June 10, 2017

Corey Seager delivered a walk-off RBI double, scoring Yasiel Puig in the bottom of the 9th inning, as the Dodgers got by the Reds 5-4 on Saturday night at Chavez Ravine.

Seager hit a ball to left field which caused outfielder Scooter Gennett to dive for the ball and miss it.  The ball bounced up against the fence, which allowed Puig to score easily and win the game for LA.

Kenley Jansen pitched a scoreless 9th inning to improve to 4-0 on the season.

The Dodgers built a 4-0 and 4-1 before giving it all back to the Reds.  Josh Fields came into the game to relieve Alex Wood in the 6th inning.  He came into the game with two on and two out.

Devin Mesoraco greeted Fields with a 3-run homer, tying the game at 4-4.  It was his 5th long ball of the season.

The Dodgers built a 3-0 lead against Reds’ starter  Asher Wojciechowski in the 1st inning.  Seager drove in Chase Utley with an RBI double, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Adrian Gonzales.  Cody Bellinger drilled his 13th homer of the season to cap the 1st inning rally.

Former Dodger Jose Peraza got the Reds on the board in the 3rd inning with an RBI single.  That snapped a 27-inning scoreless streak by Wood.

Wood went 5 2/3 innings, and was charged with 3 runs on 5 hits.  He struck out seven, but did not factor into the decision.

Wojciechowski gave up four runs on 6 hits and 5 innings of work.  Drew Soren (1-2) took the loss after allowing two one out singles in the 9th.

The Dodgers will go for the sweep on Sunday afternoon at the Ravine.  Hyun-Jin Ryu (2-6, 4.08 ERA) will be on the mound for LA.  Tim Adleman (4-2, 4.42 ERA).

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.

June 4, 2017

Zach Davies pitched a 3-hit shutout into the 7th inning, improving his record to 6-3, as the Brewers blanked the Dodgers 3-0 on Sunday afternoon at Miller Park.  The win helped Milwaukee avert a 3-game sweep.

The Brewers got solo home runs from Eric Thames and Domingo Santana.  Eric Sogard delivered an RBI single as well.

Kenta Maeda lasted only 4 innings, giving up 2 runs on 2 hits.  He fell to 4-3 on the season, throwing 92 pitches, striking 7 and walking 3.

The Dodgers didn’t get a runner to second until Adrian Gonzalez and Cody Bellinger opened the seventh with singles that chased Davies.  However, Yasmani Grandal bounced into a double play and Austin Barnes flied out.

Corey Knebel struck out the side around a walk for his fifth save.

The Dodgers return home to open a 3-game series on Monday with the Nationals.   LHP Hyun Jin Ryu (2-5) taking the hill for LA.  Gio Gonzales (4-1, 3.03 ERA) goes for the Nats.

June 3, 2017

Chris Taylor delivered the go-ahead grand slam home run in the 9th inning, as the Dodgers outlasted the Brewers 10-8 on Saturday afternoon at Miller Park.

Taylor drilled a 2-2 pitch over the center field wall off of Carlos Torres with one out, capping a 5-run 9th inning for LA.

The Dodgers trailed 8-4 in the 8th inning, but Yasiel Puig hit into a run-scoring force out to get within three runs of the Brewers.  With one out in the 9th, Corey Seager walked, then Yasmani Grandal reached on a throwing error by Milwaukee first baseman Jesus Aguilar, who threw to second base to try and get Seager but hit him in the back instead.

Pinch-hitter Austin Barnes walked, then Cody Bellinger followed with another walk that forced in a run.  That set the stage for Taylor, who homered off the batters’ eye behind the center-field fence.

Brandon Morrow (2-0) got credit for the win after striking out the side in the 8th inning.  Kenley Jansen allowed a one out single in the 9th inning, but came away unscathed for his 9th save in 9 opportunities.

Dodgers’ starter Rich Hill needed 97 pitches to get through four innings, allowing three runs — two earned — three hits and four walks.

Matt Garza started for the Brewers, giving up two runs – one earned, on three hits in four innings of work.  He left the game with a bruised chest after colliding with Aguilar after Cody Bellinger’s grounder in the 4th.  He remained in the game, but the Brewers pinch-hit for him in the bottom half of the inning. Torres (2-4) took the loss after giving up all 5 runs in the 9th inning.

The Brewers got solo homers from Aguilar and Hernan Perez, as well as a grand slam from Travis Shaw which helped them build the 8-4 lead.

The win improved the Dodgers to 35-22 on the season, and kept them .5 games in front of the Rockies for 1st place in the NL West.

The Dodgers will go for the sweep tomorrow afternoon at Miller Park.  Kenta Maeda (4-2, 5.21 ERA) gets the ball for the Blue Crew, while the Brewers counter with Zach Davies (5-3, 5.18 ERA).

June 2, 2017

Cody Bellinger hit a go-ahead solo homer in the 12th inning and the Dodger pitchers tied a major league record with 26 strikeouts, as they defeated the Brewers 2-1 in extra innings on Friday night at Miller Park.

Clayton Kershaw pitched 7 strong innings for LA, giving up just 1 run on two hits, and striking out 14 batters.  The only run he gave up was a solo blast to Domingo Santana.  The Brewers held that 1-0 lead until the 9th inning.

That’s when Yasmani Grandal delivered a solo homer to tie the game at 1-1.  With one out, he hit a 3-1 pitch into the right field stands off of Corey Knebel.

Pedro Baez, Grant Dayton, and Kenley Jansen combine to pitch the rest of the way for LA, giving up just 3 hits and striking out 12 more Brewers combined.

Jansen (3-0) got the win after pitching the final two innings.  He avoided trouble in the bottom of the 12th after Jonathan Villar hustled to 2nd base for a one out double.  He would later steal 3rd base, but Orlando Arcia struck out and Travis Shaw popped out to Corey Seager to end the game.

Neftali Feliz (1-5) took the loss after giving up the home run to Bellinger in the 12th.  The homer was also the 12th of the season for Bellinger, which is as many home runs as his father hit in 311 career at-bats.  Bellinger now has 135 career at-bats.

Jimmy Nelson started for Milwaukee and pitched well.  He threw 8 shutout innings, giving up just 5 hits and striking out 11 Dodgers.  He did not walk anybody and threw 101 pitches.

The Dodgers are Brewers will go at it again tomorrow afternoon at Miller Park.  Rich Hill (2-2, 4.09 ERA) goes to the mound for the boys in blue.  Matt Garza (2-2, 3.98 ERA) will be on the hill for the brew crew.

June 1, 2017

Adam Wainwright hit a 2-run homer in the 2nd inning and pitched 6 shutout innings, as the Cardinals blanked the Dodgers 2-0 on Thursday afternoon at Busch Stadium.  The Dodgers and Cardinals split  their four game series.

With 2 outs in the 2nd inning, Wainwright drilled a 2-2 pitch over the left field wall.  It came with Paul DeJong standing on 2nd base, after singling earlier in the inning, then advancing to 2nd on a groundout.

Wainwright improved to 6-3, allowing just four Dodger hits.  He has not allowed a run in his last 16 1/3 innings.

Matt Bowman, Trevor Rosenthal and Seung Hwan Oh pitched an inning each to complete a five-hitter. Oh threw a one-hit ninth for his 13th save in 15 chances.

The Dodgers managed to get two on with just one out in both the 4th and 5th inning.  However, they could not capitalize against Wainwright.

Brandon McCarthy (5-2) took the loss.  He gave up just the two runs on on seven hits.  He was removed from the game after four innings, leaving with a blister.

Adrian Gonzalez and Yasmani Grandal were ejected in the ninth by plate umpire Marty Foster.  Each of them struck out, then Austin Barnes popped out to end the game. Gonzales was ejected after yelling from the dugout.

“Once he threw me out, I might as well go out there and let him have a little more,” Gonzalez said. “The funniest thing is he told Dave (Roberts) afterwards that he’s been calling pitches off the plate all game, so he wasn’t going to change.”

The Dodgers will now head to Milwaukee for a 3-game set with the Brewers beginning Friday.   Clayton Kershaw (7-2, 2.37) will be on the mound for LA.  The Brew Crew will counter with Jimmy Nelson (3-3, 3.83 ERA).

May 31, 2017

Dexter Fowler hit the go-ahead solo home run in the 8th inning off of Ross Striping, as the Cardinals defeated the Dodgers 2-1 on Wednesday night at Busch Stadium.  The Cards win snapped the Dodgers six-game win streak.

Fowler’s home run came on a 2-0 pitch with 2 outs in the 8th.  The ball was drilled 429 feet into the right field stands.

Dodgers lefty Hyun–Jin Ryu made one of his best starts of the season, allowing just one run in six innings in his return to the rotation.

“He did have a really good look in his eye,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Ryu. “The change was really good. He was throwing a little cutter in on right-handers and the fastball played up and it was as much velocity as we’ve seen this year from Hyun-Jin.”

The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead against Ryu on an RBI double by Paul DeJong in the 2nd inning.  However, LA tied it up on a sacrifice fly by Adrian Gonzales, scoring Corey Seager.

Carlos Martinez (4-4) got the win after allowing one run on four hits while striking out nine, in eight innings of work.  Seung-Hwan Oh pitched a scoreless 9th inning for his 12th save in 14 opportunities.

Brandon McCarthy (5-1, 3.28 ERA) will start for the Dodgers in Thursday’s series finale at 10:45 a.m. PT.  He’ll go up against Adam Wainwright (5-3, 4.20 ERA) of St. Louis.