Game 18, 2023

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Mets at Dodgers, 7:10 PM PDT, TV: SNY, SPNLA, TBS

RHP Tylor Megill, (3-0, 2.25 ERA) pitches for the Mets and LHP Clayton Kershaw (2-1, 3.50 ERA) goes for the Dodgers.

Here’s a novel way to steal a base:

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1925 At his Waldorf-Astoria apartment, Dodgers’ owner Charles H. Ebbets dies of a heart attack at the age of 65. Later in the day, his team opens the home season in Brooklyn losing to the Giants at Ebbets Field, 7-0.
  • 1939 In Brooklyn, Red Barber calls the action in the first broadcast of a regular-season Dodger game, a 7-3 loss to New York at Ebbets Field. The future Hall of Fame announcer was brought in from Cincinnati by the team’s new president, Larry MacPhail, who had hired the ‘Ol Redhead’ when he was in a similar post with the Reds.
  • 1947 Dodger president Branch Rickey names team scout Burt Shotton to replace Leo Durocher, who was suspended ten days ago by Commissioner Happy Chandler for acts “unbecoming to a major league manager.” Brooklyn’s new 62 year-old skipper reluctantly takes over the team two games into the season and will manage the club for one year in his street clothes along with wearing the team’s hat and jacket.
  • 1950 Vin Scully calls the first game of his illustrious 67-year career with the Dodgers, detailing Brooklyn’s 9-1 defeat to the Phillies on Opening Day at Philadelphia’s Shibe Park. The 22-year old broadcaster, who will be awarded the Commissioner’s Historic Achievement Award by Bud Selig in 2014, will become the team’s primary announcer just three seasons later.
  • 1950 The Phillies play their first game with name official changed back from Blue Jays, routing the Dodgers at Shibe Park, 9-1. The team wears red pinstriped uniforms designed by manager Eddie Sawyer that are reminiscent of club’s look in the early 1900s.

  • 1952 On Opening Day in Brooklyn, Willie Mays is knocked unconscious when he smashes into the Ebbets Field wall after chasing pinch hitter Bob Morgan’s seventh-inning, two-out bases-loaded line drive into the gap in left field. All three Dodgers base runners cross the plate but do not score when the motionless Giants center fielder comes to his feet and jogs into the dugout, apparently unhurt, having held onto the ball after making a fantastic catch for the third out to end the inning.
  • 1958 At the Los Angeles Coliseum in front of a National League record crowd of 78,672, the Dodgers play their first game in the City of Angels. Carl Erskine gets the win, besting Al Worthington and the Giants, 6-5.
  • 1959 Branch Rickey, former general manager of the Cardinals, Dodgers, and Pirates, is appointed the president of the Continental League. The third potential major league never materializes, but helps to accelerate the expansion of the existing leagues, including putting a National League team in New York to fill the void created by the Giants’ and the Dodgers’ departure to the west coast in 1958.
  • 1964 L.A. southpaw Sandy Koufax throws the second of his two career immaculate innings when he strikes out the side on nine pitches. Although Leo Cardenas, Johnny Edwards, and Jim Maloney all strike out quickly in the top of the third inning, Cincinnati will score all of the game’s runs in the next frame, thanks to a three-run homer hit by Deron Johnson, to beat the Dodgers in the Chavez Ravine contest, 3-0.
  • 1966 Dodgers shortstop Maury Wills singles to center off future Hall of Famer Robin Roberts, becoming the first batter to hit on artificial turf in a major league game. The Astrodome’s new playing surface, called Chemgrass initially by its manufacturer, the Monsanto Company, couldn’t be made quickly enough, so the season begins with the artificial material only on the infield with the outfield remaining painted dirt until July.
  • 2008 The Dodgers announce Joe Beimel has been selected by fans, in an online poll during Spring Training, as the player whose likeness will now be used in an August 12 bobblehead promotion. The 30 year-old southpaw reliever, considered a long shot for the honor, gets the nod due to a strong internet campaign orchestrated by his parents, Ron and Marge.

    Lineups when available.

    • 115 thoughts on “Game 18, 2023”

    3. A few facts about Kershaw upon the occasion of his milestone 200th win.

      This one might be the most impressive of the bunch:

      The 35-year-old Kershaw is now one of four active pitchers with at least 200 wins, joining Justin Verlander, Zack Greinke and Max Scherzer – all of whom are at least three years older. The next active player behind him is Adam Wainwright, who currently sits at 195 wins at age 41. Beyond those five guys, 12 more active pitchers have at least 100 wins – all are at least 33, and none have more than 163 victories.

    4. Double play. Kershaw didn’t really need them tonight – but nice to have it here.

    16. Kershaw sitting at 2830 career K’s.
      3 more and he will pass Mickey Lolich for 22nd all time.

      Something appropriate about Kershaw being at #22 for a night.

      • Google translates:

        At the request of many: a thread about baseball in Argentina.

        There are seven provinces that play our discipline in the country. From north to south: Salta, Tucumán, Córdoba, San Luis, Santa Fe (Rosario), Buenos Aires and Chubut.

      • As he is crawling around trying to get to the ball he had to be thinking that he will be on video in the clubhouse and highlights on MLB Network and ESPN

    26. Also – can’t believe that lineup produced 5 runs – and could have been much more. Everyone wants to score for Clayton.

    28. Just hope that 32 pitch 7th doesn’t come back to bite him in his next start(s).

    43. At The Litterbox, the Paddies finally scored a run against the Barves, but they still trail 5-1 in the ninth.

    44. Kershaw just threw inning #2605.1 of his career. Walks + Hits? 2605.

      As best I can tell he is the sixth pitcher in MLB history to ever have at least 2000 IP and touch a WHIP of 1.000.

      The others?
      Old Hoss Radbourn (1881-1884)
      Addie Joss (1902-1910, 0.9678)
      Three-Finger Mordecai Brown (1903-1910)
      Ed Walsh (1904-1917, 0.9996)
      Walter Johnson (1907-1921)

      Joss and Walsh retired while members of this club, the other three did not. I believe nobody has actively been a member of this club for over 100 years.

    45. feels like he is throwing more curveballs tonight than he has in the last couple of years.

    62. Outman and Vargas are regressing. Major league pitching will find your weaknesses.

    65. Bottom 5 of the Dodgers line up all batting under .200. Bottom 4 all have OPS at .700 or less.

      • With Mookie and Will Smith out, it kinda feels like this lineup has about 2.5 batters.

    69. Ive heard that strikeouts are fascist, but in this case I am willing to forgive. Nice way to get out of it.

    75. Mets (11-6)
      Dodgers (8-9)

      SP Tylor Megill R
      3-0 2.25 ERA16K 13K
      SP Clayton Kershaw L
      2-1 3.50 ERA 18IP 17K

      Lineup:
      CF James Outman L
      1B F. Freeman L
      DH J. Martinez R
      3B Max Muncy L
      RF J. Heyward L
      2B M. Vargas R
      LF D. Peralta L
      SS Miguel Rojas R
      C A. Barnes R

      Partly-cloudy-day
      1% Precipitation
      61° Wind 9 mph Out