Apr 12

Game Four, 2022

Dodgers at Twins, 4:40 PM PDT, TV: BSN, SPNLA

The Dodgers’ LHP Andrew Heaney makes his first start of the year. He’ll face RHP Chris Archer, who’s doing the same. Heaney was a Dodger in 2014, coming to them with Chris Hatcher, Austin Barnes, and Enrique Hernández from the Marlins in exchange for Dan Haren, Dee Gordon, and Miguel Rojas. Five hours later the Dodgers traded him to the Angels, receiving Howie Kendrick in return. This is Archer’s first season with the Twins; he was 1-1 with a 4.66 ERA in 19 innings with the Rays last year.

On this day in Dodgers history:

  • 1906 At Brooklyn’s Washington Park, Boston Beaneater rookie Johnny Bates becomes the first modern player to homer in his first major league at-bat. The 23 year-old outfielder connects off Harry McIntire in the top of the second inning in the team’s 2-0 Opening Day victory over the Superbas.
  • 1962 Pete Richert, making his major league debut, comes out of the bullpen and strikes out the first six batter he faces, a major league record. The rookie southpaw fans four in the third inning in LA’s 11-7 comeback victory over the Reds at Dodger Stadium.
  • 1976 The game against the Padres is rained out at Dodger Stadium for only the second time in the 14-year history of the ballpark. The washout ends a streak started in April 1967, covering a span of 724 straight contests, with subsequent postponements coming much sooner when inclement weather cancels two consecutive home dates in September.

Lineups when available.

May 26

Game 53, 2019

Dodgers vs. Pirates, 10:35 AM PDT, TV: ATT SportsNet-PIT, SPNLA

The Dodgers activate RHP Kenta Maeda (5-2, 3.51 ERA) from the IL where he’s been since May 15 with a left adductor occlusion AKA strained left thigh. He’ll face the Pirates’ RHP Chris Archer (1-4, 5.55 ERA), who’s gone 8 2/3 innings in his two starts since coming off the IL and been pretty unsuccessful. He’s given up 11 runs (nine earned) on 10 hits and six walks over that stretch.

Ryu missed a home run by about a foot in Saturday’s game:

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 2015 Clayton Kershaw pitched seven innings of four-hit ball and the Dodgers scored six runs in the fourth inning on doubles by Howie Kendrick, Andre Ethier and A.J. Ellis and went on to beat the Atlanta Braves 8-0.

Also, a very famous game took place on this date in 1959: Pirates’ hurler Harvey Haddix pitches 12 perfect innings but loses 1-0 to the Braves in the 13th inning. The heart-breaking winning run scores on a Don Hoak error, a sacrifice, a walk, and a two-bagger by Joe Adcock. To add insult to injury,

In 1991, the Committee for Statistical Accuracy in Baseball announced that a no-hitter would be redefined as “a game in which a pitcher or pitchers complete a game of nine innings or more without allowing a hit,” meaning Haddix’s gem no longer qualified. When he was made aware that one of the greatest games ever pitched no longer had a place in the record books, his response was simple: “It’s OK. I know what I did.”

Lineup when available.


Apr 26

Game 28, 2019

Pirates at Dodgers, 7:10 PM PDT, TV: SPNLA, ATTSportsNet-PIT

The visiting Buccos send RHP Chris Archer (1-1, 2.74 ERA) to the Dodger Stadium mound to face the Dodgers’ LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (2-1, 3.10 ERA). Archer says the seven days rest he had before his last start was too much and his “stuff” wasn’t sharp, which cost him the game. Ryu made two mistakes in his last start and they both resulted in Christian Yelich home runs. The Dodgers were shut out in that game and Ryu was a hard-luck loser.

Remember the Dodgers’ four 30-HR guys in 1977? Remember that Dusty Baker had to homer on the last day of the season to reach that mark? Here’s a tidbit about that which I’d never heard before.

Entering the final weekend, Dusty Baker needed one more to join Reggie Smith, Ron Cey and Steve Garvey as the first foursome from one team to clout 30 in the same season. Houston was the opponent at Dodger Stadium. On Friday night before the first game, Reggie used the clubhouse phone, called the Astros dressing room, and asked to speak with James Rodney Richard. The 6-feet-8 Richard dominated the Dodgers more than any pitcher in the National League, beating them 13 straight times over the final 4½ years of his career. When J.R. got on the phone, Smith told him a lie, “Dusty is over here saying he’s going to hit his 30th off you Sunday.” When Reggie hung up, he went to Baker and told him what he had done, and a terrified Dusty replied, “Reggie, you are going to get me killed.”

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 2001 After two and a half years in the post, Kevin Malone resigns as the general manager of the Dodgers. Despite having the league’s largest payroll, Los Angeles has failed to make the playoffs during his tenure.
  • 2008 Brad Penny’s 96-mph fastball is missed by Dodger batterymate Russell Martin and knocks out umpire Kerwin Danley. After the players are asked to leave the field, the home plate arbitrator, who lost consciousness briefly, is placed on a stretcher and leaves the Dodgers-Rockies game in an ambulance.
  • 2008 “We can’t tell you to survive the storms of life, we can tell you to dance in the rain, and you can do it. You really can do it. Very difficult, but possible.” – VIN SCULLY, delivering the commencement address at Pepperdine University. (Take note of the graduates’ headgear.)

    Vin Scully receives an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Pepperdine University in Malibu, the institution’s highest honor. The Dodgers’ Hall of Fame broadcaster delivers a stirring commencement address to the 2008 Class of Seaver College, telling the graduates that achieving dreams may be “very difficult, but possible”.

Lineup when available.


Jul 26

Game 101, 2016

Rays at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, Fox Sports Sun, MLBN (out-of-network only)

The visitors in this interleague matchup send Chris Archer (5-13, 4.60 ERA) to the mound to face the Dodgers’ Bud Norris (5-9, 4.56 ERA). Archer had his first quality start in a month his last time out, going six innings while giving up two runs on four hits. This will be his first career start against the Dodgers. He and his team haven’t done well in his starts recently: “The Rays are 2-10 in Archer’s last 12 starts, and he owns a 4.74 ERA in 74 innings with opponents hitting .248 against him over that stretch.” Norris lost in relief in the 16-inning game last Friday night against the Cardinals, and he also lost his last start when he gave up six runs on seven hits to the Nats July 20.

Yasiel Puig is still suffering from a sore hamstring and Roberts suggested he may have to go on the 15-day DL if he’s not back today. He’s not in the lineup but there’s been no Twitter announcement of his de-activation.

Lineup:

Jul 20

Game 96, 2016

Dodgers at Nationals, 4:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, MASN-2

Bud Norris (5-7, 4.17 ERA) will make his fourth start for the Dodgers; he’s given up seven runs in 16 innings in the first three. He’ll face Gio Gonzalez (5-8, 4.70 ERA), whose July has been an improvement over his June; in his last start he went 5 2/3 innings against the Mets and gave up two runs, the fewest he’d allowed in any start since May.

Rumors have it the Dodgers are hunting a front-line pitcher like the Rays’ Chris Archer, now that Kershaw’s return is delayed, Ryu is back on the DL and Alex Wood’s elbow needed surgery which puts him out for eight weeks.

The team is obviously very highly-strung as we head down the stretch of the season:

Lineup: