June 9, 2017

Justin Turner came off the disabled list and hit a 2-run homer in the 1st inning, as the Dodgers dominated the Reds 7-2 on Friday night at Chavez Ravine.

Enrique Hernandez had a solo shot and Franklin Gutierrez added a 2-run single, as the Boys in Blue won their 2nd straight game.

“It just feels good to be back in there,” Turner said. “I used Cody Bellinger’s bat. There must be home runs in it.”

The Dodgers got 5 solid innings from Rich Hill, who improved to 3-2 on the season.   He allowed just 1 run on 2 hits.

Kenta Maeda pitched the final four innings for LA out of the bullpen.   He retired his first nine Reds until Joey Votto led off the ninth with his 17th home run.  Maeda allowed three hits, all in the ninth, did not walk a batter and struck out six.  He was credited the save.

Yasiel Puig, Adrian Gonzales, and Yasmani Grandal were all held out of the starting lineup for rest.  Puig came into the game in the 6th inning, and batted twice, but was 0-2.

Alex Wood (6-0, 1.69 ERA) is scheduled to come off the DL Saturday and take his 23 1/3- scoreless-inning streak against the Reds.   Asher Wojciechowski (1-0, 4.50 ERA), is scheduled to make his third start of the season for Cincinnati.

June 7, 2017

Yasmani Grandal came through with an RBI double in the 6th inning, and Clayton Kershaw outdueled Stephen Strasberg with seven strong innings, as the Dodgers edged the Nationals 2-1 on Wednesday afternoon at Chavez Ravine.

Kershaw improved to 8-2 on the season, allowing just three hits while striking out nine batters.  The only run he allowed was a solo homer by Ryan Zimmerman in the 2nd inning.

Pedro Baez came recorded the first two outs of the 8th inning, then Kenley Jansen recorded the final four outs of the game for his 10th save in 10 opportunities.

Strasberg was brilliant as well, despite falling to 7-2.  He allowed three hits while striking out eight Dodgers in six innings of work.  However, LA finally broke through against him in that 6th inning.

With two outs, Corey Seager hit a solo homer 422-feet over the center field wall.  The next batter was Adrian Gonzales, who appeared to strikeout, but was able to reach 1st base safely on a pass ball.  He would advance to 2nd on a wild pitch, setting the stage for Grandal to bring him home with a double into the left center field gap.

The Nationals had a great chance to tie the game in the 8th inning, but the Dodgers escaped with the lead.

Trea Turner lead off the inning with a triple.  Ryan Raburn struck out, then Baez snagged a ball hit off the bat off Bryce Harper, catching Turner in a rundown.  Jansen came in to retire Zimmerman on another comebacker.

In the 9th, Jansen worked around a lead off single from Daniel Murphy, who later stole 2nd base, to end the Nationals final threat.

Jansen is having a remarkable start to the season.  He has now appeared in 23 games this season, pitching 24 1/3 innings.  He has an ERA of 1.11, a WHIP of 0.66, 42 strikeouts, and has not walked a batter.

The Dodgers will now have an off day, then begin a 3-game set on Friday night against the Reds at the Ravine.  Rich Hill (2-2, 4.15 ERA) gets the start for LA.  Amir Garrett (3-4, 7.17 ERA) will go for Cincy.

June 6, 2017

Max Scherzer pitched 7 strong innings to improve his record to 7-3, as the Nationals defeated the Dodgers 2-1 on Tuesday night at Chavez Ravine.

Scherzer allowed just one run on three hits while striking out 14 Dodgers, during a spectacular 105-pitch performance.

Oliver Perez pitched a scoreless 8th inning, while Koda Glover recorded his 8th save of the season after pitching the 9th inning.

Glover allowed a one out single to Chris Taylor, who stole 2nd after Logan Forsythe flied out.  However, Yasiel Puig struck out swinging to end the game.

Puig and Glover exchanged words after the final out, but the war or words was quickly broken up by their teammates, some of whom poured out of the dugout.

Brandon McCarthy (5-3) took the loss despite pitching well.  He also went 7 innings in an efficient 87-pitch effort.  He allowed 2 runs on 3 hits.  He struck out 4 and walked 2.  Pedro Baez, Grant Dayton, and Chris Hatcher combined to pitch the final two shutout innings, allowing just one hit in that stretch.

The Nationals two runs came on a pair of sac flys.  Bryce Harper had one in the 1st inning to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead, and Daniel Murphy would add another in the 4th for the decisive run.

The Dodgers’ only run came on an RBI single from Adrian Gonzales in the 1st inning.  That scored, Chase Utley, but it was only one of four hits on the night for LA.

The Boys In Blue left 7 men on base, and were just 1-10 with runners in scoring position on the evening.

The Dodgers will try to avoid the sweep on Wednesday afternoon in what will be a star-studded pitching matchup at the Ravine.  Clayton Kershaw (7-2, 2.28 ERA) gets the ball for LA, while the Nationals counter with Stephen Strasberg (7-1, 2.91 ERA).

June 5, 2017

Anthony Rendon homered and Bryce Harper had an RBI single for his first hit in 16 at-bats, as the Nationals beat the Dodgers 4-2 on Monday night at Chavez Ravine.

The loss snapped a 5-game win streak the Dodgers had against the Nationals at Dodger Stadium.  It was also the 2nd straight loss for the Boys in Blue.

Gio Gonzales improved to 5-1 on the season, pitching 6 innings and giving up 2 runs on 4 hits.  Gonzales walked 2 and struck out 5 in a 107-pitch performance.

Oliver Perez recorded the final out of the game for his 3rd career save.  Perez struck out Yasmani Grandal with a man aboard to end the Dodgers’ final threat.

The Dodgers scored both their runs in the sixth. Chris Taylor doubled in one and Franklin Gutierrez had an RBI groundout.

Hyun-jin Ryu started for LA, falling to 2-6.  He went a season-high seven innings, but allowed four runs and seven hits. He did not walk a batter and struck out four.

Rendon’s solo shot in the 2nd gave the Nationals a 1-0 lead.  Matt Wieters delivered a 2-run single in the 4th, followed by Harper’s run-scoring single in the 5th.

The Dodgers and Nationals will do it again Tuesday night at the Ravine.  Brandon McCarthy (5-2, 3.38 ERA) will try to get LA back in the win column.  Max Scherzer (6-3, 2.56 ERA) will go for the Nats.