Friday, June 04, 2021

Series Thread (Games 57-59): June 4-6 @ Braves

Fri 6/4 4.20p: Julio Urias vs. Anderson
Sat 6/5 4.15p: Clayton Kershaw vs. Morton
Sun 6/6 10.20a: Trevor Bauer vs. Fried

Ah, the Braves, who took us to seven games in the 2020 NLCS but dropped the last three games of that series to send us to the World Series. Marcell Ozuna isn't in the lineup. But the Braves are still in second place in the east (to the Mets) despite their 26-28 record, and we know they've got a bone to pick with the Dodgers.

I predict we'll win the series. Watching those highlights again gets me as pumped as our 11-run first inning on Wednesday (but keep your shoulder in its socket, Cody!).

Wow, I still get chills watching those highlights. Amazing.

56 comments:

Steve Sax said...

GAME 1

Betts RF
Muncy 1B
Turner 3B
Bellinger CF
Smith C
CT3 2B
Lux SS
Pollock LF
Urias P

The return of Pollock!

Steve Sax said...

Oh, and there's a Red Sox - Yankees game on now. Yawn.

This one is much better.

Steve Sax said...

Dodgers behind early on a Freddie Freeman first inning solo shot. But despite Urias looking unsettled, the dodgers stay close and now have scored two in the top of the fifth to take the lead.

Steve Sax said...

Dodgers took two walks to score two more. Still top 5, 4-1 LA with two out

Steve Sax said...

Smith with a hit scores another! 5-1 LA

Steve Sax said...

CT3 clears the bases! 8-1 LA

Steve Sax said...

Dodgers sent 12 batters to the plate that inning. 8-1 LA, mid-5

Steve Sax said...

Dodgers falling apart here. Horrible Lux error, among other things, leads to four runs for the braves. It’s 8-5 through 8.

😬

Steve Sax said...

Betts golfs one to left for a double! First hit of the game for 🐄🔑

Steve Sax said...

Mookie skips to third in a wild pitch. None out, B9

Steve Sax said...

Mookie comes to score on another wild pitch! Very close play but Matzek whiffed on the tag. 9-5 LA, none out

Steve Sax said...

GAME 2

Betts RF
Turner 3B
Bellinger CF
Taylor 2B
Beaty 1B
Lux SS
McKinstry LF
Barnes C
Kershaw P

Steve Sax said...

Kershaw this year: 7-4, 3.33
Morton this year: 4-2, 4.26

karen said...

HAPPY KERSHAW DAY!

karen said...

Slight rain delay. Start time is now 4:30 PT.

karen said...

The Big Hurt picks Padres to win NL West. Doesn't see the Dodgers winning because of "revolving door of players".

karen said...

Muncy out with injured right ankle. He's day to day.

karen said...

Dodgers score 1 run on 2 errors and a HBP in first.

Steve Sax said...

Kershaw gives up his first hit in the second, but gets the pickoff (debated by Atlanta, but upheld) and gets out of the inning.

1-0 LA through 2.

Steve Sax said...

@karen 4.17p: thank you, I was trying to figure out why only two innings of a 1-0 game took over an hour :)

Steve Sax said...

Fox broadcaster interviewing Trevor Baueer from the dugout: "This is such a unique pitching staff. You have yourself, Kershaw, Bauer, ..."

Someone should tell him that he's talking to Bauer.

Steve Sax said...

This cannot be the Fox A team.

Steve Sax said...

Now they're asking Bauer about his vlog.

Why not ask him about his toenail fungus

Steve Sax said...

That said, Bauer is doing a good job answering the questions.

Steve Sax said...

Freeman knocks in a run with a RBI to center. I'm not sure why Bellinger threw to home given the throw wasn't even close and then allowed Freeman to take second.

1-1. Albies up with two RISP.

Steve Sax said...

Albies is 13-for his last-25 vs. LHP. Yikes

Steve Sax said...

Kershaw falling apart here. 3-1, men at corners. Kershaw can't get that third out.

Steve Sax said...

Lux can't field a ball cleanly, but the broadcasters give him a break from keeping Albies from scoring.

Steve Sax said...

Dodgers have four straight hits to start the top of the fourth. Only one has scored (Bellinger: single to left, SB, advance to third, scored on a Beaty RBI). But it's bases loaded and none out. We need more.

Steve Sax said...

McKinstry GIDPs but Taylor scores to make it 5-3 Atl. Now it's up to Barnes, with Matt Beaty on third.

Steve Sax said...

Barnes grounds to Swanson at short, and beats the tag but he's limping badly. Twisted his ankle stretching for the base. Beaty scores though.

Steve Sax said...

ATL challenge on the tag from Feeeman at first.

Steve Sax said...

Ruling stands. Third error of the night for Atlanta. 5-4 LA, Barnes walked off the injury.

Steve Sax said...

Top 5, 5-4 Braves.

Mookie flares one but is just beaten by the throw to first. Turner walks. One out.

Steve Sax said...

Bellinger is only batting .195 with a .694 OPS.

That will not persist.

1-2 count to Belli.

Steve Sax said...

Truist Park looks like it's doing the wave. See, it's not just us Angelenos who are idiots.

Steve Sax said...

Three lowest take rates are the top three teams in the NL West.

Belli grounds to second, Turner forced at second. Two out.

Steve Sax said...

Morton Ks Taylor for the third out.

5-4 ATL, mid-5

Steve Sax said...

5-4 ATL through 5. And now we're into the Braves bullpen, starting with AJ Minter.

AJ Pollock PH for Beaty.

Steve Sax said...

Minter Ks Pujols PH

Steve Sax said...

Barnes Ks for the third out, stranding Pollock at first.

Barnes really can't hit. It's tough.

Steve Sax said...

Kershaw has the lowest career ERA since 1920. Amazing.

Steve Sax said...

Kershaw has an uneventful 6th. 95 pitches through 6. Morton had 94 pitches but lasted only 5.

C'mon Dodgers, you can do this!

Steve Sax said...

9Ks for Kershaw today. One short of the Jumbo Jack.

Steve Sax said...

Taylor Ks with Mookie on second and Belli on first.

Mid-7, still down by 1

Steve Sax said...

ugh. now down 6-4, and two on for the braves B7. Not looking good.

Steve Sax said...

Well that was sad.

Steve Sax said...

I’m away for the first part of this game 3. Only able to check infrequently. Let’s do this, Trevor!

karen said...

GAME 3

Betts RF
Turner 3B
Taylor 2B
Pujols 1B
Pollock LF
Bellinger CF
Smith C
Lux SS
Bauer P

karen said...

Bauer getting knocked around a little. 2-0 Braves thru 3.

karen said...

Pujols brings in JT. 2-1 T4

karen said...

I'd forgotten how young Max Fried looks. Dude looks like he's in the second grade.

Steve Sax said...

Doc has got to shake this lineup up. We can’t manufacture runs.

Lux and Smith had better start learning how to hit

karen said...

Prince Albert rakes one. 4-2 ATL T9

karen said...

We're down to our final out...

karen said...

Welp, another one for the loss column. 4-2 ATL.