April 16, 2017

Rich Hill had more trouble with the blister on his finger while Taijuan Walker pitched 5 solid innings for Arizona, as the D’Backs beat the Dodgers 3-1 on Sunday afternoon at the Ravine.

Hill came off the 10-day disabled list on Sunday, after missing some time with a blister on his left middle finger.  However, he re-aggravated the blister after making 54 pitches.  The Dodger left-hander departed after just three innings of work.

The D’Backs got a solo homer from Chris Ianetta in the 3rd inning, followed by a based loaded walk to Jake Lamb, which gave them a 2-0 lead.

The Dodgers got on the board in the 4th inning with an RBI double from Yasiel Puig, which scored Yasmani Grandal.

However, Sergio Romo gave up an RBI single to Paul Goldschmidt in the 7th, which made it 3-1.  That gave the D’Backs all the offense they would need on this day to hold on for the win.

Walker picked up the win to improve to 2-1 on the season.  He struck out 7, while allowing just a single run on four hits and a walk.  Fernando Rodney pitched the 9th inning for Arizona to get his 4th save.

Hill took the loss.  He gave up 2 earned runs on 5 hits in his brief three innings of work.  He was visibly frustrated after the 3rd inning and went straight to the clubhouse.  He returned for the start of the 4th inning, but skipper Dave Roberts and the LA trainer met him on the mound before he threw another pitch.  That’s when he was pulled from the game.

Logan Forsythe did not start for the Dodgers, but he was available to pinch-hit.  After aggravating his right hamstring on Saturday night, he is expected back in the lineup on Monday.

The final game of the four game set will be on Monday evening.  Brandon McCarthy will go for LA, while the Diamondbacks will counter with Robbie Ray.

April 15, 2017

Yasiel Puig hit a 3-run homer and drove in 4 runs, as the Dodgers beat the D’Backs 8-4 on Saturday night at the Ravine.

The Dodgers offensive outbreak was much needed on this night.  They overcame a poor start from Kenta Maeda, and 3 defensive errors to win their 2nd straight game.

Austin Barnes also went deep for LA.  Alex Wood pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings to get the win for the boys in blue, and Kenley Jansen recorded a four-out save.  It was his 3rd save of the season.  Patrick Corbin took the loss for Arizona.

Maeda lasted just four innings, giving up four runs on four hits and striking out five batters.  He departed after throwing 71 pitches.

The Dodgers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the 1st inning on an RBI single from Corey Seager, and a sac fly from Puig.  However, the D’Backs took a 3-2 lead after a 3-run bomb from Nick Ahmed off Madea in the 2nd inning.

Barnes homer tied it at 3-3 in the 2nd inning.  Ahmed made it 4-3 in the 4th inning with an RBI single, and Maeda’s night was over shortly after that.

Seager’s sac fly in the bottom half of the inning tied the game at 4-4, and then Kike Hernandez scored in the 5th on a throwing error to make it 5-4.  The game stayed that way until the 8th inning when Puig delivered the big blow.

The Dodgers honored Jackie Robinson before the game, unveiling a statue outside of Dodger Stadium.  Every player on the field was wearing the number 42 to honor Robinson.

Logan Forsythe left the game for the Dodgers in the 4th inning.  He didn’t seem too concerned about the injury though, saying “It didn’t pop or grab so my level of concern is not high.”

The Dodgers will try to make it three straight on Sunday at the Ravine.  Rich Hill will be back on the mound for LA, and he’ll go up against Taijuan Walker.

April 14, 2017

Clayton Kershaw got the better of former teammate Zack Greinke, and Andrew Toles hit a 2-run shot as the Dodgers beat the D’Backs 7-1 at the Ravine on Friday night.

Kershaw pitched 8 1/3rd innings, giving up 1 run on 4 hits while striking out 8.  The Dodger’ ace improved to 2-1 on the season.

The Dodgers jumped on Greinke early in the game, getting a pair of run-scoring singles from Adrian Gonzales and Logan Forsythe in the 3rd inning.

An RBI double from Justin Turner in the 4th, followed by a sac fly from Yasiel Puig in the 5th made it 5-0.  That was all for Greinke.

Greinke pitched 5 innings, giving up 5 runs on 10 hits.  He walked 3 and struck out 4, and suffered his first loss of the season.

Toles homer in the 8th was the final blow the Dodgers delivered.  Pedro Baez recorded the final two outs of the game for LA in the 9th inning.

Game 2 of the four game set will be on Saturday night at the Ravine.  It will be Kenta Maeda on the mound for LA against Patrick Corbin.

The Dodgers got some good news on Friday as well.  Rich Hill will be coming off the DL on Sunday to make a start against Arizona.  Hill had been suffering from a blister on his left middle finger.

April 13, 2017

The Dodgers still could not get their offense going on Thursday in Chicago, losing to the Cubs 4-0.  Chicago took two out of three from LA in the early season series.

The Cubs deployed left-hander Brett Anderson against the Dodgers, who stifled his former team, pitching 5 shutout innings.  Anderson spent two seasons with the Dodgers, with his 2016 campaign being marred by injuries.  He threw 90 pitches, and gave up only 3 hits to pick up his first win of the season.  He has an E.R.A of 0.84 in his two starts with Chicago.

Chicago took a 1-0 lead on a solo home run from Anthony Rizzo in the 1st inning, and then made it 2-0 on another solo shot from Addison Russell in the 4th.  Those homers came off of Dodger starter Hyun-Jin Ryu, who gave up two run-scoring hits in the 5th to Kyle Schwarber and Rizzo.   That made it 4-0, and it was all the offense the Cubs would need.

Ryu took the loss, lasting 4 2/3rd innings, and giving up all 4 runs on 6 hits.  He fell to 0-2 on the season, and has an E.R.A. of 5.79 in his two starts.

Although Anderson is another left-handed starter that gave the Dodgers trouble, their offensive issues were not limited to just lefties.

LA only generated 3 hits off of Cubs relievers Carl Edwards Jr., Koji Uehara, and Wade Davis, who are all right-handed pitchers.

During their 3-game set with the defending World Series Champions, the Dodgers were just 1-24 with runners in scoring position.  They left 26 runners on base, and they scored just four runs in the three games.

Dodger Manager Dave Robert didn’t seem too concerned.  “We look at our club and we know we’re evenly matched,” he said. “I think they know it as well. They won the series. We’ll get them at our place. They know we’re not going anywhere.”

The Cubs also made some great defensive plays on Thursday.  Corey Seager was robbed by Albert Almora Jr in the 1st inning, who made a spectacular leaping catch on a fly ball hit to the wall.  Two innings later, Seager was robbed again.

Seager came to the plate with two outs and Kike Hernandez at 2nd base in the 3rd inning.  The Dodger shortstop hit another drive to the wall but Albert Almora Jr. leaped at the ivy to make another spectacular catch.

The Dodgers are now 5-5 on the young season.  They’ll return home tomorrow for the first of a four game set against the Diamondbacks.  Game 1 will feature a pair of aces going at it.  Clayton Kershaw gets the ball for the Dodgers, while Arizona will counter with his former teammate, Zack Greinke.

April 12, 2017

The Dodgers got a solo blast from Andrew Toles, and 6 strong innings of work from Brandon McCarthy to defeat the Cubs 2-0 at Wrigley Field on Wednesday night.

McCarthy gave up just four hits while striking out 4 batters in his six innings of shutout ball.  He also collected a win against San Diego last week, so he is now 2-0 on the season.

Tole hit his 1st leadoff home run, which came off of John Lackey.  It was Toles 2nd home run of the season, which gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead all the way until the 9th inning.

The only other run of the game came when Chase Utley scored from 1st base after a dropped third strike and a throwing error.  Utley barreled through Cubs reliever Hector Rondon.

Ross Stripling, Luis Avilan, and Kenley Jansen allowed just 1 hit over the next 3 innings.  Jansen picked up his 2nd save of the season.

The Dodgers will return to action on Thursday afternoon in the rubber game of the 3-game set.  Hyun-Jin Ryu will be on the mound for LA, and he’ll be opposed by former Dodger Brett Anderson.

April 10, 2017

Anthony Rizzo singled against Kenley Jansen in the bottom of the 9th inning on Monday night, and the Cubs beat the Dodgers 3-2.  The game was finally played after a one-hour and 56 minute rain delay.  It was the home opener for the Cubs, which saw them raise their World Series Championship banner at Wrigley Field.

The 9th inning began with a John Jay single off of Sergio Romo.  Tommy La Stella pinch-hit for Wade Davis, then advanced Jay to second base on a groundout to shortstop.  That’s when Jansen came in for Romo.  The Dodger closer would strike out Kris Bryant, and it looked like he might get out of the jam.  However, Jay stole 3rd during Bryant’s at-bat, and Rizzo would single on a 1-1 pitch to give the Cubs the win.

The Cubs jumped out to a 2-0 lead in this one.  Bryant hit an RBI double in the 3rd inning off of Dodgers’ starter Alex Wood.  Wood went just 3 2/3 innings, giving up 1 earned run on 3 hits, and striking out 4.  Cubs’ starter Jon Lester made it 2-0 on an RBI fielder’s choice in the 4th.

However, the Dodgers would answer in the 6th.  Corey Seager doubled to right, scoring Joc Pederson, which got the Dodgers on the board.  In the 8th, Chase Utley reached on a fielder’s choice, which scored Logan Forsythe to tie the game at 2-2.  Utley looked like he was going to hit into a sure double play, but Addison Russell threw the ball away when tossing it over to first base.  The play was reviewed to make sure Justin Turner did not interfere with Russell while sliding into 2nd base, but the umpire ruled that no interference occurred.

Lester pitched six strong innings for the Cubs, allowing just 1 run on 4 hits, and striking out 7.  The Dodgers couldn’t generate much offense against the Cubs’ bullpen.  LA had just 2 hits against 5 different Cubs relievers, and only 1 unearned run to show for it.

The Dodgers had their chances but couldn’t capitalize.  LA was just 1-7 with runners in scoring position, and left 8 men on base.

Game 2 of the series will be on Wednesday night at Wrigley.  The Dodgers will give the ball to Brandon McCarthy, while the Cubs will counter with John Lackey.

April 9, 2017

The Dodgers avoided being swept on Sunday by defeating the Rockies 10-6 at Coors Field.  Corey Seager hit a 2-run homer, Justin Turner added a 2-run double, and the Dodgers finally produced some offense against a left-handed pitcher.

Kenta Maeda pitched five innings, giving up 4 runs on 5 hits, while striking out 5 batters to earn his first win of the season.  Logan Forsythe also had a breakout performance for the boys in blue.  The Dodger 2nd baseman had 3 hits, scored 2 runs, and had an RBI.

Forsythe was acquired to help the Dodgers overcome their issues against left-handers.  Sunday was the first time this season we saw him do just that.

“It was definitely more of a feel thing,” Forsythe said. “Mechanically, it wasn’t anything too different. I just had to try and find that feel again.”

LA blitzed Rockies lefty Tyler Anderson for 5 runs in his 5 innings of work.  That snapped the Rockies  3-game win streak.

“It was big to get a win today, salvage the series and get out of here on that note,” Turner said. “For whatever reason, we always seem to have a tough time playing here.”

The Dodger bullpen held the Rockies scoreless until the 9th, when Kenley Jansen gave up two runs. However, it was too little too late for Colorado.

The Dodgers improved to 4-3 on the season, and now head to Chicago to take on the defending World Series Champions, the Cubs.  It will be a 3-game series with Alex Wood getting the ball for the Dodgers on Monday.  The Cubs will counter with Jon Lester.

April 8, 2017

For the first time in his career, Clayton Kershaw gave up back-to-back home runs as the Rockies defeated the Dodgers 4-2 at Coors Field on Saturday night.

Mark Reynolds and Gerardo Parra hit the back-to-back homers in the 6th inning, extending the Rockies’ lead to 4-1, which the Dodgers would never recover from.  Nolan Arenado also homered for Colorado.  The three home runs were the most Kershaw had surrendered since 2013.

“I didn’t know that,” Kershaw said. “That was cool, for a little bit, I guess. You never expect to give up home runs.”

Kershaw gave up 8 home runs in 21 starts last year.  In his first two starts, he’s already surrendered 4.

The Dodgers meager offensive output continued to be a problem as well on Saturday.  Their only offense consisted of a solo home run from Andrew Toles in the 5th inning that tied the game 1-1, and an RBI single from Adrian Gonzales in the 8th inning.  After some explosive offensive outputs against the Padres, the Dodgers have just three runs in their last two games.

“It’s not from lack of effort,” skipper Dave Roberts said. “We’re going to hit. We’re going to score runs. I don’t think we’re too concerned over these first two games.”

LA couldn’t get the bats going against Jon Gray, who gave up just 1 run on 4 hits in a little over 5 innings of work.  Mike Dunn recorded two outs in the 6th inning to earn the win, and Greg Holland pitched a perfect 9th inning to earn his 4th save of the season.

The Dodgers will try to avoid getting swept on Sunday afternoon at Coors Field.  Kenta Maeda will be on the hill for LA, and the Rockies will go with Tyler Anderson.

April 7, 2017

The Dodger struggles against left-handed pitching continued on Friday in Colorado.   This time it was Rockies lefty Kyle Freeland leading Colorado to a 2-1 win at Coors Field.

Freeland pitched six strong innings, and gave up just one run on four hits.  Colorado also got a solo homer from Dustin Garneau in the 5th off of Hyun-Jin Ryu.

Ryu only went 4 2/3 innings but had an encouraging start after sitting out much of the last two seasons with injury.  Ryu gave up two runs on six hits and struck out five, while throwing 77 pitches.

The Dodgers only run of the game came on an RBI ground out from Kike Hernandez in the fourth inning.  Nolan Arenado gave the Rockies a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI double off Ryu.

Both bullpens, as expected, were effective.  Ross Stripling, Josh Fields, and Grant Dayton retired all 10 batters they faced.

The Rockies bullpen got three scoreless innings of their own, with Jake McGee pitching a scoreless ninth for the save, his first of the year.

The Dodgers stacked the lineup with 7 right-handed hitters and switch-hitting Yasmani Grandal.  It didn’t help though, as the Dodgers were 0-5 with runners in scoring position.

Before the game, LA placed Rich Hill on the 10-day DL with another pitching blister.

Game 2 of the series will be tomorrow night.  Clayton Kershaw gets the ball for LA, and he’ll go up against Jon Gray.

April 6, 2017

The Dodgers got a pair of home runs from Yasiel Puig and beat up the Padres 10-2 on Thursday.  It was the final game of a four game set with San Diego, in which the Dodgers took 3 of the 4 games.

Brandon McCarthy got his first win in his first start of the season.  McCarthy went 6 innings, giving up 2 runs on 4 hits, while striking out 4. Luis Avilan and Chris Hatcher shut down the Padres the rest of the way.

The Padres only offense came on a 2-run homer from Wil Myers in the 6th, off of McCarthy. The Dodger right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery in 2015 and suffered from a case of the yips last year.

Dodgers’ outfielder Joc Pederson was ejected in the seventh inning after he slammed his bat and helmet after being called out on strikes.

Puig’s two homers came off of former Angel Jered Weaver, who was making his Padres debut. Weaver went 5 innings, allowing 4 runs on 5 hits.

The Dodgers will now travel to Colorado to take on the Rockies for a 3 game set. LA will give the ball to Hyun-Jin Ryu, while the Rockies counter with Kyle Freeland.