Game 88 Thread: July 6 @ Giants, 1p

Eric Stults (2-1, 2.21) vs. Matt Cain (5-6, 4.13).

COMMENTS: Today is "PG&E Solar Day" at AT&T Park. The Giants are giving out CFL light bulbs to their first 20,000 fans. For safety's sake, I hope they're giving out coupons for light bulbs, not actual light bulbs. Because—no offense, Giants faithful—a stadium full of projectile-wielding fans + unpopular opposing team = hijinks. Just ask Dodger fans!

Anyhoo, the Dodgers' July luck ran out yesterday after the bullpen couldn't protect a 2-1 lead. No first place for you! At least not for another day. Although Cain is a potential future Giants ace, for some reason he's 0-3 with a 4.88 ERA over six lifetime starts against the Dodgers. Which means he'll probably throw a no-hitter today.

Probable Dodger starter Stults came back to earth his last start, giving up four runs over 5 1/3 innings to Houston. A win today would give the Dodgers the series against the Giants and perhaps first place. A loss would prove the Giants aren't the NL West doormats we thought they would be. So what's it going to be, Dodgers? First place or doormats?

Game 87 Thread: July 5 @ Giants, 6p

Chan Ho Park (4-2, 2.45) vs. Barry Zito (3-12, 5.99).

COMMENTS: Yesterday's win over the Giants was unusual for the Dodgers in some ways: They weren't wearing Dodger blue caps (due to MLB's stars-and-striped-logos-on-navy-caps policy), they came from behind, and Derek Lowe actually got some run support.

The Dodgers have won four straight, making them undefeated in July—a small thing but thine own, especially in light of Rafael Furcal's potentially season-ending (and Dodger-career-ending?) surgery. Andruw Jones did not impress in his return but Nomar Garciaparra did, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs.

In fact, the Dodgers hit seven doubles yesterday, and today they've got a decent chance for another offensive outburst against the Giants' struggling curveballer. Zito's struggles this season have been well chronicled, but he should at least be happy to be starting at home. Oh wait, he's 0-8 at AT&T Park. Never mind, Barry.

Brad Penny isn't ready to return to the Dodgers' rotation, so Park gets another spot start. Before Park's last start I was down on his chances, and he promptly shut out the Angels for six innings en route to an unexpected Dodgers victory. To which I say: eh. (Get it?)

Game 86 Thread: July 4 @ Giants, 1p

Derek Lowe (5-8, 3.88) vs. Sandy Koufax Jonathan Sanchez (8-4, 3.79).

COMMENTS: Oops, it's Jonathan Sanchez, not Sandy Koufax, that Derek Lowe will be facing in today's Giants-Dodgers series opener. But you can understand how I made that mistake, as throughout his career Sanchez has basically been Koufax's statistical dopplegänger:

Statistic	Sandy Koufax	Jonathan Sanchez
No-Hitters, career	4	4
Opp BA, career	0.205	0.196
Highest K/9, season	10.54 ('62)	10.71 ('02)
Most Strikeouts, game	18	16

Of course, in Koufax's case we're talking about major league career, whereas with Sanchez we're referring to his college career (at Ohio Dominican University - Go Panthers!). And thankfully, like most of us, Sanchez wasn't quite the same person in college that he is today in his professional career.

In anycase, the Dodgers go into this holiday game with an undefeated month and a 3-game winning streak on the line. Hopefully at the end of the game we'll be celebrating not only the 4th of July, but also the 4th win of July.

Happy Independence Day!

Game 85 Thread: July 3 @ Astros, 11a

Chad Billingsley (7-7, 3.38) vs. Brandon Backe (5-8, 5.12).

COMMENTS: The Dodgers remain undefeated in July and a win today would give them a series win over the Houston Astros. Today's early game means morning baseball, allowing the Dodgers to fly to San Francisco for the weekend series with the third-place Giants. And by Thursday afternoon, we'll either be talking about how Jeff Kent's extra-inning HR Tuesday, coupled with Hiroki Kuroda's masterfully efficient performance last night, is giving the Dodgers new hope for the second half of the season...or, we'll be lamenting yet another sad offensive showing, likely capped by a pop-up to the pitcher in a Mark Sweeney pinch hit situation with the winning run on third. As I write this, I realize, I've gotta start drinking as soon as I get up Thursday morning...bring on the hard stuff (that goes for you too, Chad!).

Game 84 Thread: July 2 @ Astros, 5p

Hiroki Kuroda (3-6, 4.04) vs. Runelvys Hernandez (0-1, 5.40).

COMMENTS: Welcome Back, Kuroda! Little bit of 70's humor for you there. If yesterday's frittered-away six-run lead wasn't enough to confound you, then how about the gigantic question mark that is the return of Hiroki Kuroda? Will we see complete-game Hiroki or shelled-in-three-innings Hiroki? Shirimasen! Little bit of Japanese humor for you there.

Meanwhile, the Astros' Hernandez is equally unpredictable, but only because this is his second start of the season. The only certainty in today's game is that Lance Berkman is a beast and should be avoided at all costs. And we miss Juan Pierre! Little bit of Dodgers humor for you there.

Game 83 Thread: July 1 @ Astros, 5p

Clayton Kershaw (0-2, 4.36) vs. Wandy Rodriguez (3-3, 2.58).

COMMENTS: Go Rays! The majors' best team is 18 games over .500 and could take a series from Boston with a win today. What's that, you say? This is a Dodgers blog? Whoops. Okay, how do the Dodgers stack up with the Rays? Not great, huh. Well, what are our chances today against the Astros? Rodriguez has a 2.64 ERA in Minute Maid Park over the last two seasons? Hmmm. And the Dodgers have $73 million on the disabled list? Alrighty then. Well, there's only one thing to do: Take comfort in the immortal words of Howard Jones. Things Can Only Get Better!

Game 82 Thread: June 30 @ 'Stros, 5p

Eric Stults (2-0, 0.60) vs. Roy Oswalt (6-8, 4.77).

COMMENTS: The Dodgers ride into Houston following a rare series win this month, facing a team with a nearly identical record (Dodgers are 38-43; Astros are 39-43) and armed with the team's only active arm with a complete game in 2008 (let alone only starter with a winning record). The difference is that the Dodgers are only 2.5 games back of the .500, division-leading Diamondbacks, while the Astros are 10 games behind the Cubs (and in fourth place in the Central). 'Ssuming the 'Stros 'ssent to the Dodgers' 'scent, 'sserting ourselves shouldn't be too much of an 'ssignment, I'm 'ssured. (Sorry for all the apostrophes, but these are your 'stros, maestro.)

Game 81 Thread: June 29 vs. Angels, 1p

Derek Lowe (5-7, 4.05) vs. John Lackey (5-1, 1.65).

COMMENTS: A series victory against the Angels, with a chance of a series sweep? Last night's gutty shutout performance by The Law Offices of Billingsley, Broxton, and Saito earned the Dodgers a win even when their offense--back to sputtering offense, mind you--can't even muster a single hit (yet still picks up the win!). Lackey has a streak of 13 quality starts dating back to last year; Lowe has been unpredictable of late (3-3 in his last seven starts). If we are to hope for any fallen angels today, Lowe had better bring his A-game--if the last Dodger day game is any indication, the Dodger bats will likely take the day off.

Game 80 Thread: June 28 vs. Angels, 7p

Chad Billingsley (6-7) vs. Jered "I'm Not Jeff" Weaver (7-7).

COMMENTS: Okay, so we won last night's game 6-0, with a surprisingly effective performance from starter Chan Ho Park and two--count 'em, two!--home runs from a punchless offense. Before you get all excited, remember that we won the opening game of a series three other times this month, and we went on to win only one of those three series. Me, I'm still concerned about the Red Scare of the AL West-leading Angels; if we are to make like the caption in the above poster, such that "the people and the army are one," can we please gather the resources to drown out the Reds in the crowd and on the field tonight? (That's right, yet another historical-reference Game Thread, brought to you by your comrades at SoSG.)

And thanks very much to SoSG reader John G for his kindness and generosity in offering up tickets for tonight's game!

Game 79 Thread: June 27 vs. Angels, 7.40p

Chan Ho Park (2-2, 2.83) vs. Joe Saunders (11-3, 3.03).

COMMENTS: Very little positive to say about tonight's game. Saunders is the Angels' ace, leading the team with 11 wins. Park, while performing admirably in any role the Dodgers have requested of him, doesn't look likely to beat the Angels, having lasted fewer than five innings in each of his previous starts. The Angels have a 2-1 record against the Dodgers this year, including Saunders already beating the Dodgers once. Want more gloom and doom? The Dodgers also face Jered Weaver and John Lackey in this series. Enjoy your weekend!

Game 78 Thread: June 26 vs. White Sox, 12n

Clayton Kershaw (0-1, 4.34) vs. John Danks (4-4, 2.80).

COMMENTS: For the baseball fan on the go, or with a case of ADD, the White Sox can't be beat. Tuesday's game lasted all of 2:05, and last night's game clocked in at a breezy 2:22. Take in today's businessperson's special and you might be back at the office in time to make that 3 o'clock PowerPoint presentation. Just don't get any mustard on your tie!

Kershaw is winless in six starts but sports a nifty 8.07 K/9 rate, good for second among Dodger starters. He also has a slightly less nifty 1.55 WHIP and is averaging less than five innings per start, but patience is the key for those of us rooting for this rare talent. Some Stults-ian run support (the Dodgers have scored 12 runs in Stults' two starts) would be nice too.

Game 77 Thread: June 25 vs. White Sox, 7p

Eric Stults (1-0, 1.50) vs. Gavin Floyd (8-3, 3.19).

COMMENTS: They say things happen in threes, and certainly the Dodgers are sporting the Trifecta of Crappiness going into tonight's game: (1) a crushingly bad Interleague record (2-8), (2) a mysteriously elusive offense (scoring two or fewer runs in nine of 21 games this month) and (3) a capably efficient opposing pitcher (Floyd is averaging 6.5 innings per start this year).

So what's a Dodger fan to do? Pass the buck, of course. SoSG AC worked his magic in Sunday's win over Cleveland, but I dropped the ball in last night's loss. SoSG Sax scored some sweet seats for tonight's game and will hopefully relight the torch. Then maybe we can retire this random cliché generator I've been using.

Game 76 Thread: June 24 vs. White Sox, 7p

Derek Lowe (5-6, 3.90) vs. Mark Buehrle (4-6, 4.28).

COMMENTS: The White Sox have just come off a disappointing sweep at the hands of their cross-town rivals, who boast the best record in baseball and have all the press in Chi-town. However, we face a starter who Buehrle lost a no-hit bid in the sixth during his last outing, and everyone knows the Dodgers are a sad 2-7 in interleague play in 2008. Can we pull off an second victory in a row off an AL team (something we haven't done all year), and maybe gain a game back against the fumbling Snakes?

On our end, we are again pulling out the stops by sending SoSG Orel to the park to cheer on the blue. SoSG AC worked his magic in Sunday's day game, but he now suffers from third-degree burns from the 110-degree temperatures at the Stadium (free cups of water from Frankie McCourt notwithstanding). Orel needs to do his part tonight and make sure the hot streak continues even if the LA heatwave has abated.

Game 75 Thread: June 22 vs. Indians, 1p

Chad Billingsley (5-7, 3.54) vs. Paul Byrd (3-7, 5.21).

COMMENTS: "Is there a Son of Steve Garvey in the house?" "Why yes, I'm a Son of Steve Garvey." And so it came to be that our very own jet-setting Alex Cora is watching the Dodgers play for the sixth time this season...and only for the second time at home. AC has compiled a 2-3 record in those five games, so both he and the Dodgers are looking to reach .500.

Billingsley is looking to continue his defiance of all things Ohio after striking out nine Reds in his last start. Cleveland starts the soft-tossing but durable Byrd, who is 0-3 with a 3.79 ERA lifetime at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers need a win today to avoid the sweep, so let's hope they squawk! do the Byrd!

Game 74 Thread: June 21 vs. Indians, 1p

Chan Ho Park (2-2, 2.95) vs. C.C. Sabathia (5-8, 4.26).

COMMENTS: Today we see CHP versus C.C., you see. (Say that five times fast.) This is Sabathia's first career start against the Dodgers, as he's been busy compiling a lifetime 105-71 record against mostly AL opponents. This is Park's second start of the season, as he's been providing capable long relief for the Dodgers. And if Cliff Lee can make the Dodger bats disappear, as he did last night, then Sabathia is likely to do the same today. Hopefully Joe Torre will start Russell Martin; the Dodgers without Furcal are punchless enough; the Dodgers without Furcal and Martin have less sock than an armless boxer.

Game 73 Thread: June 20 vs. Indians, 7.40p

Clayton Kershaw (0-1, 3.75) vs. Cliff Lee (10-1, 2.55).

COMMENTS: Welcome back home, Dodgers, a far less-friendly confine (18-15) than the cozy and comfortable Great American Ballpark (4-1); maybe we need to cut out section 25 of the reserve level as well? Tonight's matchup of binary-record pitchers pits with the Tribe's ace vs. the Blue's youth. Let's hope the Dodgers can keep the bats going against the sub-.500 Indians, since interleague play only gets worse from there (White Sox and then Angels). And it's Mesh Cap Night tonight at Chavez Ravine!

Game 72 Thread: June 19 @ Reds, 9.30a

Eric Stults (2008 debut) vs. Aaron Harang (3-9, 4.10).

COMMENTS: You want a harang(ue)? How about mlb.com getting its story straight so it's clear who the damn starting pitcher is before game time? The Dodgers also welcome back Eric Stults to the team after he went 1-0 in 2006 and 1-4 in 2007, with a career ERA of 5.75. I was fortunate to have met Eric during last year's cup of coffee, and he's a nice guy (and indeed did kick ass during The Transporter, Crank, and Lock Stock). Let's hope Stults opens a can of whupass on the Reds today and we get a much-needed sweep.

Game 71 Thread: June 18 @ Reds, 4p

Derek Lowe (5-6, 4.03) vs. Aaron Harang (3-9, 4.10).

COMMENTS: MLB.com says we're facing either Harang (one win in his last six starts), or possibly Bronson Arroyo (4-5, 5.31). Either way, we're taking our chances sending Lowe out there on three days' rest after Brad Penny and Hiroki Kuroda wreaked havoc on the rotation with separate injuries. Lowe, perennially a victim of poor run support, has to be on his game since the Dodgers' bats likely won't back him up. On the bright side,

[Hi everybody, Orel here. This is where Sax's Game Thread ended. I'll pick it up from here.]

On the bright side...um...the earth continued rotating on its axis today. Enjoy the game, everybody!

Game 70 Thread: June 17 @ Reds, 4p

Chad Billingsley (4-7, 3.71) vs. Johnny Cueto (5-6, 5.42).

COMMENTS: Good: The Dodgers have won five of six from the Reds this season. Bad: The Dodgers have lost five straight coming in to today's game. Good: Billingsley is the closest thing we have to an ace; look beyond his W-L record because he's second in the majors with an amazing 9.50 K/9 rate. Bad: The Dodgers have scored one run or less in seven of their 14 games this month.

Although the Dodgers need a series win against the last-place Reds, they have to take the Lakers' approach and play it "one game at a time" (quotes because it's a cliché, but also true). Prediction: If the Dodgers score at least four runs today, they'll win.

Game 69 Thread: June 15 @ Tigers, 10a

Clayton Kershaw (0-1, 4.50) vs. Nate Robertson (4-6, 5.88).

COMMENTS: The Dodgers, now six games below .500 for the first time this season, have not won a series since May 21, back when Hillary Rodham Clinton was still in the presidential race, the Lakers looked unstoppable, and gas was as low as $4.50 a gallon. Yesterday's win not only wasted a rare seven-run outburst by the Dodgers limp bats, but also sent losing pitcher Brad Penny back home for an MRI on his shoulder. The only thing positive I can say about this final game at Comerica Park is that I will be watching the beginning of Sunday's game on a huge 26.5 feet x 46.5 feet screen...at Dodger Stadium (where they're opening up the gates to have the Father's Day Catch on the field). I'll make sure to stretch, in case Penny's MRI means I need to suit up to join the starting rotation.