Game 31, 2017

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Dodgers at Padres, 5:40 PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FSSD

Lefty Clayton Kershaw (4-2, 2.61 ERA) twirls for the Dodgers and lefty Clayton Richard (2-3, 4.29 ERA) goes for the Friars. Kershaw beat the Padres on April 3, giving up only a solo HR to Ryan Schimpf over seven innings. Richard shut the Dodgers out for eight innings on April 4.

Both pitchers have done well against the opposing team: Kershaw is 15-6 lifetime against San Diego with a 2.03 ERA in 30 starts; Richard is 7-4 with a 1.93 ERA against the Dodgers in 20 games.

On this day in Dodgers history:

  • 1937 Dodgers and Giants fans attending afternoon ball games at both the Polo Grounds and Ebbets Field are thrilled to have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the Hindenburg when the passenger airship appears over New York, nearing the end of its maiden voyage of the season from Germany. A few hours later, the majestic German zeppelin will explode on a landing strip in Lakehurst, N.J., killing 36 of its passengers.
  • 1947 In a small office high up behind home plate at Ebbets Field, National League president Ford Frick meets with seven Cardinal players individually, revealing he is aware of their secret plan to strike as a protest to Jackie Robinson playing for the Dodgers.
  • 1978 After going deep as a pinch hitter on May 2, Lee Lacy becomes the first major leaguer to pinch-hit home runs in consecutive at-bats. The Dodgers’ super sub will make it three in a row on May 17.
  • 2009 With a 10-3 victory over Washington, the Dodgers break the major league mark for consecutive victories at home to open a season with their 13th straight win in L.A. The previous record of 12 was established in 1911 by the Tigers.

More Dodgers history of a sort: Here’s Bill Shaikin’s column about Vin Scully’s induction into the Dodgers’ Ring of Honor.

Lineup when available.

84 thoughts on “Game 31, 2017”

  2. 5 HR, 14 RBI for Bellinger in his first 11 games. Better than any other Dodger ever. Cary Osborne tabulated the best first 10 games, and the names include Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp, Corey Seager, Jason, Repko, Mickey Hatcher, Bill Russell, and Norm Sherry (!).

  7. No save anyway and lots of extraneous pitches for the closer. Hope it doesn’t come back to bite the Dodgers in future games.
    I know, hindsight is 20/20 but I didn’t like it when I saw he went out for the 9th.

  9. Remember that time when Kershaw was pacing nervously back and forth in the dugout?

  10. Just checking in and looked scary for awhile, but Cody takes the fear away!

  11. Does Cody now have a solo, 2 run, 3 run and grand slam home run in his career?

  12. The pitch he hit was incredible – up and in, that most hitters can’t even foul it off.

  15. Only looking at the scoreboard – you would never guess that Jansen would be in line for a save tonight.

  20. From coasting to a win to the tying run at the plate.
    Things really don’t come easily to the Dodgers . . . or their fans!

  23. EXTREMELY efficient first batter for Baez . . . do it again, please!

  26. More important than the loss of the shutout is Kersh’s high # of HRs allowed, including to lefties.

  27. Sometimes I wonder if Kershaw gets a guy to look at that curve and has to turn his head away to keep from giggling in front of the poor hitter who just watched it drop in.

  28. Did you all hear about the Dodger locker room door found knocked off its hinges and completely splintered? The footprint in the middle of what was left of it was traced to Cody Bellinger.

    • Hmmm. I just returned to the site. Do you mean that they can’t keep him out of the locker room because of how good he has been or am I missing something?

      • Alluding–maybe not as well as hoped–to the maxim about minor leaguers proving they belong in the majors by kicking the door down, as Cody has. 😉

  29. That was a wonderful fielding play on both ends from Seager to Bellinger. There was a great shot of Kershaw watching the throw and as Bellinger short-hopped it for the out Clayton raised his arm toward Corey and got this huge grin on his face.

  30. In their 13-3 win over the Giants last night the Reds scored in seven of their eight at bats, four times scoring two or more runs. In their 14-2 win over the Giants tonight the Reds scored in six of their eight at bats, four times scoring two or more runs.

  34. Every Dodger in the lineup except for Quique and Clayton has reached on a hit or a walk (or both) through four innings.

  38. I was hoping that we’d get three for our Clayton, which means three off theirs.

  43. Gnatfans have a gnickname for LHP Josh Osich but, out of respect for Rule No. 1, I will refrain from mentioning it.

  44. Not sure this has been revealed to this group before. It mentions old friend Ruggiano (from SBNation): About a month after outfielder Drew Stubbs signed a deal
    with the Giants, the club designated him for assignment and recalled
    outfielder Justin Ruggiano in the corresponding roster move, the club
    announced Saturday. Stubbs, 32, struggled to produce in the playing time the
    Giants gave him. Over 10 games, he posted a .091/.167/.091 batting
    average without a home run or an RBI.

    • I was actually just thinking of Justin seeing Franklin out there and recalling what a big bat Ruggiano was for us from the right side.

      • He was, but we hardly got to know him. Ruggiano gave us .291/.350/.618/.968 in 21 games in 2015. The Giants are his eighth team in nine seasons. The Giants must not have much in the OF in the high minors. At Sacramento, he was .259/.298/.352/.650 in 15 games.

  48. “I ain’t going anywhere!” Toles’ response since Bellinger was called up on April 25: .324/.342/.568.

  50. Meanwhile, in Cincy, the Gnats appear to be repeating yesterday’s implosion. 8-2 Rojos with one out in the third, v. SF’s ostensibly top starter prospect.

    • For all Gagne’s transgressions, I always found him likeable, and hope he does well enough to catch on with somebody.

  53. At Wrigley, old friend Brett Anderson leaves his start with an injury, after surrendering five runs to the Yanquis in 1-1/3.

    • The Dodgers would make Scott Kazmir available…cheap! Just pick up his contract. 😉