Game 161, 2017

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Dodgers at Rockies, 5:10 PM PT, TV: SPNLA, ATT Sportsnet RM, MLBN (out-of-market only)

LHP Clayton Kershaw (18-4, 2.21 ERA) tunes up for the postseason against RHP German Marquez (11-7, 4.38 ERA), who’s trying to clinch the second Wild Card spot for his team. Since the Brewers are the team to beat for that position and they play the Cardinals earlier in the day, the Rockies might know by game time whether they’re in before the first pitch is thrown.

Kershaw is chasing a 4th Cy Young Award and will probably pitch no more than five innings, or so it’s been suggested by Dodgers’ manager Roberts. Marquez may be tiring; he’s had a poor September (1-2, 5.47 ERA) which has detracted a little from an otherwise excellent rookie year.

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1923 It’s Zack Wheat Day at Ebbets Field, and the retiring Dodger outfielder collects two hits and is given an automobile. Cy Williams of the Phillies spoils the special day as he ties the score in the seventh inning with his 39th homer and his 40th in the 12th frame gives Philadelphia the victory, 6-4.
  • 1933 At Sportsman’s Park in a 12-2 Cubs rout of the Cardinals, Babe Herman hits for the cycle, becoming the first player in baseball history to do it three times. The Chicago outfielder, playing for the Dodgers, also accomplished the feat on two other occasions in 1931.
  • 1947 Ralph Branca becomes the youngest player to start a World Series opener. At Yankee Stadium, the 21-year and 9 months old right hander and the Dodgers lose to the Bronx Bombers, 5-1.
  • 1951 Knowing the Giants have won their game in Boston, the Dodgers rally from a five-run deficit to beat Philadelphia in 14 innings, 9-8, forcing a three-game playoff for the National League pennant. After Jackie Robinson makes a game-saving catch in the thirteenth to preserve an 8-8 tie, he hits a home run in the next frame that proves to be the difference in Brooklyn’s victory at Shibe Park.
  • 1953 George Shuba, best known as the Montreal Royal teammate who shook Jackie Robinson’s hand after the rookie had homered, becomes the third major leaguer and the first National League player to pinch hit a home run in the World Series when he goes deep off Allie Reynolds in the Dodgers’ 9-5 Game 1 loss at Yankee Stadium. ‘Shotgun’ joins Yogi Berra (1947) and Johnny Mize (1952), who both accomplished the feat playing for the Bronx Bombers.
  • 1956 Don Newcombe, a three-time twenty-game winner, goes the distance to earn his major-league leading 27th victory when the Dodgers beat Pittsburgh at Forbes Field, 8-6, on the last day of the campaign. Newk’s win is the most ever in a season by an African-American pitcher.
  • 1962 On the last day of the season, Gene Oliver’s eighth-inning homer off Johnny Podres proves to be the difference in St. Louis’ 1-0 victory over the Dodgers at Chavez Ravine. The loss to the Cardinals forces Los Angeles into a best-of-three-game playoff with the Giants for the National League pennant, a series the team will lose to San Francisco.
  • 1999 The largest regular-season crowd in Candlestick Park history, 61,389 fans, watches the Dodgers beat the home team, 9-4 in the last baseball game to ever be played at the ‘Point’. Giant greats help mark the occasion with Juan Marichal tossing out the ceremonial first pitch before the game and Willie Mays throwing out the ballpark’s final pitch after the game.

Lineup when available.

115 thoughts on “Game 161, 2017”

  1. I missed the game last night but did attend a Chicago concert. A couple of originals still part of the band (50 years). They were really good last night.

  3. I’m pleased that the Dodgers set an LA record for wins. I’d like to see them break it tomorrow.

  5. I liked the smiles exchanged between Baez and Doc. Apparently Kenley is making a strong case for keeping Baez on the playoff roster. Makes me think maybe we should.

    • Would bring a frown to some other player’s face. Who would we leave off is big question. Guess Ryu may no longer have a slot. Locastro looks like a guy who might get you a run in a pinch.

    • Puig has been pretty consistent most of the year and I think he is due for a huge post season

  8. So how bad did Kershaw look tonight? I guess it was just one bad inning or did he struggle more than that?

    • He didn’t have his best pitches but he really bore down when it mattered. The Rockies offense was unconscious to begin with, as well as getting a few lucky hits.

  15. Just got home from a family gathering. It’s my bday tomorrow and my family got me a new Dodgers hat – the spring training edition with the stylized D.

  22. No one mentioned here, and I was out of the loop for awhile, but Dodgers clinched HFA with Spiders loss.

    • So glad he decided to play another year with the Dodgers. What a joy, when not wearing the Fillies uniform.

  28. Beautiful play at first by Belli. Slick slide of the foot over the base while moving laterally away.

    • Requires thought. Bob Walk (Pirates pitcher in the 70s)? That’s baseball-specific, though. Bummer — how much crap did young Aaron have to put up with in school?

  38. Frustrating. Turner should have had that one. I wonder how Doc is feeling right about now? All he wants is for us to play good baseball…

  44. We’d better start hitting here, or the Rockies will have won their past six against us. This is why I would rather face the D-backs at the moment.

    • Good question. Guessing that Doc will want to keep a tight rein on player use, at least until the 5th.

  54. Scherzer and Klayton with last starts today. Guessing the CYA advantage is with Max, given commanding lead in Ks