Tuesday, August 07, 2018

Series Thread (Games 114-115): August 7-8 @ Athletics

Tuesday 8/7 7p: Rich Hill (4-4, 3.63) vs. Sean Manaea (10-7, 3.38)
Wednesday 8/8 7p: Clayton Kershaw (5-5, 2.55) vs. Brett Anderson (2-3, 4.64) Mike Fiers (7-6, 3.48)

First off, I don't like calling these two-game escapades a "series." It's like calling a one-night stand a "relationship."

But all the talk is going to be about Rich Hill's return to Oakland (67-46 on the year, five games better than the Dodgers' 62-51 record), given it was the last team on which Hill pitched (in 2016), and he hasn't faced them since. But what about our opposing starter, and why isn't he getting more press? So Manaea vowels in his name! Why isn't that getting more press?

Manaea is no slouch, having pitched a no-hitter against eh Red Sox on April 21 of this year, when Boston had a winning percentage of .894, making them the best team to ever be no-hit. Strangely, Manaea's feat only had him share the AL Player of the Week award...along with Manny Machado (11-for-22 with five HR, two doubles, eight RBI, seven runs scored). I'd be happy if Machado could erupt like that again in Oakland tonight.

Dodgers start the day a half-game back of first place Arizona, who is also two games in front of the Rockies.

43 comments:

Orel said...

GAME 1
Dozier 2B
Machado SS
Turner 3B
Hernández CF
Kemp DH
Taylor LF
Bellinger 1B
Puig RF
Barnes C
(Hill P)

QuadSevens said...

Dodgers up 1-0 in the second. Runners on the corners now with Barnes coming up.

QuadSevens said...

Safety squeeze! 2-0 us!

Orel said...

You can squeeze if you want to!

QuadSevens said...

@Orel

I'm picturing Pauly Shore dancing around in Biodome now. Ha!

QuadSevens said...

Bellinger with a 2 out RBI single makes it 3-0 Dodgers and chases Manaeaeaeaea!

Steve Sax said...

Hill gives up a meatball, so davis hits a two-run HR to center. 3-2 LA

Steve Sax said...

We also wasted opportunities in the top of the sixth

Steve Sax said...

Phillies up 5-0 on AZ in the eighth

Steve Sax said...

Now 5-2 in AZ. Not good.

Meanwhile, Joc with a leadoff double and Kemp with a RBI single. Puig GIDPs so it’s 4-2 LA.

Steve Sax said...

We wasted a two-out double by Machado in the top of the eighth. Still 4-2 in B8, two away and no one on.

Steve Sax said...

Going to the ninth, 4-2 LA

Steve Sax said...

Someone needs to give Charley Steiner a Pantone 294 membership, about which he keeps discussing longingly like a guy in a desert searching for water

Steve Sax said...

Familia in (the Athletics' sixth pitcher). He Ks Pederson on a 3-2 count. One out.

Steve Sax said...

Dodgers go 1-2-3 in T9. Here we go.

Steve Sax said...

Martini Ks swinging

Olsen Ks looking.

Two out, Piscotty up

Steve Sax said...

WIN! Piscotty grounds to third on the first pitch.

Dodgers win 4-2!

Steve Sax said...

Dodgers back in first place by a half-game.

Steve Sax said...

Rich Hill gets the win, Jansen gets his 32nd save.

Steve Sax said...

Back in first.

Bellinger might be swinging ok again?!

Kemp had a good game, too (9-pitch AB; worked a walk; RBI single). He needed it.

Steve Sax said...

Wednesday: Arizona up 4-0 on the Phillies through 5

Orel said...

GAME 2
Pederson LF
Machado 3B
Turner DH
Grandal C
Dozier 2B
Bellinger CF
Puig RF
Muncy 1B
Taylor SS
(Kershaw P)

Steve Sax said...

6-0 AZ T9

Steve Sax said...

It's all done in AZ, who has climbed back into a tie for first with us.

Orel said...

Thanks Philly

Steve Sax said...

1-2-3 inning for Fiers. 0-0 through 0.5

Steve Sax said...

Kershaw gets the first batter when Machado's deflection goes to Taylor for a 5-6-3 groundout.

Next batter reaches on a single to left. One out

Steve Sax said...

Full count, Lowrie flies to center for out #2

Steve Sax said...

Clayton escapes with a fly out to Puig.

Fiers Ks Grandal for his third K in the first four batters

Steve Sax said...

Bellinger Ks for the third out in the second. We look very weak against Fiers. And Clayton doesn't look sharp.

Steve Sax said...

Clayton allows a base hit but gets out of the third unscathed.

0-0 through 3

Steve Sax said...

Fiers is owning us (remember, he no-hit us before). 7 Ks in the first 10 batters.

Steve Sax said...

Machado gives one a ride to center but it flies out.

Steve Sax said...

Two-out RBI single by Piscotty. 1-0 OAK

Steve Sax said...

Puig fucking loses the ball in the lights, bloop single falls in front of him. 2-0 Oakland.

Oakland crowd sounds loud tonight, whereas last night it was all Pantone 294

Steve Sax said...

2-0 through 4. We look pathetic at the plate though.

Steve Sax said...

Just two pitches prior, he popped one up behind the plate that looked bad. He frickin rocked this one.

Steve Sax said...

There goes the no-hitter, Mike!

Steve Sax said...

Dammit, we tied it but now it’s 3-2 Oakland, B8

Steve Sax said...

Belli, Puig, Muncy in the ninth.

Steve Sax said...

Puig, one-out walk

Steve Sax said...

We lose.

Steve Sax said...

Boooooooo