Royals at Dodgers, 1:10 PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FSKC
The Royals try to salvage one game of what’s been an unsatisfying return to Dodger Stadium for the first time since 2003. The trouble is they have to get past Clayton Kershaw (13-2, 2.19 ERA) to do it. They’ll ask LHP Danny Duffy (5-4, 3.51 ERA) to shut the high-powered Dodgers’ offense down while they try to put together some hits and runs against the Dodgers’ ace.
Duffy has made one start since returning from the disabled list and he did pretty well, going 5 2/3 innings against the Mariners, giving up two runs and five hits in a 7-3 win. Kershaw went seven shutout innings against the D-Backs Tuesday and gave up just two hits in a game the Dodgers held on to win 4-3 despite a three-run HR off Kenley Jansen in the ninth inning.
The Dodgers won their 60th game last night, becoming just the 4th team in 40 years to do that before the All Star break.
Today in Dodgers’ history:
- 1956 The BBWAA, by a narrow margin of 14-12, votes to establish the Cy Young Award to honor the major leagues’ most outstanding pitcher. Commissioner Ford Frick initiated the idea because he felt hurlers were not recognized in the MVP voting, but ironically the first recipient of the Cy Young Award, Dodger Don Newcombe, also won the Most Valuable Player Award.
- 1996 In Philadelphia, Dodger backstop Mike Piazza hits a moon shot into the upper-deck at Veterans Stadium and also bangs a RBI double, helping the NL to blank the AL, 6-0, in All-Star action.
In non-Dodger history, it seems fitting that in 1968, the Year of the Pitcher, the All Star Game would play out this way: In the first All-Star game played indoors, American Leaguers are held to just three hits in the Astrodome, with the National League winning the first Mid-Summer Classic to end with a score of 1-0. The contest’s lone tally comes in the bottom of the first frame when Willie Mays, who had been picked off but stayed on the bases due to Luis Tiant’s throwing error, scores an unearned run on a double play ball.
Lineup:
Today's Dodger lineup vs. Royals:
Forsythe 2B
Taylor LF
Turner 3B
Bellinger 1B
Barnes C
Hernández SS
Puig RF
Thompson CF
Kershaw P pic.twitter.com/5crO3x84By— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 9, 2017
NPUT
Here’s a picture. Dodger All Star participants on a plane!
Is the HR derby usually carried on radio or streamed?
I COULD go to a sports book to watch it, but I have lots to do and would rather not be “locked down.”
I think it’s streamed on MLB.com
Thanks — I’ll give it a shot . . . and hope Cody has lots of shots!
Joe Posnanski previews it for MLB.com.
Actually it’s streamed on WatchESPN.
And that requires participating in a cable subscription scam.
Grant summarizes the Gnat season… https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a9120950c6a75d5a699fc4ed969c9b51f806de0462d2ff830afa23df59123112.png
Old friend A.J. Ellis just hit an 0-2 pitch for a two-run homer, his first of the year, to give the Marlins a 9-7 lead over the Giants in the top of the 11th.
And Giancarlo follows up with one of his own.
In the 11th inning at The Phone Booth To Be Named Later, A.J. hits his first of the year to put the Fish ahead of the Gnats 9-7.
Great minds united (see below).
Rojos bite Snakes, and Dodgers now lead by 7-1/2 games.
A well deserved 7.5 game lead. Astros a bit fortunate to have a 16.5 game lead.
The all star break must be to baseball, what spring break is to teachers.
Because of what the ASG has become, it’s also a break from baseball for me.
We win!
Just got home from a very enjoyable pool party afternoon. Only regret was missing Classic Kershaw and the Long Ball Dodgers.
To officially end the first half that’s actually nine games past the halfway point but that has the Dodgers leading all of baseball in W-L record, I give you the one and only Fred Flintstone!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpGx4foRdPw
That was the 25th complete game of Kershaw’s career; 15 of them have been shutouts.
Cascabeles losing 2-1 to Rojos, but they have something going in the seventh.
Good win!
Woo-HOO!!!
Out of the bluuu.
Grandchildren in pool all day. I could only peek now and again.
But still in time to make the win official.
Thanks for putting it in the books, RBI.
First CG of the year for Clayton. 13 Ks.
Joe trying to build drama.
Melky Cabrera singled with one out in the ninth.
It looked like Freeland gave a slight tip of his cap to Cabrera on first. Classy.
Melky, though, is the opposite of classy… http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/8282185/san-francisco-giants-melky-cabrera-launched-fake-website-ruse-report-says
Definitely.
This is one reason I do not spend my retirement funds on seeing major league games.
Bummer, but at least it was a clean hit.
I see Grizzly Adams is seated near where Mary usually sits.
It’s 95° in Denver.
Rockies put up five in the sixth and three in the seventh, giving Freeland some rest.
Part of that time, though, Freeland was on base after an RBI single.
Thanks for that info.
Things will be interesting for Kyle Freeland when he takes the mound in the top of the 9th in Colorado vs. the White Sox.
Pretty high pitch count, but with the AS break coming up Bud Black can offer him extended rest.
Yes. Freeland, a rookie, is at 116 pitches. His high this season was 110 in a loss to the Dodgers two weeks ago.
Freeland is still pitching interestingly in Colorado through 8.
Do you share Jon’s hangup about interesting games? He’s not here anymore.
Keeping up the tradition.
Read the rules.
I didn’t ask if there was a rule.
Silly, but as Link says, a tradition. To paraphrase Jon, not everyone is a jinx. Some that are, don’t know it. Hence the rule.
Steiner says Hosmer is the third lefthanded hitter in Kershaw’s career to have a 3-hit day against him. THIRD! in what, nine years?
Unless there’s independent confirmation, never believe a word Steiner says.
Barnes!
Before the year is over, Barnes is going to get at least equal playing time with Yasmani.
Nope.
Just tuned in to see that Turner is warming up for the all star game I see
Freeland has an interesting game going through six innings for the Rockies against the White Sox. Gameday.
I hope he gets it. I think I’ve written off the Rox as a division contender.
He’s just walked two guys to start the 7th. 91 pitches so far. He’s got a 7-0 lead to play with.
And got out of it, but his pitch count’s rising.
Now he’s singled and driven in two runs in the bottom of the 7th so he has to run the bases. It’s 10-0 Rockies.
Couple tidbits gleaned lately from couple places:
–From unnamed executive of another team: “It’s not fair – the Dodgers have two entire teams.”
–Not including last night’s one ER off JMac over his 6 IP, in the first 4 games this home stand Dodger starters have allowed two runs on 11 hits in 26 innings, with six walks and 35 strikeouts. JMac was impressive too, just not quite as dominant.
–From TBLA, quoting Doc on Puig’s HR Friday, a 429-foot shot well into the left field pavilion. “The marine layer doesn’t really affect him,” Roberts said. “When Yasiel hits it good, it’s not coming back.”
Most here know of the supposedly heavy moist air at DS at times, called the marine layer, which is supposed to make hitting a ball out at night difficult. Some scoff, may even say it doesn’t exist. Haven’t seen anything definitive.
Every time I see the term I think about a joke on another board about it a few years back: “What’s another name for marine layer?”
Answer: “A seagoing chicken.”
Every port has one.
Home plate umpire Kerwin Danley hit in mask by foul-tip. That’s the injury delay.
Turner, HR #9.
Tree up tree down for Kershaw.
Okay gang, we have the All Star break to rest those fingers, so let us give our all commenting on today’s game. I predict “the kid” Bellinger, will out hit the “oldster” Seager in today’s game.