The Astros hand the ball to one-time ace RHP Zack Greinke (11-6, 4.16 ERA); the Red Sox counter with RHP Nick Pivetta (9-8, 4.53 ERA). Boston leads the series 2 games to 1.
Dodgers’ RHP Kenta Maeda (7-6, 3.82 ERA) takes the mound for the third game of this four-game series. He’ll face the Phillies’ RHP Nick Pivetta (4-4, 5.81 ERA). In his last start Maeda went 5 2/3 innings, giving up four hits and three runs. Unfortunately, two of those hits were solo home runs and the Dodgers only got one run themselves, so Maeda took the loss to the Red Sox. Pivetta gave up three runs in five innings to the Nats in his last start, and he’s got a 6.99 ERA in his last five starts.
Here’s Beaty’s three-run PH home run in the 9th in Tuesday’s game. Listen all the way through and you’ll hear Hershiser say what we all thought: “It’s probably a game-winner.” Oh well.
Today in Dodgers’ history:
1954 With Jim Gilliam (2b), Jackie Robinson (3b), Sandy Amoros (lf), Roy Campanella (c), and Don Newcombe (p) in the starting lineup against the Braves, the Dodgers field the first team which consists of a majority of black players. The historic five helps Brooklyn to beat Milwaukee at County Stadium, 2-1.
1964 In Los Angeles, the Chavez Ravine contest becomes the first Pay-TV baseball game as Subscription Television offers the cablecast to subscribers for a fee. The Dodgers beat Chicago, 3-2, with Don Drysdale collecting 10 strikeouts.
1976 Walter Alston becomes the sixth skipper to win 2,000 games when the Dodgers overcome a four-run first inning deficit and beat Chicago at Chavez Ravine, 5-4. ‘Smokey’ will leave at the end of the season, finishing his 23-year tenure in his only managerial position in the majors with a 2,040-1,613 record (.558).
Lineup when available.
Today’s Dodger lineup at Phillies: Pederson LF Muncy 3B Freese 1B Bellinger RF Pollock CF Seager SS Hernández 2B Martin C Maeda P#Dodgers | @Biofreezepic.twitter.com/AIgFbDavqZ
RHP Nick Pivetta (3-1, 7.71 ERA) goes for the Phillies while LHP Rich Hill (1-1, 2.73 ERA) pitches for the Dodgers. Pivetta’s first two seasons in the bigs (with Philadelphia) were losing ones: he’s got an 18-25 career W-L record. He’s given up 20 earned runs in 23 1/3 innings so far this season and opponents are hitting a whopping .343 against him. Hill, on the other hand, has pitched 33 innings this year and given up just 10 earned runs while allowing opponents to hit .242 against him.
Here’s young Mr. Smith’s walk-off HR from Saturday night:
Today in Dodgers’ history:
1995 Hideo Nomo, limiting the Mets to one run on two hits in 8+ innings of work, picks up his first major league win, a 2-1 decision at Dodger Stadium. L.A. signed the 26 year-old former Japanese All-Star in the off-season.
In another game of note, in 2010 after retiring 26 consecutive Cleveland batters, Tigers starter Armando Galarraga appears to have hurled the season’s third perfect game when the throw from the first baseman to the pitcher, covering the bag, clearly beats the batter-runner for the final out. Umpire Jim Joyce emphatically calls Jason Donald safe. After seeing the replay, the first base arbiter tearfully admits his error, apologizing to the 28 year-old Venezuelan pitcher for his blown call.
Optometrist appointment to click the button for the visual field test. More later.
Today in Dodgers’ history: Happy 4+1 Day!
1984 The Tigers, with a 3-0 victory over Milwaukee, clinch the American League East title to become only the fourth team in major league history to lead from start to finish of a season. The 1923 Giants, 1927 Yankees, and the 1955 Dodgers also led their circuits from wire to wire.
2006 The Dodgers, who are last in the National League in homers, hit four consecutive home runs in an inning when Jeff Kent, J.D. Drew, Russell Martin, and Marlon Anderson all go deep in the bottom of the ninth to tie the Padres, 9-9. The improbable feat, which had been accomplished only by the 1964 Twins, 1963 Indians, and the 1961 Braves, leads to Nomar Garciaparra’s walk-off two-run homer in the tenth and sole possession of first place when Los Angeles beat the Friars, 11-10.
Lineup:
Today's Dodger lineup at Phillies: Taylor CF Turner 3B Bellinger 1B Puig RF Barnes C Granderson LF Utley 2B Hernandez SS Kershaw P
The Phillies send RHP Nick Pivetta out to make his major league debut. He was 3-0 with a 0.95 ERA in three starts in Triple-A. He’ll face the Dodgers’ Hyun-Jin Ryu (0-4, 4.64 ERA), who had a good start his last time out, holding the Giants to one run in six innings.
Note: Yasmani Grandal has a 1.117 OPS against the Phillies, the highest of any active player.
Lineup when available.
Corey Seager gets a day off. Dodgers lineup: Toles CF Bellinger LF Turner 3B Gonzalez 1B Puig RF Grandal C Taylor 2B Hernandez SS Ryu P