darvish left after 6 with a 3-2 lead. Reds lead Giants 10-3 after 7.
Hope the Phillies can hang on.
Hell of a brawl between Angels and Mariners today.
Saw that. I think the Mariners lost three starting players, so they got the worst of it.
A lot of frustration from both underachieving teams boiling over. Some suspensions coming.
Lowlights of the brawl:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XH5uansfgHA