Category Archives: Dodgers History

Aug 22

Game 121, 2022

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Brewers at Dodgers, 7:10 PM PDT, TV: Bally Sports Wisconsin, SPNLA

LHP Eric Lauer (8-5, 3.58 ERA) takes the mound for the visitors and LHP Julio Urías (13-6, 2.40 ERA) pitches for the Dodgers. Lauer lost 2-1 to the Dodgers and Tony Gonsolin on May 17, despite giving up just four hits to go with the two runs in seven innings. Two days earlier Urías went five scoreless innings, gave up just four hits and got the 4-0 win against the same Brewers.

On this day in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1917 In a 22-inning contest against the Dodgers, Pirates’ outfielder Carson Bigbee sets a major-league record with 11 at-bats. The game was also the fourth straight extra-inning game played by Pittsburgh (total of 59 innings), which sets a National League record.
  • 1965 Juan Marichal thinks Johnny Roseboro throws too close to his head returning the ball to Sandy Koufax and attacks the Dodger catcher with his bat. The Los Angeles backstop suffers cuts on the head during the 14-minute brawl.
  • 2000 Hitting a solo blast and a three-run round-tripper during a nine-run sixth inning of a 14-6 victory over the Expos, Dodger first baseman Eric Karros becomes the first player in the 111-year franchise history to hit two homers in an inning.

In 1886 Louisville’s Chicken Wolf hits a game-winning inside-the-park home run, thanks to a stray dog impeding Abner Powell from fielding the ball. The canine, who had been sleeping by the fence, refuses to let go of the pant leg of the Reds center fielder, who watches in dismay as the Colonel batter races around the bases in the team’s 5-4 loss at Eclipse Park.

Lineups when available.

Aug 21

Game 120, 2022

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Marlins at Dodgers, 1:10 PM PDT, TV: BSF, SPNLA

RHP Ryan Pepiot (1-0, 4.26 ERA) pitches for the Dodgers today, his 25th birthday, and RHP Sandy Alcantara (11-5, 1.92 ERA) does so for the Marlins. Pepiot has made two starts in August but he’s been pulled before he could finish the fifth inning in either. Alcantara leads the league in ERA (the Dodgers’ Gonsolin, Urias and Anderson are numbers 2, 3 and 6 respectively). He’s 2-1 with a 1.52 ERA in August.

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1975 The Reuschel brothers of the Cubs join forces to blank the Dodgers, 6-0. Rick goes 6 1/3 innings and Paul finishes the game for the first shutout thrown by siblings.
  • 1990 The Phillies overcome an eight-run deficit, scoring nine runs in the top of the ninth inning to beat the Dodgers, 12-11. John Kruk’s pinch-hit three-run homer ties the game, and two batters later, Carmelo Martinez’s double plates Rod Booker with the eventual winning run in the Chavez Ravine contest. (Editor’s note: I got home from work in time to see that inning. I was nearly yelling by the time the Dodgers got the third out.)

  • 2005 Florida suspends their bat boy for six games after the 11 year-old accepts former Marlin and current Dodger hurler Brad Penny’s $500 dare to drink a gallon of milk in less than an hour without throwing up. The Milk Processor Education Program will promise to pay off the dare and to cover the lost wages resulting from the suspension if the sixth grader, who is able to drink the quantity in the allotted time but cannot keep it down, agrees to drink three glasses every 24 hours.

Lineups when available.

Aug 20

Game 119, 2022

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Marlins at Dodgers, 6:10 PM PDT, TV: BSF, SPNLA

LHP Braxton Garrett (2-6, 3.67 ERA) pitches for the Marlins and RHP Dustin May (0-0, 0.00 ERA) makes his first start for the Dodgers in 15 months after Tommy John surgery. Garrett hasn’t won a game in August but after two losses his last start was good: he threw six shutout innings last week. May had several good rehab outings:

May began his rehab assignment with the Arizona Complex League Dodgers on July 16, and he advanced to making five starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City. The right-hander threw 70 pitches over five innings on Sunday for his final tuneup, and completed an additional 10 throws in the bullpen.

May has already stretched out to five innings, which has him in position to take on a normal workload upon being reinstated from the IL. May has allowed just three runs over 16 innings pitched (1.69 ERA) and collected 26 strikeouts in his rehab starts.

En route to collecting 10 strikeouts in his final rehab start for Oklahoma City, May pitched an immaculate inning. Each of his three strikeouts during the feat were looking.

From MLB: The Dodgers are on a run not seen in decades.

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1945 Dodger shortstop Tommy Brown becomes the youngest player (17 years, eight months, and 14 days) in major league history to hit a home run. The round-tripper by ‘Buckshot,’ who started his career as a 16 year-old high school student, will be the only run Brooklyn scores off 30 year-old Pirates southpaw Preacher Roe, who goes the distance in the 11-1 rout of the home team at Ebbets Field.
  • 1974 In an 18-8 rout of the Cubs, the Dodgers collect 24 hits and set a club record with 48 total bases, including Davey Lopes’ three home runs, double, and single. The Dodger second baseman’s 15 total bases are the most ever for a leadoff hitter.
  • 1978 In the visitors’ clubhouse at Shea Stadium, Dodger Blue becomes black and blue when Steve Garvey confronts teammate Don Sutton about a Washington Post story in which the pitcher is critical of him. After the right-hander confirms he had made the comments, the argument becomes physical when he makes an inappropriate remark about the first baseman’s wife.

Lineups when available.

Aug 19

Game 118, 2022

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Marlins at Dodgers, 7:10 PM PDT, TV: Bally Sports Florida, MLBN (out-of-market only), SPNLA

Peruvian LHP Jesús Luzardo (3-5, 3.72 ERA) is on the bump for the Marlins and LHP Tyler Anderson (13-2, 2.81 ERA) takes the mound for the Dodgers. Luzardo has had a poor August, going 1-2 and giving up 6 runs on 12 hits in 17 innings. Anderson’s gone 2-1 in August, giving up 8 runs on 15 hits in 18 innings.

From The Athletic, an explanation of what Muncy’s done to get his groove back (so far):

The Dodgers discussed moving his hands around or changing how Muncy stood in the box. On a whim, he tried a different approach in the cage before a game last month at Coors Field. As the pitch would arrive, he’d take a half step back with his left leg, getting his back hip higher, and better positioning his shoulders. Doing so redistributed his body back down and forward rather than up and under the ball.

It felt good, so Muncy took those mechanics into that night’s game. He recorded a hit in his first at-bat, a ripped single off José Ureña, and he locked it in. Since then, he’s been a top-five hitter in the sport.

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1955 For the sixth consecutive season, Robin Roberts is a 20-game winner. The Phillies right-hander, who will finish the season with a 23-14 record, beats Don Newcombe and the first place Dodgers at Connie Mack Stadium, 3-2.
  • 1957 Citing poor attendance as the reason, Giants’ president Horace Stoneham, ignoring baseball’s edict of banning announcements about relocation of franchises until after the World Series, informs the press the club has signed a lease to play its home games in San Francisco next season. The club’s Board of Directors voted 8-1 approving the shift to the West Coast, with the only dissenting vote cast by M. Donald Grant, who will become the chairman of the Mets, an expansion team located in New York to fill the National League void created by the departure of the Giants and Dodgers to California.
  • 2004 Pitching a perfect bottom of the ninth inning, John Smoltz establishes the franchise record with his 142nd save in a Braves uniform. The right-handed reliever surpasses Gene Garber as Atlanta beat the Dodgers in Los Angeles, 6-5.
  • 2008 The Dodgers reacquired Greg Maddux (6-9, 3.99) from the Padres for cash and two minor leaguers to be named or an additional monetary sum. The 42 year-old future Hall of Fame right-hander, obtained to help the club down the stretch run, played in LA for part of the 2006 season, winning six of nine decisions.

Lineups when available.

Aug 18

Game 117, 2022

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Dodgers at Brewers, 11:10 AM PDT, TV: BSW, MLBN (out-of-market only), SPNLA

LHP Andrew Heaney (1-0, 1.16 ERA) takes the mound for the Dodgers and RHP Corbin Burnes (8-5, 2.39 ERA) does the same for the Brew Crew. While still working back into shape from shoulder soreness, Heaney’s made three starts in August. He hasn’t gone more than four innings in any of them. Burnes has pitched seven more innings in August than Heaney but he hasn’t had much more success, losing the only decision he’s had during the month.

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1959 Long time baseball executive Branch Rickey is named president of the newly formed Continental League. The 77 year-old former Dodger general manager is currently serving as an advisor with the Pittsburgh Pirates. (Editor’s Note: Here’s a pretty good book about the Continental League)
  • 1982 In the second longest game in franchise history, the Cubs lose to the Dodgers, 2-1. The Wrigley Field contest, which is played over two days, takes a Dusty Baker sacrifice fly and 21 innings to complete.

On this day in 1967 Jack Hamilton of the Angels threw a fastball which shattered Tony Conigliaro’s left cheekbone. The 22 year-old Red Sox slugger missed the rest of 1967 and all of the following year and never came close to the Hall of Fame potential displayed during his first three seasons.

Lineups when available.

Aug 17

Game 116, 2022

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Dodgers at Brewers, 2:10 PM PDT, TV: BSW, FS1, SPNLA

RHP Tony Gonsolin (14-1, 2.24 ERA) pitches for the Dodgers and LHP Eric Lauer (8-4, 3.64 ERA) takes the hill for the Brewers. Gonsolin’s July was a little rough (26 hits and 15 runs in 30 2/3 innings), but he’s bounced back in his first two starts in August. Lauer has already tied his career high in wins this year with a month to go.

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1992 Kevin Gross, retiring 22 of the final 23 batters he faces on his wife’s birthday, no-hits the Giants at Dodger Stadium, 2-0. The LA right-hander’s no-no averts the team from being swept in a four-game series at home against the Giants for the first time in 69 years.
  • 2013 Clayton Kershaw blanks the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, 5-0, giving the Dodgers their first double-digit winning streak since 2006. The team’s 42 victories in their last fifty games, including a 25-3 mark since the All-Star break, equals the 1941 Yankees and 1942 Cardinals for the best record for that span of games since 1900.

Lineups:

Aug 16

Game 115, 2022

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Dodgers at Brewers, 5:10 PM PDT, TV: BSW, SPNLA

The Dodgers hand the ball to RHP Ryan Pepiot (1-0, 3.92 ERA). He’ll face the Brewers’ RHP Brandon Woodruff (9-3, 3.52 ERA). Pepiot is filling Kershaw’s rotation slot. He has an 8-0 record with a 2.27 ERA at Oklahoma City this season. Woodruff missed most of June with Reynaud’s Syndrome, a circulation problem in the fingers of his pitching hand. That’s the same thing that cut Sandy Koufax’s 1962 season short. Since Woodruff has returned he’s gone 4-0 in eight starts.

These guys! Hijinks in the dugout!

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1950 At the Polo Grounds, Hank Thompson’s two inside-the-park home runs off Don Bankhead and Carl Erskine contribute to the Giants’ 16-7 drubbing of the Dodgers. The 24 year-old third baseman will hit 129 round-trippers in his 9-year career, three of which will be of the IPHR variety.
  • 1964 St. Louis outfielder Curt Flood collects eight consecutive hits during a doubleheader against Dodgers pitching. The Cardinals split the twin bill in Los Angeles, losing the opener to Sandy Koufax, 3-0, but take the nightcap when Curt Simmons tosses a six hitter to give the Redbirds a 4-0 victory.
  • 2020 Keibert Ruiz becomes the seventh player (there have now been eight — James Outman did it this season) in the 131-year history of the Dodgers to homer in his first major league at-bat and the first since Garey Ingram accomplished the feat in 1994. On his first swing, the 22-year-old Venezuelan catcher deposits Julio Teheran’s 1-1 fastball over the right-field fence in the team’s 8-3 victory at the Angel Stadium of Anaheim.

Babe Ruth died in New York City on this day in 1948.

Lineups when available.

Aug 15

Game 114, 2022

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Dodgers at Brewers, 2:10 PM PDT, TV: Bally Sports Wisconsin, SPNLA

LHP Julio Urías (12-6, 2.49 ERA) takes the mound for the Dodgers at American Family Field in Milwaukee tonight. He’ll face the Brewers’ RHP Freddy Peralta (4-2, 4.37 ERA). Urías is 10-3 in his last fifteen games with a 2.28 ERA. Peralta will make his third start after missing two months with a shoulder injury. He went 8 2/3 innings in the previous two.

The Dodgers lead their division by a gazillion; the Brewers are 1 1/2 games behind the Cardinals in the NL Central.

Horrible news surfaced today. Buehler will have to undergo elbow surgery after all, which means he’s done for the year.

Better news:

A week ago in Sports Illustrated, a recognition of hope:Cody Bellinger is once again a critical component of the Dodgers

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1914 Brooklyn’s Jake Daubert sets a National League record with four sacrifices in one game. The first baseman’s efforts aren’t enough when the Dodgers drop an 8-7 decision to Philadelphia at Ebbets Field.
  • 1926 When Babe Herman doubles with the bases loaded, three Dodgers wind up on third base. The runner on second rounds third but decides to go back as the runner from first reaches the same base, and a few seconds later Herman slides in to join his two teammates.
  • 1951 With one out in the top of the eighth inning and a runner on third base in a 1-1 tied game, Willie Mays, running at full speed, makes an incredible catch of Carl Furillo’s drive to deep centerfield. After grabbing the ball, the rookie outfielder turns counterclockwise and throws a perfect strike to home to nail a surprised Billy Cox at home to complete the double play. Some believe the catch, in the Giants’ eventual 3-1 Polo Grounds victory over the Dodgers, is the impetus for the beginning of the team’s incredible comeback from an 11.5 game deficit to win the National League pennant.
  • 2006 The Dodgers, with their 4-0 blanking of the Marlins, win their sixth consecutive game and 17th in the last 18 contests. The stretch is the team’s best run since the Brooklyn Superbas went 20-1 in 1899.
  • 2020 Max Muncy hits the first leadoff sac fly in baseball history when he flies out to deep right field, scoring Chris Taylor, the Dodgers’ ghost runner who stole third base on the second pitch of the tenth inning. Angels’ reliever Keynan Middleton, who throws a perfect 1-2-3 inning, is tagged with the loss when the run proves to be the difference in the team’s 6-5 loss in Anaheim.

Lineups:

Aug 14

Game 113, 2022

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Dodgers at Royals, 11:10 PM PDT, TV: BSKC, SPNLA

LHP Tyler Anderson (13-1, 2.72 ERA) pitches for the Dodgers and RHP Brady Singer (5-4, 3.49 ERA) does the same for the Royals. Anderson hasn’t lost a game since June 27 and has won his two August starts. Singer is 1-1 in August; he joined the rotation in May.

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1919 In a total of two hours and seventeen minutes, the Dodgers and Cubs split a doubleheader. In the opener, the Cubs blank Brooklyn 2-0, in one hour and ten minutes, and in the nightcap, it takes the Dodgers one hour and seven minutes to shut out Chicago, 1-0.
  • 1932 Brooklyn’s 10-inning, 2-1 victory over the Giants at the Polo Grounds makes reliever John Quinn, at the age of 49, the oldest player to win a major league game. Johnny Frederick, who will have a total of only six home runs during the entire season, hits a ninth inning game-tying homer off Carl Hubbell, his fourth round-tripper as a pinch hitter, establishing a new major-league record.

Also, in 2015 the Padres’ Matt Kemp hits a ninth-inning triple to complete the cycle, making him the first player in the 35-year history of the franchise to accomplish the feat. The San Diego outfielder’s home run in the first, single in the third, and double in the seventh contribute to the team’s 9-5 victory over Colorado at Coors Field.

Lineups when available.

Aug 13

Game 112, 2022

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Dodgers at Royals, 4:10 PM PDT, TV: BSKC, SPNLA

LHP Andrew Heaney (1-0, 0.64 ERA) goes for the Dodgers and RHP Brad Keller (6-12, 4.45 ERA) goes for the Royals. This will be Heaney’s fourth time taking a regular turn in the rotation since coming off the IL. He has yet to get further than 4 2/3 innings deep into a game in that time, but his ERA has dropped in each one. Keller has been a workhorse for the Royals; his 21 starts is just short of ranking in the top ten in all of baseball. Unfortunately for him, his twelve losses lead MLB.

This date in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1910 In a game which features each team having 38 at-bats, 13 hits, 12 assists, 2 errors, 5 strikeouts, 3 walks, 1 hit batsman, and 1 passed ball, the Pirates and the Superbas (later to be known as the Dodgers) play to what else – an 8-8 tie.
  • 1951 Any fan who shows up with a musical instrument during the Dodgers’ Musical Depreciation Night is admitted free to the Ebbets Field contest against Boston. With an assortment of trumpets, trombones, zithers, tubas, accordions, bugles, flutes, various type of drums, violins, mandolins, assorted horns, a glockenspiel, a washboard, and a piano, 2,426 fans, which is about 10% of the total crowd, take advantage of the team’s unusual promotion.
  • 1965 Dean Chance establishes an American League record when he fans to extend his streak to 11 consecutive plate appearances with a strikeout. The Angels’ right-hander falls one shy of the major league mark set by Sandy Koufax, who whiffed in 12 consecutive plate appearances in 1955.
  • 1982 At Chavez Ravine, Dodger second baseman Steve Sax steals his 41st base to set a franchise record for rookies when he swipes second base in LA’s 6-1 victory over San Francisco. The eventual National League Rookie of the Year, the fourth consecutive Dodger to win the award, will extend the record to 49.
  • 2006 LA’s Greg Maddux and SF’s Jason Schmidt hook up in a classic West Coast pitcher’s duel, reminiscent of match-ups of Koufax and Marichal, as the Dodgers beat the Giants, 1-0, thanks to Russell Martin’s 10th inning walk-off home run. When Giants slugger Barry Bonds lines into a double play in the first inning, it marks the only time in baseball history a 300 game winner pitches to a batter with over 700 homers.
  • 2007 For the first time in 1,303 games, Nomar Garciaparra of the Dodgers is ejected from a game. The 12-year veteran infielder, who is tossed by home plate umpire Tom Hallion for arguing a called third strike in the fourth inning, is restrained by first base coach Mariano Duncan when he continues to shout and points his bat toward the umpire.

Lineups when available.