Nationals at Dodgers, 1:10 PM PDT, TV: MASN 2, MLBN (out-of-market only), SPNLA
It’s a battle of 3-time Cy Young winners today. The Nats send RHP Max Scherzer (0-0, 6.00 ERA) to the hill to face the Dodgers’ LHP Clayton Kershaw (1-1, 4.26 ERA). Scherzer gave up four HRs in six innings on Opening Day; he did strike out nine. Kershaw had a forgettable Opening Day start but redeemed himself his second time out, when he gave up just four hits and one run over seven innings while striking out eight.
Before today’s game there’ll be a commemoration of Fernando Valenzuela’s accomplishments and the 40th anniversary of Fernandomania (40 years? Really?).
Today in Dodgers’ history:
- 1912 Rube Marquard begins a nineteen-game consecutive winning streak by beating the Dodgers, 18-3, in a game which features 13 ground rule doubles hit by the visitors because of the overflow crowd being placed in the outfield and along the foul lines. The future Hall of Fame southpaw’s streak will end in July when the Giants lose to Chicago at the West Side Grounds, 7-2.
- 1961 Robin Roberts, in his twelfth-straight Opening Day start, is tagged with the loss when the Phillies lose to the Dodgers in the LA Memorial Coliseum, 6-2. The right-hander’s effort ties Grover Cleveland Alexander’s National League record for consecutive season openers.
- 2006 Jeromy Burnitz, Ryan Doumit, Jack Wilson, and Craig Wilson hit solo home runs in the Pirates’ 7-6 victory over the Dodgers at PNC Park. The quartet of round-trippers blasted by the Buc sluggers is each player’s second homer of the season.
Lineup:
Today's #Dodgers lineup vs. Nationals: pic.twitter.com/ES8bUQ0oDL
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 11, 2021
Hmm. Rios in RF? McKinstry in LF? Still no Betts?
NPUT
Mookie is back in the lineup tonight (Tuesday), batting first and in right field.
The Dodgers have their first (I think) Brazilian. https://twitter.com/tombaseball29/status/1381951535630852098?s=20
On the Schadenfreude front, in Phoenix – My hometown Atléticos knocked out BadGums after 4-2/3, six earned runs, ERA is now 11.20. Couldn’t happen to a slimier Snake.
Addendum: Gnats swatted by Reds at Kevin Elster Field.
2 1/2 hour game.
Not Gilligan’s Island…
Treinen gets jobbed on what should’ve been called third strike, but then gets it swinging.
Today marks the anniversary of the dedication of Kevin Elster Field. https://twitter.com/DodgersArchive/status/1381283399751503873?s=20
One of the all-time great headlines was in the L.A. Times about that game that was played in front of a capacity crowd at whatever the Giants called their stadium then. The Dodgers won, 6-5, in large part because of Elster’s three roundtrippers. The L.A. Times headline: “Three of a kind beats full house.” I was at The Times then but can take no credit for that headline.
That was encouraging.
Wow! Geronimo.
Woo-HOO!!!’
Dodgers win!
Good Kenley today, or Oakland Kenley?
So far, so good.
Velocity is up today. And good control.
Bringing it.
Kenley had his “strong mind game face” going. Great to see.
There’s your answer!
Good going Blake! Kenley up next I imagine.
Whew!
Soto for the save?
All 3 RBI by Zach.
Team leading ten.
If you’d told him he’d be doing that after ten games, I suspect he’d have said “no way.”
Zac Mac with the fake bunt attempt and then the HR!
McKinstry MVP!
Excellent inning for Kershaw leaving Turner on base.
Especially after he got to second with nobody out.
Yep
And then facing the heart of the order.
Thank you sun.
Injury? (Using Gameday)
Snakes trading Max was a major head-scratcher. Lucky to have seen him when he whiffed 20 as a Nat.
They ended up with only a couple journeyman starters (including Edwin Jackson, literally the ultimate journeyman).