Category Archives: Game Threads

For discussion of today’s game

Jun 29

Game 74, 2022

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Dodgers at Rockies, 5:40 PM PDT, TV: ATT SportsNet RM, SPNLA

Lefty Julio Urías (5-6, 2.48 ERA) takes the hill for the Dodgers against RHP Germán Márquez (4-5, 5.58 ERA). This is a tale of run support. Urías has given up four earned runs in June and has a 2-1 record to show for it. Márquez has given up 15 earned runs in June and his record is 3-0.

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1923 Dodger first baseman Jacques Fournier goes 6-for 6, collecting a home run, two doubles, and three singles. The southpaw-swinging slugger’s 11 total bases contribute to Brooklyn’s 14-5 victory over the Phillies at the Baker Bowl.
  • 1960 The Phillies strike out a dozen times in each end of a doubleheader when they are swept by the Dodgers at Connie Mack Stadium, 6-3 and 5-2. The 24 Ks tie a major league record for strikeouts in a twin bill.
  • 1990 For the first time since 1917 (Hippo Vaughan and Fred Toney), two no-hitters are thrown on the same day when the A’s (and ex-Dodger) Dave Stewart shuts out the Jays 5-0 and the Dodgers’ Fernando Valenzuela blanks the Cardinals, 6-0.
  • 2012 In the Diamondbacks’ 9-3 victory over Milwaukee at Miller Park, Aaron Hill becomes the first modern-era player to hit for the cycle twice in one season since Babe Herman accomplished the feat with the Brooklyn Robins in 1931. Eleven days ago in Seattle, the Arizona second baseman also collected a single, double, triple, and home run in the game.
  • 2015 Joc Pederson becomes the third rookie in major league history to hit 20 home runs before July when he goes deep off Allen Webster in the Dodgers’ 10-6 loss to Arizona at Chase Field. The 23 year-old center fielder joins Wally Berger (Braves, 1930) and Albert Pujols (Cardinals, 2001) in accomplishing the feat as a freshman.

Lineups when available.

Jun 28

Game 73, 2022

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Dodgers at Rockies, 5:30 PM PDT, TV: ATT SportsNet RM, SPNLA

LHP Clayton Kershaw (5-1, 2.00 ERA) pitches for the Dodgers, facing LHP Kyle Freeland (3-5, 4.29 ERA). Kershaw is 11-6 lifetime at Coors with a 4.57 ERA in 145 innings. Freeland pitched against the Dodgers on Opening Day in April and took the loss when he gave up five runs on five hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1969 After ending an 11-game losing streak in their previous contest, the expansion Padres are the victims of a 19-0 shutout for the second time this season when Dodgers right-hander Don Drysdale equals the National League-record for the largest margin of victory in a shutout. L.A. will score more than half of their runs when they tally ten times in the third inning.
  • 2000 The Rockies draw their 20 millionth fan to one ballpark faster than any other team in major league history. Taking less than six years, Colorado eclipses the Dodgers’ mark of taking nine years in two stadiums to reach the milestone.
  • 2008 In Chavez Ravine, the Dodgers, without the benefit of a hit for the entire game, defeat the Angels, 1-0. The combined losing effort of Halo hurlers Jered Weaver and Jose Arredondo isn’t considered officially as a no-hitter because the home team didn’t have to bat in the ninth (a nitpick if I ever heard one).

Lineups when available.

Jun 27

Game 72, 2022

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Dodgers at Rockies, 5:40 PM PDT, TV: ATT SportsNet RM, SPNLA

The Dodgers send LHP Tyler Anderson (8-0, 3.00 ERA) out to face the team he began his career with back in 2016. He’ll face the Rockies’ RHP Chad Kuhl (4-5, 3.95 ERA). When a pitcher is undefeated in the last week of June with an ERA of 3.00 there are few superlatives left to use about his performance. Kuhl had one bad inning in his last start but retired the last seven batters he faced, prompting praise from his manager.

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1939 In front of 2,457 fans at Braves Field, the Dodgers, with Whit Wyatt pitching the first 16 frames, and Boston plays 23 innings in a game that ends in a 2-2 tie when plate umpire Babe Pinelli called the five-hour and 15-minute contest at 8:15 pm due to darkness. The same teams at the same field played 26 innings to a 1-1 tie in 1920.
  • 1940 To honor the lyricist of Take Me Out to the Ballgame, the Dodgers celebrate Jack Norworth Day at Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field. The songwriter and his partner Albert Von Tilzer, who wrote the music, had never seen a game when they created the song in 1908.
    Carly Simon’s Take Me Out to the Ball Game illustrated by Amiko Hirao

  • 1980 Dodger southpaw Jerry Reuss, facing only 28 batters, no-hits the Giants at Candlestick Park, 8-0. Shortstop Bill Russell’s errant throw on Jack Clark’s grounder with two outs in the first inning deprives the 31 year-old left-hander from tossing a perfect game.
  • 2011 Citing MLB refusal to sign off on a transaction that would provide the team with $385 million, the Dodgers file for bankruptcy protection in a Delaware court. Although there will be no disruption to the day-to-day status of the franchise, the Chapter 11 financing permits the Dodgers to use $150 million for daily operations and gives owner Frank McCourt time to seek a media deal that will ensure the club’s long-term financial stability.

Lineups when available.

Jun 25

Game 70, 2022

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Dodgers at Braves, 4:15 PM PDT, TV: Fox

The visiting Dodgers send RHP Mitch White (1-1, 3.86 ERA) to the mound to face the Braves’ LHP Max Fried (7-2, 2.77 ERA). White has bounced between AAA Oklahoma City and the major league club this year; this will be his third start of the month for the Dodgers. In the first two he went five innings each time and gave up just three earned runs in those ten innings. Fried is fresh off a win in arbitration (they were only $250K apart; why the Braves thought that was worth fighting for eludes me); on the field he’s 2-0 in June. The last time he faced the Dodgers was in April; he went seven innings, gave up just two hits and no runs and got the win.

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1968 Bobby Bonds hits a grand slam in his third at-bat of his first major league game, going deep off Dodger right-hander John Purdin in the Giants’ 9-0 victory at Candlestick Park. The 22 year-old Giant outfielder joins Philadelphia National pitcher Bill Duggelby (1898 – first at-bat) as the only other player to hit a base-loaded home run in his major league debut.
  • 1984 Dodger infielder Bill Russell plays his 1,953rd game to become the team’s leader in games played. The shortstop, who will extend the mark to 2181 during his 18-year tenure with the club, is hitless in three trips to the plate but will walk twice in LA’s 9-4 loss to San Diego at Chavez Ravine.

Lineups when available.

Jun 24

Game 69, 2022

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Dodgers at Braves, 4:20 PM PDT, TV: Bally Sports Southeast, SPNLA

The Dodgers hand the ball to LHP Julio Urías (4-6, 2.56 ERA) and hope to get him more run support than usual. He’ll face the Braves’ RHP Ian Anderson (6-3, 4.35 ERA). On Saturday Urías ended his three-game losing streak, giving up no earned runs and two hits in six innings. Anderson threw 6 2/3 innings of shutout ball in his last start.

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1947 At Forbes Field, Jackie Robinson steals home in the Dodgers’ 4-2 victory over the Pirates. It is the Brooklyn infielder’s first theft of the dish, something the rookie will accomplish 19 times during his ten-year career.
  • 2018 The Dodgers tie a National League record, last accomplished by the 2006 Braves, when the team socks seven solo shots, dealing the Mets a crushing 8-7 loss at Citi Field. Former New York infielder Justin Turner delivers the decisive dinger in the top of the twelfth inning to complete the series sweep and extend the team’s consecutive win streak over the Amazins to twelve straight victories.
  • 2021 At Dodger Stadium, Cubs starter Zach Davies tosses six spotless innings, with Ryan Tepera, Andrew Chafin, and Craig Kimbrel each adding a hitless frame for the 17th and the first combined no-hitter in franchise history. Chicago’s 4-0 victory marks the seventh major league no-no this season, equaling the record established in 1990, 1991, 2012, and 2015.

Lineups when available.

Jun 23

Game 68, 2022

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Dodgers at Reds, 9:35 AM PDT, TV: Bally Sports Ohio, SPNLA

The Dodgers send LHP Clayton Kershaw (4-1, 2.08 ERA) to make his third start after returning from the IL where he’d been with a sacroiliac injury. He’ll face the Reds’ rookie RHP Hunter Greene (3-7, 5.26 ERA), who made his MLB debut in April of this year.

On this date in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1930 The Dodgers get twelve consecutive hits in a 19-6 win over the Pirates at Forbes Field. Two of the dozen hits in the eight-run sixth inning include a pair of homers hit by Brooklyn outfielder Babe Herman.
  • 1986 The Braves strand 18 runners on base, establishing a National League record. Enough Atlanta players do score to give the team a 6-5 victory over L.A. at Dodger Stadium.

Other notable events in baseball on this date include Ernie Shore’s near-perfect game in 1917, when he relieved Babe Ruth (ejected for arguing balls and strikes and possibly punching the umpire) and retired 26 consecutive batters.

Lineups when available.

Jun 22

Game 67, 2022

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Dodgers at Reds, 3:40 PM PDT, TV: Bally Sports Ohio, SPNLA

LHP Tyler Anderson (8-0, 2.82 ERA) is the second undefeated pitcher the Dodgers can throw at their opponents along with Gonsolin; he’ll face the Reds’ RHP Luis Castillo (2-4, 3.33 ERA). In his past six outings, Castillo is 2-3 with a 2.72 ERA and has made four straight quality starts. Castillo has given previous Dodgers teams fits:

Castillo will face the Dodgers for the first time since tossing 6 1/3 shutout innings on Sept. 17, 2021, and earning a 3-1 victory. Lifetime in four starts vs. Los Angeles, Castillo is 3-0 with a 1.90 ERA and a .195 opponents’ batting average.

In 10 starts, Anderson has pitched through or past the fifth inning eight times. He has a season average of 5.2 frames per outing, and he has earned a quality start five times in those 10 starts.

The Dodgers haven’t won more than two games in a row since late May, the LA Times tells us.

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1936 At Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field, Ival Goodman hits an unusual home run when his fifth-inning fly ball lands and stays on top of the scoreboard in right field. With the perched ball considered in play, the three Dodger outfielders watch the Reds’ right fielder round the bases for an easy inside-the park round-tripper in their 7-2 loss to Cincinnati.

  • 1947 After pitching a no-hitter four days ago against the Braves, Reds hurler Ewell Blackwell loses his chance for a second consecutive no-hitter when Dodger second baseman Eddie Stanky singles with one out the ninth inning at Crosley Field.
  • 1959 Sandy Koufax goes the distance, beating Philadelphia at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum, 6-2. The Dodger southpaw fans 16 Phillies to set a new record for strikeouts in a night game.
  • 1966 At the Astrodome, Houston sets a home attendance mark which will last for 22 years. Dodger southpaw Sandy Koufax, who tosses a complete game to improve his record to 13-2, beats the hometown team, 5-2, in front of the 50,908 fans attending the Wednesday contest.

Lineups when available.

Jun 21

Game 66, 2022

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Dodgers at Cincinnati, 3:40 PM PDT, TV: Bally Sports Ohio, SPNLA

The Dodgers give the ball to RHP Tony Gonsolin (8-0, 1.42 ERA), who would be officially leading the majors in ERA if he had more than 65 innings pitched (he’s pitched 63 1/3). The Reds counter with RHP Tyler Mahle (2-5, 4.46 ERA), who pitched a masterpiece his last time out (9 innings, 3 hits, no runs) and got no decision for his trouble. The Reds started out 3-22 and have gone 20-21 since, so they’ve improved, but they’re still mired in last place in the NL Central. The Dodgers have been mediocre in June, going 7-9, and now they’ve lost Mookie Betts for several weeks.

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1957 In his first major league start, Von McDaniel‚ who graduated from Oklahoma’s Hollis High School last month, two-hits the Dodgers at Busch Stadium‚ 2-0. Brooklyn does not get a hit off the 18 year-old bonus baby until the sixth inning.
  • 1998 Bill Russell is released as Dodger manager and is replaced in the dugout by Glenn Hoffmann. In the front office, Tommy Lasorda assumes the general manager duties of the third-place club from Fred Claire.
  • 2016 Dean Kremer becomes the first-ever Israeli to sign a contract with a Major League baseball team when he comes to terms with the Dodgers, after being selected in the annual amateur draft earlier this month. The 20-year-old right-hander, who won Europe’s Most Valuable Pitcher award in both 2014 and 2015, has hurled for Israel’s national baseball team for the past three seasons. (Note: Kremer was traded to the Orioles in the Manny Machado deal in 2018; he’s 1-1 in three starts with the Orioles this season)
  • 2021 Needing only 197 games, nine-year veteran Yu Darvish becomes the fastest pitcher to record 1,500 career strikeouts, easily eclipsing Randy Johnson, who needed nine more starts to reach the milestone. The Padres’ right-hander establishes the mark with the 11th and final strikeout of his six innings of work against the Dodgers.

Lineups when available.

Jun 19

Game 65, 2022

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Guardians at Dodgers, 1:10 PM PDT, TV: Bally Sports Great Lakes, SPNLA

RHP Shane Bieber (3-3, 3.01 ERA) takes the hill for the Guardians and LHP Andrew Heaney (1-0, 0.00 ERA) does the same for the Dodgers. Bieber won a Cy Young award in 2019 but suffered multiple injuries in 2021; he’s not yet back to his best. It will be Heaney’s first start since going onto the IL on April 21 with shoulder stiffness.

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1952 Carl Erskine throws a no-hitter against the Cubs in the Dodgers’ 5-0 victory at Ebbets Field. A third inning walk to the opposing pitcher, which accounts for the only runner to reach base, may have been a result of skipper Chuck Dressen telling the 25 year-old right-hander to speed up his pitches due to an impending storm.
  • 1963 At Yankee Stadium, the Mayor’s Trophy Game is revived, with the cellar-dwelling Mets beating the mighty Yanks, 6-2. Prior to leaving for the West Coast, the Dodgers would play the Bronx Bombers in the annual midsummer exhibition contest to raise money for sandlot baseball teams.
  • 1972 At Three Rivers Stadium, Roberto Clemente hits a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to become the Pirates’ all-time RBI leader. The Pittsburgh right fielder’s three ribbies in the 13-3 drubbing of the Dodgers give the future Hall of Famer a total of 1,274 runs batted in for the Bucs.
  • 1973 In different games, the Reds’ Pete Rose and Dodger Willie Davis both collect their 2,000th career hit. The Cincinnati infielder, known as ‘Charlie Hustle’, reaches the milestone with a single against San Francisco in the Reds’ 4-0 victory at Candlestick Park, and the L.A. outfielder, known as ‘3-Dog’, reaches the plateau in front of the home crowd with a two-run home run in the team’s 3-0 victory over Atlanta.
  • 1990 Gary Carter breaks a National League mark when he catches his 1,862nd career game in the Giants’ 4-3 loss to San Diego. ‘The Kid’ surpasses Al Lopez, who had established the record for backstops in 1946 after playing 18 seasons in the Senior Circuit with the Dodgers, Braves, and Pirates. Ivan Rodriguez, Carlton Fisk, Bob Boone and the still-active Yadier Molina have since surpassed Carter.

Also of note: In 2003 during a College World Series contest against Stanford, a pitch strikes Cal State Fullerton shortstop Justin Turner on the left side of his face as he attempts to bunt. Adding insult to injury, the future Mets and Dodgers infielder also suffers a broken ankle on the play when he unsuccessfully tries to avoid getting hit by the 87-mph fastball thrown by Matt Manship.

Lineups when available.

Jun 18

Game 64, 2022

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Guardians at Dodgers, 4:15 PM PDT, TV: Fox

RHP Cal Quantrill (4-3, 3.38 ERA) goes for the Guardians and LHP Julio Urías (3-6, 2.80 ERA) goes for the Dodgers. Quantrill was sick before his last start, but he recovered well enough. “His stomach settled down in the second or third inning and he did as well. The A’s second batter, Ramon Laureano, touched him for a solo shot to the Home Run Porch in left field. It was the only run Quantrill surrendered in his six innings. He allowed four hits, walked two and struck out four.” Urías “allowed two runs on three hits and no walks while striking out 10 in six innings, but he took the loss Sunday versus the Giants. Despite allowing only eight runs in his last 23.1 innings, Urias has now gone four starts without a win.” Last year he got plenty of run support; this year he’s gotten very little.

Not the Dodgers’ best baserunning moment:

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1938 After accepting GM Larry MacPhail’s offer to coach first base, Babe Ruth wears a Dodger uniform for the first time as a coach and takes batting practice with the team. The ‘Bambino’ will quit at the end of the season, ending his ties with major league baseball.
  • 1940 Dodger Ducky Medwick, acquired in a trade less than a week ago, is beaned by former Cardinal teammate Bob Bowman and needs to be carried off the field on a stretcher. Brooklyn president Lee MacPhail accuses the St. Louis pitcher of deliberately hitting Medwick in the head because the two had quarreled in a hotel elevator prior to the game.
  • 1996 Brant Brown hits the first three home runs of his career on the same day. The 25 year-old rookie goes deep as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning off Chan Ho Park in a 9-6 loss to the Dodgers in the opener of a Wrigley Field twin bill, but his two additional round-trippers contribute to Chicago’s 7-4 victory in the nightcap.
  • 2014 With the only batter reaching base as a result of a throwing error by shortstop Hanley Ramirez in the seventh inning, Clayton Kershaw no-hit the Rockies at Dodger Stadium, striking out a career-high 15 batters. The left-hander’s teammate Josh Beckett also threw a no-hitter 24 days ago, making it the shortest span between no-hitters by a team since the Reds’ Johnny Vander Meer accomplished it in consecutive starts, four days apart, in 1938.

Lineups when available.