Monday, April 15, 2019

Series Thread (Games 18-20): Apr 15-17 vs. Reds

With Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp back in town, will the Dodgers step up and bury a friend?

Mon 7p: Clayton Kershaw vs. Luis Castillo (1-1. 0.92)
Tue 7p: Kenta Maeda (2-1, 4.76) vs. Tyler Mahle (0-0, 0.82)
Wed 12n: TBD vs. Sonny Gray (0-2, 2.03)

I guess I should have used last week's series thread photo for this series, given we're seeing the Reds and everything. But I suppose I'm just too surprised that we actually won a game Sunday, our first win in seven games against NL Central teams, who seem to be more formidable opponents than the cushy NL West teams we've played. Amazingly, the Dodgers' plummet to Earth still has us only 2.0 GB the league-leading Padres (I can't believe I just typed those last three words in succession), so it's not inconceivable that we could find ourselves back in first before the end of this homestand Wednesday. (The Padres host the 4-12 Rockies for a quick two-game two-step.)

This series also gives us the opportunity to see an inevitable video montage of Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp on Monday night; after all, the Dodgers gave passed-ball king Yasmani Grandal a video tribute on Friday. Both Puig and Kemp were so instrumental to the Dodgers' 2018 run, not to mention the Dodgers' teams over the past years, that it's inevitable to be a little nostalgic. Let's hope A.J. Pollock, whose batting average has slipped from .324 to .242 over the past 8 games (excluding Sunday's game, in which he went 2-for-5), continues to get back on track and make us forget about these two outfielders.

Oh, and we've got some new guy making his first start of the year on Monday night, Jackie Robinson Day. Good luck to him!

54 comments:

QuadSevens said...

Any chance that Kershaw brushes back Puig for a laugh?

QuadSevens said...

Puig, Kemp, and Farmer in the Reds lineup for tonight.

QuadSevens said...

Game 1

42 Pederson LF
42 Seager SS
42 Turner 3B
42 Bellinger RF
42 Pollock CF
42 Muncy 1B
42 Hernandez 2B
42 Barnes C
42 Kershaw P

QuadSevens said...

Puig, Kemp, and Farmer come into today with the three lowest averages for Reds position players. Let's hope a familiar place doesn't get them going.

spank said...

in honest sincerity i hope Kershaw does good tonight but i'm gonna troll the fuck out of him because that's just my nature. outta respect for my homies here on SoSG i'm gonna do said trolling somewheres else. epale,godspeed and vodka.

QuadSevens said...

Puig won the first battle. 2 run bomb to center.

QuadSevens said...

Bellinger got a ground rule double to bring in a run.

QuadSevens said...

Kershaw struck out Puig in his second at bat.

QuadSevens said...

Bellinger took a fastball off his knee and left the game. He was pissed!

QuadSevens said...

Verdugo up in Bellinger’s spot. We’re down 2-1 in the fifth.

QuadSevens said...

Rancho ardiendo!

QuadSevens said...

Pollock draws the walk. Tied up!

QuadSevens said...

Muncy down swinging. Kiké up now.

QuadSevens said...

Flyout to center. 2-2 at the end of 5.

QuadSevens said...

Kershaw is through seven. Just the 2 runs in the first against him.

spank said...

kenley hung that curve

spank said...

puig vs. kenly. should be fun

spank said...

heh. no comment. gotta love ex dodgers though ....right?

QuadSevens said...

Kemp gets the RBI against Kenley. Puig and Kemp killing us tonight.

spank said...

gotta love Joco

QuadSevens said...

Take that Ex Dodgers!

spank said...

Cincinnati Exes?

Steve Sax said...

Huge win. PGT up.

Steve Sax said...

Game 2

Joc Pederson L LF
Corey Seager L SS
Max Muncy L 3B
Kike Hernandez R 2B
Alex Verdugo L F
David Freese R 1B
Chris Taylor R CF
Rocky Gale R C
Kenta Maeda R P

Bellinger, Turner sitting because both are nursing injuries (knee; ankle)

Steve Sax said...

Rocky Gale, in game #5 for the Dodgers, still in search of his first Dodgers hit (0-for-6)

Steve Sax said...

For the Reds: Votto leadoff; Puig cleanup, and Kemp in the five-hole.

Steve Sax said...

LAD 6, CIN 1. WIN

Steve Sax said...

Get ready for the early game tomorrow!

QuadSevens said...

GAME 3

Pederson LF
Bellinger 1B
Pollock CF
Muncy 3B
Hernandez 2B
Verdugo RF
Taylor SS
Barnes C
Buehler P

QuadSevens said...

No Turner, but Bellinger is back. Day game means more dingers!

Steve Sax said...

Thanks Quad for the lineup!

Steve Sax said...

I am unfortunately not at the Stadium today

QuadSevens said...

Anytime Sax. I'm "working" from home today. But need to leave around 2pm.

Steve Sax said...

Six pitches in, Buehler can't find the strike zone.

Five-pitch walk to Votto, 1-1 count now to Puig.

Steve Sax said...

Puig Ks, and then two fly outs to strand a runner at first. 0-0 through 0.5

Steve Sax said...

Dodgers go feebly in the first. 0-0

Steve Sax said...

Top 4 and there's no score.

Buehler has a one-hitter spinning. Sonny Gray has a no-hitter.

QuadSevens said...

Bellinger with a sharp single to right to break up the perfecto.

QuadSevens said...

And on the very next pitch, Pollock GIDP. Dammit!

QuadSevens said...

Reds manager tossed after arguing with the home plate umpire about a low called strike for Buehler.

QuadSevens said...

Buehler is through 6. Still scoreless.

QuadSevens said...

Barnes leads off the sixth with a 4 pitch walk. Buehler up.

QuadSevens said...

Barnes steals second, but Buehler strikes out trying to bunt him over to third.

QuadSevens said...

Joc down on strikes, Bellinger intentionally walked, POLLOCK BOMB! 3-0 Dodgers!

QuadSevens said...

Puig and Kemp with singles for the Reds. One down, and Buehler is coming out.

QuadSevens said...

Alexander's first pitch gets away from Barnes. Runners now on second and third.

QuadSevens said...

Alexander gets a ground ball out. Puig in to score, Baez coming in. 3-1 Dodgers.

Steve Sax said...

Just saw the highlight HR. Pollock went deep! Glad to see him get it as well, as he's been struggling.

That allows the Dodgers to tie the MLB record: 32 consecutive games with a HR

Steve Sax said...

Sorry, 32 consecutive HOME games

Steve Sax said...

from mlb.com

The 1999 Colorado Rockies, who called hitter’s haven Coors Field home, also managed homers in 32 straight home games, spanning from April 19 through July 3. No other team has exceeded 24 consecutive home games with a home run.

The Dodgers will have to wait to try to break the record, as they embark on a seven-game road trip to Milwaukee and Chicago starting on Thursday. They’ll get that chance when they return to Dodger Stadium on Friday, April 26, against the Pirates.

Steve Sax said...

Going to the bottom of the ninth, 3-1 LA

Steve Sax said...

Reds score one but Barnes catches a Suarez foul out to stop the bleeding.

LA 3, CIN 2 FINAL

Steve Sax said...

S W E E P ! ! !

QuadSevens said...

Sweep! Woohoo!