Apr 15

Game 15, 2023

Cubs at Dodgers, 6:10 PM PDT, TV: Marquee Sports Network, SPNLA

RHP Jameson Taillon (0-2, 7.00 ERA) goes for the Cubs and RHP Michael Grove (0-1, 14.73) pitches for the Dodgers.

Here’s a profile of an alumna of the Jackie Robinson Foundation. Rep. Lauren Underwood, a Democrat from IL-14 and a nurse with a postgrad degree (like Jackie’s wife Rachel, who’s got an MS in psychiatric nursing and was an Assistant Prof at Yale’s School of Nursing). It’s from the NYT but it’s out from behind the paywall and free for y’all to read.

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1909 On Opening Day, the Superbas are no-hit by the Giants’ Red Ames for 9.1 innings. The Polo Grounds contest will go thirteen innings before Brooklyn defeats the 26 year-old right-hander, 3-0.
  • 1930 On Opening Day, Phillies’ southpaw Les Sweetland throws a three-hitter at Ebbets Field. The 28 year-old southpaw doubles and scores the lone run in the eighth inning of his 1-0 complete-game victory over Brooklyn.
  • 1933 In his major league debut, Tigers rookie Lynwood “Schoolboy” Rowe tosses a six-hitter, blanking the White Sox, 3-0. During his 15-year career, playing also with the Dodgers and Phillies, Rowe will compile a 158-101 record, posting an ERA of 3.87.
  • 1947 A year before President Truman desegregated the military, Jackie Robinson debuts for the Dodgers, becoming the first black player to participate in a major league game this century. In front of 25,623 Ebbets Field fans, the 28 year-old first baseman is hitless in three at-bats, but scores a run in the 5-3 Opening Day victory over the Braves.
  • 1958 On Opening Day, the transplanted New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers play the first major league game on the West Coast. The California contest sees Ruben Gomez blanking Los Angeles and Don Drysdale at San Francisco’s Seals Stadium, 8-0.
  • 1959 Cardinal right-hander Bob Gibson makes his major league debut at LA Memorial Coliseum, tossing the final two innings in a 5-0 loss to the Dodgers. The 23 year-old rookie becomes the first future Hall of Fame hurler to give up a home run to the first batter he faces in the major leagues when third baseman Jim Baxes takes him deep in the seventh inning.
  • 2004 Major league baseball begins the tradition of Jackie Robinson Day, an annual celebration commemorating the day the color line was broken in 1947. At big league venues across the country ceremonies are being held to honor the ground-breaking historic event, including baseball commissioner Bud Selig and Jackie’s widow Rachel Robinson attending the festivities at Shea Stadium.
  • 2005 The Dodgers, to commemorate the 58th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s first game in the big leagues, wear replicas of the old road uniforms worn by the 1947 team which played in Brooklyn. Right-hander Derek Lowe throws a three-hitter, blanking the Padres in San Diego, 4-0.
  • 2007 To honor Jackie Robinson, some players on each team, including Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter and Braves’ outfielder Andruw Jones, wear the Dodger immortal’s uniform No. 42 on the 60th anniversary of his historic breaking the color barrier in baseball. In the Cardinals and Brewers contest at Busch Stadium, every player and coach on both teams dons Jackie’s revered number.

Lineups when available.

Oct 19

ALCS Game One, 2022

Yankees at Astros, 4:37 PM PDT, TV: TBS

RHP Jameson Taillon (14-5, 3.91 ERA regular season; 0-1, ∞ postseason) pitches for the Yankees and RHP Justin Verlander (18-4, 1.75 ERA regular season; 0-0, 13.50 ERA postseason) does so for the Astros.

Rick Monday’s ninth inning HR against the Expos, Alex Rodriguez’s slap of the ball out of Bronson Arroyo’s glove and much more on this day in baseball history.

Oct 17

ALDS Game Five, 2022

Guardians at Yankees, 4:07 PM PDT, TV: TBS

In a winner-take-all game, the pitchers for each team are obscure, at least to me. The Guardians start RHP Aaron Civale (5-6, 4.92 ERA) and the Yankees counter with RHP Jameson Taillon (14-5, 3.91 ERA).

Update: The game has been postponed till Tuesday due to rain, and the Yankees have changed their pitcher from Taillon to LHP Nestor Cortes (12-4, 2.44 ERA), who’ll be pitching on short (three days) rest for only the second time in his career. The first time didn’t go well — in 2019 he gave up four runs on six hits and came out after 2 1/3 innings.

The Guardians have not yet said whether they’ll stick with their announced pitcher Civale or perhaps call on their ace Shane Bieber, who would also be pitching on three days rest.

Today in baseball history:

“Well, I don’t know if we’re on the air or not and I’m not sure I care at this particular moment but we are. Well folks, that’s the greatest open in the history of television, bar none. We’re still here. We are still as we can well on the air, and I guess you are hearing us, even though we have no picture and no return audio. And we will be back, we hope, from San Francisco in just a moment.” – AL MICHAELS, the ABC-TV play-by-play announcer, reacting to the Bay Area earthquake.

As the Giants and A’s get ready to play Game 3 of the 1989 World Series, a massive 6.9-magnitude Loma Prieta earthquake hits the Bay Area, which will be responsible for 63 deaths. Commissioner Fay Vincent quickly postponed the Candlestick Park contest, wisely ordering the ballpark’s evacuation.

Jun 07

Game 62, 2018

Dodgers at Pirates, 9:35 AM PDT, TV: SPNLA, ATT Sportsnet-PIT, MLBN (out-of-market only)

The Dodgers and Pirates lay out a battle of righthanders for the rubber game of the series. For the Dodgers it will be RHP Dennis Santana (1-0, 12.27 ERA) and for the Pirates it’ll be RHP Jameson Taillon (3-4, 3.97 ERA). Santana made his big league debut last Friday night, getting his first win while going 3 2/3 innings against Colorado and surrendering five runs on six hits, walking one, striking out four (and doubling in two runs). Taillon got a win on June 1 when he threw eight shutout innings against the Cardinals. It was his first win since April 8. He’s made two prior starts against the Dodgers and has a 9.00 ERA to show for them.

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1954 Dodger catcher Roy Campanella steals home in the top of the 12th inning in a 7-5 victory over St. Louis at Sportsman’s Park. Campy had added an insurance run with an eighth inning round-tripper, but the Redbirds scored three times in the bottom of the ninth to tie the score.
  • 1957 Howard University awards honorary degrees of Doctor of Laws to the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and recently retired Dodgers infielder Jackie Robinson. In the coming years, the former baseball great and the Baptist minister will often appear together at Civil Rights rallies, fundraising events, and demonstrations.

    Jackie Robinson and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

  • 1982 Joining Lou Gehrig, Everett Scott, Billy Williams, and Joe Sewell, Dodger infielder Steve Garvey becomes only the fifth player in major league history to play in 1,000 consecutive games. The first baseman, establishing a National League record, will appear in 1207 consecutive games, before the streak ends next season when he breaks his thumb in a collision at home plate, playing for the Padres.

Lineup when available.

Aug 22

Game 124, 2017

Dodgers at Pirates, 4:05 PM PT, TV: SPNLA, KTLA, ATT SportsNet-PIT

This would have been Yu Darvish’s start but he’s on the (precautionary) DL, so the Dodgers have called up RHP Brock Stewart (0-0, 1.64 ERA) to make his third start of the year. He’s gone 7 2/3 innings in the previous two. He’ll face RHP Jameson Taillon (7-5, 4.64 ERA), who returned June 12 from a month on the DL after surgery and treatment for testicular cancer (yes, there have been two MLB players treated for that disease this season — the Rockies’ Chad Bettis is the other). Taillon has had a 5.40 ERA since his return, and in his last outing against the Cardinals he gave up four runs on seven hits and three walks with seven strikeouts in five innings.

Wood’s sternum injury has flared up and he’ll probably miss his next start. Bellinger is still day-to-day but took batting practice and claimed he had no ankle pain. Kershaw will make a rehab start for Oklahoma City on Saturday.

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. Marichal was suspended for ten days and fined $1,750.
  • 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.

Here’s an oddity: In 1992 in the seventh inning of a Class A Florida State League contest, the Clearwater Phillies string together two walks and two sac bunts to score the game’s only run, beating the Winter Haven Red Sox, 1-0. Opposing minor league hurlers Andy Carter and Scott Bakkum do not give up any hits, making it the first professional game to be hitless in 40 years.

Lineup when available.

Jun 24

Game 75, 2016

Dodgers at Pirates, 4:05PM PT, TV: SPNLA, MLBN (out-of-market only), ROOT Sports

To start this game the Dodgers brought up Nick Tepesch from OKlahoma City, where he’d achieved a 2.00 ERA in 18 innings. They acquired him as a free agent June 6 after he was released by the Texas Rangers, where’d he spent five years, mostly in their minor league system. He has a 9-17 record and a 4.56 ERA in the big leagues, all with the Rangers. His opponent will be Jameson Taillon, who’s 1-1 with a 3.50 ERA in his previous three big league starts.

To make room for Tepesch on the roster, the Dodgers designated Will Venable for assignment.

Lineup: