Game 36, 2020

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Dodgers at Rangers, 11:35 AM PDT, TV: FSSW+, SPNLA

The Dodgers’ RHP Tony Gonsolin (0-0, 0.00 ERA) has been untouchable in his three spot starts and 14 2/3 innings. He’ll be called up from the taxi squad before today’s game. He’ll face RHP Kyle Gibson (1-3, 5.73 ERA), who’s in his first year with the Rangers after seven with the Twins. He last faced the Dodgers in April 2014. (I am stunned to find that MLB’s still got box scores from six years ago on its servers.)

Here’s Bellinger’s two-run HR in Saturday’s game:

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1918 At the Polo Grounds, the Giants beat the Dodgers, 1-0, on an unearned run in the bottom in the ninth in a contest that takes only fifty-six minutes to complete. Pete Compton’s base hit off Jack Combs plates Larry Doyle, who had singled to lead off the frame and moved to third on Ollie O’Mara’s errant throw on a sacrifice bunt.
  • 1952 Nine-time All-Star infielder Arky Vaughan drowns with a friend when their boat capsized while fishing in a volcanic lake near Eagleville, CA. The former shortstop and third baseman, who compiled a .318 batting average and a .406 on-base percentage playing with the Pirates and Dodgers, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1985.
  • 1966 Sandy Koufax, in his final decision facing the Mets, lasts only two innings, losing to Bob Friend at Shea Stadium, 10-4. The Dodgers Hall of Fame southpaw has compiled a 17-2 record against the lowly expansion team since their inception in 1962.
  • 2000 Earning his 1,600th victory, Braves’ manager Bobby Cox passes former Dodger skipper Tommy Lasorda on the career list for most managerial victories. His 5-2 victory over the Reds puts him 14th on the all-time list.
  • 2015 The NL’s eventual 2015 Cy Young Award recipient Jake Arrieta, needing just 116 pitches, beats Los Angeles, 2-0, tossing the 12th no-hitter ever thrown at the Chavez Ravine ballpark, and the 13th no-no in Cubs history. The contest marks the second time in ten games the Dodgers have been unable to get a hit; they were held hitless by Astros right-hander Mike Fiers on August 21.

Lineup when available.

125 thoughts on “Game 36, 2020”

  2. This is clever: in Philadelphia if a home run hits a fan photo cutout in the outfield seats the team replaces the fan photo with a photo cutout of the player who hit the home run.

    That’s the ultimate in home-run spray charts.

  4. Tough play. But it seems like the Rangers strategy to get on this series is to hit it towards Seager.

  12. The official scorekeeper has discretion in a game such as this as to who the winning pitcher shall be. Victor is not guaranteed the victory.

  14. Watching the Rangers’ broadcast, I noticed that Smith, even on a 3-2 count, was not running fast between 2nd and 3rd. A better throw home might have gotten him.

          • Of course. I was thinking of a player. Going back in time, the Dodgers used to have an annual game in February in which their minor leaguers played USC. For many years the game would be held at Bovard Field on the Trojan campus. My late father would take me when I was growing up.
            Years later, I took him to see the game, then staged at Dodger Stadium, and I remember than Dino Ebel was one of the Dodger youngsters. I also remember that dad ate three hot dogs, kind of the equivalent of Dioner Navarro tripling three times in the same game.

  17. The Dodgers have four players with nine or more home runs: Seager, Muncy, Bellinger and Betts. This is their 36th game. At that pace, each of the four would hit at least 40 home runs in a 162-game season.

  18. Regarding Roberts’ reluctance to let Pederson face lefties, Joc has started 27 games this season, including today’s, and has completed only 12 of them. I expect that in nearly all of the others he has been pulled when a lefty comes in. Pederson has been allowed only seven at bats vs. lefties this season and has one hit.

    • He lost his arbitration case based on just what you described. There is a need to find at bats for Kike’, Taylor, and Pollock so today’s game was a perfect time to give Kike’ an AB. Dodgers had a 4 run lead and it was the 7th inning. That probably would have been Joc’s last at bat. He is hitting .200 so Joc can’t say much. But I also feel like he gets hit for more often this year because if he didn’t, the team’s argument that he didn’t finish games would be more questionable.

  25. Yanks set the record last year for most home runs in a month. They hit 61 home runs last August.

  28. If only we had a taller and faster first baseman. They would have made the play. (joking)

    • Not sure that they want to disrupt the lineup, and not sure of his rental value for a contender that would then give you the starter you want. Difficult seeing him moved.

  33. I was wrong. Gonsolin is, perhaps, not cooked. But he threw 39 pitches in that inning after throwing a total of only 23 in the first two innings.

    • But maybe the Texas pitcher is rusty after waiting through that long (mostly unproductive) inning.

    • This ump must love Weird Al and his accordion playing. He is in and out and up and down inconsistent.

  49. That 0.00 is in major trouble jeopardy now. Let’s minimize the damage here Dodgers.

  53. I’m watching the Texas broadcast while doing some work on my computer.
    “It’s a hard team to pitch to,” said one of the announcers. They have been fulsome in their praise of Dodger batters.

  55. What’s everyone’s over/under for strike ‘em out throw ‘em out double plays for this game?