Nov 05

World Series Game Six, 2022

Phillies at Astros, 5:03 PM PDT, TV: Fox

The Phillies ask RHP Zack Wheeler (12-7, 2.82 ERA regular season; 1-2, 2.67 ERA postseason) to stop the Astros’ seeming juggernaut and force a Game Seven. The Astros hand the ball to LHP Framber Valdez (17-2, 2.82 ERA regular season; 2-0, 1.42 ERA postseason) and ask him to finish the Series tonight.

Today in baseball history is mostly filled with managerial moves, including Chuck Tanner’s ascent to the Pirates, Burleigh Grimes to the Dodgers, and Paul Molitor to the Twins.

Oct 29

World Series Game Two, 2022

Phillies at Astros, 5:03 PM PDT, TV: Fox

The Phillies came back from a 5-0 deficit and took Game One on a Realmuto HR in the 10th inning. For today’s game they hand the ball to RHP Zack Wheeler (12-7, 2.82 ERA regular season; 1-1, 1.78 ERA postseason). The Astros counter with LHP Framber Valdez (17-6, 2.82 ERA regular season; 1-0, 1.42 ERA postseason).

Today in baseball history was mostly a day of contract signing and manager movements, as until the advent of the playoff system the World Series had concluded by the end of October. There were still a couple of games played on October 29, though:

  • 2008. The Phillies complete the first-ever suspended game in World Series history, playing three innings at Citizens Bank Park, beating the Rays, 4-3, in Game 5 to win the Fall Classic. The World Championship is only the team’s second in franchise history and the first since 1980.
  • 2014 In Game 7 at Kauffman Stadium, the Giants clinch their third World Series in five years when the team defeats the Royals, 3-2. San Francisco’s 25-year-old southpaw Madison Bumgarner, the MVP of the Fall Classic, hurls the five final scoreless innings to earn the save in addition to his victories in Games 1 and 5.
Oct 23

NLCS Game Five, 2022

Padres at Phillies, 11:37 PM PDT, TV: FS1

The Padres ask RHP Yu Darvish (16-8, 3.10 ERA regular season; 2-1, 2.84 ERA postseason) to stop the Phillies, who will counter with RHP Zack Wheeler (12-7, 2.82 ERA regular season; 1-1, 1.40 ERA postseason).

Joe Carter hits a walk-off Series-winning home run, the Giants and Royals each win pennants, and much more occurred on this day in baseball history..

Oct 18

NLCS Game One, 2022

Phillies at Padres, 5:03 PM PDT, TV: FS1

RHP Zack Wheeler (12-7, 2.82 ERA) goes to the hill for the visiting Phillies. He’ll face RHP Yu Darvish (16-8, 3.10 ERA) of the Padres.

Managers being fired, the Yankees winning, the Red Sox winning, Reggie Jackson, Mark McGwire and Ed Sprague homering…there have been lots of interesting events on this day in baseball history.

May 12

Game 30, 2022

Phillies at Dodgers, 7:10 PM PDT, TV: NBCSP, SPNLA

The Fighting Phils send RHP Zack Wheeler (1-3, 4.10 ERA) to the Dodger Stadium mound to face the Dodgers’ LHP Tyler Anderson (3-0, 2.78 ERA). Two of Wheeler’s first three starts were pretty bad, but in his last two he hasn’t allowed a run in 13 2/3 innings. In Anderson’s last two starts, both wins, he’s gone 5 innings. His first two appearances were in relief of Gonsolin by design.

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1956 At Ebbets Field, Carl Erskine tosses his second career no-hitter when he holds the crosstown rival Giants hitless in the Dodgers’ 3-0 victory. The right-handed ‘Oisk’ also threw a no-no against the Cubs in 1952.
  • 1958 In a 12-3 rout of their West Coast rival, Willie Mays homers twice against the Dodgers in the LA Memorial Coliseum contest. The ‘Say Hey Kid’s’ second round-tripper, a fifth-inning shot off Ed Roebuck, is the first grand slam ever hit by a San Francisco Giant.
  • 1979 Bill Murray, anchorman on Saturday Night Live Weekend Update reports 42 year-old Chico Escuela (a fictional baseball player portrayed by Garrett Morris) has informed the Mets that he is quitting baseball. Although baseball has been “berra berra good…” to him, a crushing blow off the bat of Dodger first baseman Steve Garvey into the Dominican’s infielder’s crotch ends an inspiring comeback.
  • 1990 Blanking the Dodgers at Shea Stadium, 7-0, Frank Viola gets his seventh consecutive win from the start of the season. The Mets southpaw sets a franchise record of nine straight victories, dating back to his past two decisions last season.
  • 2004 In one of the most remarkable at-bats in big league history, Alex Cora fouls off 14 consecutive pitches and then hits the 18th thrown to him by the Cubs’ Matt Clement over the right-field fence for a two-run home run which doubles LA’s lead to 4-0. The Dodger Stadium crowd cheered each foul ball, watching the increasing total displayed on the scoreboard.

  • 2015 Giancarlo Stanton becomes the fourth player to hit a home run out of Dodger Stadium, joining Mark McGwire (1999), Mike Piazza (1997), and Willie Stargell, who accomplished the feat twice (1969, 1973). The jaw-dropping first-inning blast off Mike Bolsinger, estimated to have traveled 475 feet, proves to be the only bright spot in the Marlins’ 11-1 loss to LA at Chavez Ravine.

Liineups when available.

Jun 16

Game 68, 2021

Phillies at Dodgers, 7:10 PM PDT, TV: MLBN (out-of-market only), NBCSP, SPNLA

RHP Zack Wheeler (4-3, 2.29 ERA) goes for the Phillies and LHP Clayton Kershaw (8-5, 3.39 ERA) pitches for the Dodgers. Wheeler has gone seven innings in eight of his last nine starts; in his last one he went eight scoreless innings and struck out twelve. Kershaw had a couple of bad starts but in his last one he went six innings and gave up just one unearned run.

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1933 Last year’s National League batting champ, Lefty O’Doul, and pitcher Watty Clark, a 20-game winner last season, are traded by the Dodgers to the Giants for first baseman Sam Leslie. Brooklyn’s newest infielder will bat .311 during his three seasons with the team, before returning to New York in 1936.

Lineup:

Sep 15

Game 151, 2019

Dodgers at Mets, 4:00 PM PDT, TV: ESPN

RHP Walker Buehler (13-3, 3.14 ERA) comes off one of his best games of the year, a four-hit, eleven-strikeout gem over seven shutout innings which pushed the Dodgers over the line to win the Division Championship on Tuesday. He’ll face the Mets’ RHP Zack Wheeler (11-7, 4.21 ERA), who’s been on a roll recently, posting a 1.50 ERA over his last three starts despite opponents hitting .300 against him during that stretch.

Here’s Muncy’s slide to first base after Ramos hit the ball off Ryu’s back:

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1946 In Brooklyn, a giant swarm of gnats engulfs Ebbets Field at the end of the fifth inning of the second game of a doubleheader. The nightcap is called due to the bothersome insects and the impending darkness, resulting in a 2-0 Dodger victory over the Cubs.
  • 1950 At Ebbets Field, Cardinal starter Cloyd Boyer hurts his arm while warming up and is replaced by Red Munger. The reliever goes the distance, beating the Dodgers, 6-2, getting credit for a complete game, but not for a game started.
  • 1978 Don Sutton, in front of 47,188 fans at Dodger Stadium, throws a six-hitter to beat Atlanta, 5-0. Los Angeles, with tonight’s attendance, becomes the major league first team in history to draw three million fans at home.
  • 1995 Ozzie Smith takes part in the 1,554th twin killing of his career to set a new big league record for double plays. The Cardinals’ shortstop’s wizardry isn’t enough to prevent the Redbirds’ 7-6 loss to the Dodgers at Busch Stadium.

Lineup: