Dodger Fanfest 2016

Dodger Fanfest 2016 happened this past Saturday and I was lucky enough to have a day off and attend.  This was the first time I have attended, what Nomo affectionally names "Linefest" so I didn't know what was in store.  Seeing that there were about  25,000 people, you can imagine there were heaps of people going every which way.  I think the Dodger organization did the best that they could, especially with the amount of fans attending.  I really wanted to go because I wanted to meet Ryu.  Shout out to fellow brother Dusty for getting me access!

I had 4 autograph vouchers for the last 2 sessions.  I took Mamma Cora to help me out.  The lines were massive, but what I really enjoyed was talking with fellow fans.  There was a woman in front of us who travels down from San Francisco for this event.  She was lamenting that she didn't receive the All Star baseball from Ebay in time for Yasmani to sign it.  Then the gentleman in front of her said, I have one, and I can trade you a regular ball for it.  It was so cool to see.  The lines moved fairly fast and they kept on time.  I was able to meet Bill Russell and Brandon McCarthy.  I told Brandon that his twitter game was "strong" and whether he was going to change his avatar any time soon.  He said he was thinking about it, but since there were so many other players changing their avatar like his, he might keep it.  Mamma Cora met Yasmani and Austin Barnes.  She told Yasmani that he was a "very handsome  man" and he said thank you and turned to Austin and said "she better not tell you that too!"  That was funny.

Brandon McCarthy getting ready to sign autographs

Chase "Sweep the leg Johnny" Utley signing autographs

Vic the Brick and Alanna Rizzo

Standing in line for session 6, Tommy drove by and was waving to the crowd after his on stage appearance.  They seemed to use the visitor bullpen for media gathering and I saw Vic the Brick and Alanna Rizzo talking.  Steve Yeager was also down there. We got to talking with the people in front of us who attended the meet and greet with Kershaw.  They said it was cool, but went by too fast!  Greet, autographs, picture, out.  But they said he was nice as always.

The Tommy drive by

Yaz sighting

Joc sighting

I finally met Ryu.  He was very quiet, but was nice and signed both my baseball and bobblehead.  I got another Yasmani autograph as well - and if anyone wants to trade email me through the website! Yasmani also said that his rehab is going well.

Ryu signing autographs

Mamma Cora also snapped some great pictures, especailly of our new skipper.  He apparently was very gracious and when she asked Bob Geren where he was going to be sitting in the dugout, Dave interjected "Right next to me!"  Love the rapport.

Skipper Dave Roberts

I also spent 40 bucks on a "mystery bag autograph" and pulled a Jimmy Rollins baseball.  Of all of the autographs, I really like Dave Roberts and Jimmy Rollins because they are legible.

The baseball haul - From Top left to bottom right, Geren, Yaz, Barnes, Ryu Bobblehead, McCarthy, Roberts, Russell, Rollins, Yaz, Ryu

Thanks Ryu!

Overall, it was a nice time to visit the park.  Since we were there towards the end of the day, the crowd started to thin and we were able to "run the bases" (more like stroll) and lie down on the grass. I wandered up to the lodge level and checked out my new mini plan seats (thanks Bryce from Dodger ticketing!) and was pleased by the location.  I liked the event in that it got my baseball "its a new year" energy flowing again.  Can't wait for opening day!!!  Go Blue!

Post-Game 162 Thread: Kershaw Gets 300th K (And 301st); Dodgers Sweep

DODGERS 6, PADRES 3

The Dodgers finish the year 92-70 and champions of the NL West for the third straight year, following today's sweep of the Padres. More importantly, Clayton Kershaw became the first pitcher in 13 years to reach 300 strikeouts. And even more important than that, no one was injured today (though Jimmy Rollins, given the role to manage by Don Mattingly, walked awful slowly out to the mound to relieve Kershaw in the fourth inning. Rollins, wearing Lasorda's #2 jersey, took his own sweet time from the dugout).

Joc Pederson uncorked a two-run HR in the second. Corey Seager had a solo shot in the sixth, and Chris Heisey had a two-run HR in that same frame. Ronald Torreyes singled for his first major-league RBI in the eighth.

Kershaw, with seven Ks, was his old dominant self. Chris Hatcher got the save, as Kenley Jansen was playing the role of Rick Honeycutt (pitching coach) today, alongside Rollins.

The Mets won vs. Washington, snapping a five-game losing streak. We face them Friday at the Ravine.

Post-Game 151 Thread: Late Breaking (Good) News

DODGERS 4, DIAMONDBACKS 1

The Dodgers won a game! Can it be so? Actually, the Dodgers looked pretty moribund through seven innings, quiet following a leadoff (?) home run (?) from Chase Utley (?). Carlos Frias gave one right back to Paul Goldschmidt to deadlock the teams at 1.

But in the bottom of the eighth, the zombie Dodgers came back to life. Jimmy Rollins reached on a bunt ground ball between first and second; Ronald Torreyes sacrificed Rollins over, and Chase Utley doubled J-Roll home for the lead. One batter later, Corey Seager launched one just past the right field foul pole into the lower deck, giving the Dodgers the 4-1 lead.

Meanwhile, the Giants lost in the ninth inning to the Padres on a walkoff Jedd Gyorko single that scored Matt Kemp and his beard (only one run was awarded). The Giants had battled back to tie it in the top of the ninth on a wild pitch, but lost in the bottom of the frame when Bruce Bochy's 11-pitcher roulette game finally ended with Santiago Casilla giving up the final hit.

Magic number is 5, with a day game tomorrow!

Post-Game 129 Thread: Sad Trombone

CUBS 2, DODGERS 0

I told you so. While the Cubs were getting motivated to have a pajama party this evening, the Dodgers rolled over and played dead on national television, ceding their second no-hitter in fewer than two weeks. Jimmy Rollins, Andre Ethier, Yasmani Grandal, and Joc Pederson all helped the Cubs' cause with two strikeouts tonight (Arrietta had 12 total).

Mark McGwire should probably get a lot of the criticism and scrutiny--sure, we lead the league in HRs, but tonight was total ineptitude tonight in his players' at bats. To be no-hit twice in the span of nine games is pathetic, and demonstrates the Dodgers have no gameplan whatsoever--except to predictably fail whenever they're on the national stage.

But I still blame Ron Roenicke.

Post-Game 124 Thread: Dodgers Win Game Despite Roenicke

DODGERS 5, REDS 1

Surprisingly, the Dodgers finally brought an end to their season-high five-game losing streak, but don't think that new coach Ron Roenicke didn't try his hardest to foil the Dodgers' winning plans. When the Dodgers opened up the game with back-to-back doubles (Yasiel Puig scoring Jimmy Rollins before the first out), Roenicke used his third base forces to make sure the next four batters couldn't advance Puig another 90 feet.

For the rest of the entire game, Roenicke was able to hex spell the Dodgers away from third base, as the only time other Dodger players were allowed to even touch third base were due to home runs (Justin Turner and Jimmy Rollins, each with two-run HRs). Roenicke made sure that, if a Dodger came near third, he had better have a damn good reason.

And rumors have it that it was Roenicke who inspired John Lamb to lead off the fifth with a HBP on Adrian Gonzalez. After that, Roenicke allegedly turned his Dodgers-dooming wrath towards our leaky bullpen--brainwashing manager Don Mattingly into pulling Alex Wood after 5 2/3 innings (a move which immediately backfired when Chris Hatcher allowed a run-scoring double).

Roenicke's last big attempt at sabotaging the game for the Dodgers came in the eighth, when he tried to call Juan Nicasio in for relief work, only to see Juan load the bases with Reds. Luis Avilan entered the game to replace Nicasio and record the third out in the bottom of the eighth, but really: Roenicke was that close to causing yet another loss.

So the Dodgers overcome the Reds, and Roenicke, for the first game in Cincinnati. The red-hot Cubs also beat down the Giants, extending the Dodgers' lead back to 2.5 games. Will Roenicke destroy us Wednesday, with Brett Anderson on the mound? I'm sure he'll try.

Game 106 Thread: August 4 @ Phillies, 4p

What's the bigger story here? J-Roll? Or Wood?

Jimmy Rollins, franchise hit leader, returns to Philadelphia for the first time tonight. Alex Wood, potential starter coming off his career-worst WHIP (1.408), pitches in a Dodger uniform for the first time tonight. So which one is the bigger story? Alex? James?

Or even Alex James? Well, Girls and Boys, today's game is exciting, no matter how you slice it (not the jelly roll; the metaphorical "it" that would refer to today's game. Though I suppose someone did indeed slice said jelly roll, up above...). We're three games up on the Giants, and facing a 41-65 cellar-dwelling team might be a good way for us to put even more space between us. I'm all set for a wild ride, nonetheless. Whoo hoo!

Post-Game 99 Thread: Egg Zach Lee

METS 15, DODGERS 2

Zach Lee's major league debut was pretty much a nightmare, with the Mets stomping all over Lee over 4.2 IP for 11 H and 7 ER. Lee's ERA ends his first ever day at 13.50, which is horrific, particularly considering the Mets have had offensive woes of late.

Lee was relieved by Chin-Hui Tsao, who didn't do much better: 0.2 IP, 6 ER. Tsao's ERA is 10.29. Throw out yer' dead! Because really, it's only one game.

Joc Pederson and Jimmy Rollins each had solo HR. Lead shrinks to two games in the West.

Post-Game 98 Thread: Easy As 1-2-3

DODGERS 7, METS 2

I was worried about Dodgers starter Ian Thomas tonight, but I should have been more worried about Mets starter Jon Niese. Opting to start rather than be there for his child's birth, he watched the birth (in Ohio) on facetime from the game in New York. But to say Niese was distracted was probably an understatement: the Dodgers put up six runs in three innings on the poor guy, with 1 in the first, 2 in the second, and 3 in the third.

Justin Turner doubled in Howie Kendrick in the first.

In the second, Ian Thomas, who had five innings of one-run ball, GIDPd in the second but scored Kike Hernandez from third, and then Joc Pederson doubled in Jimmy Rollins.

In the third, Turner had a solo HR, and Yasiel Puig homered to also score Scott Van Slyke.

Rollins also added a solo shot in the eighth off of fabled Mets pitcher Hansel Robles.

Of course, the well-rested Giants beat up on the cellar-dwelling A's, so the lead is still three games.

Post-Game 97 Thread: (Dodgers Gain) Security, Benefit (With Win Over Idle Giants)

DODGERS 3, METS 0

"How 'bout that Gonzalez Rollins homer?" Jimmy Rollins gave the Dodgers the go-ahead lead with a solo HR in the third. The Dodgers scored two more in the ninth off of the Mets' bullpen, after Bartolo Colon left with a respectable eight-inning, five-hit, one-run effort.

"Kershaw was lights out tonight!" Clayton Kershaw had a perfect game into the seventh inning, but still pitched a CG SHO, allowing only three hits and fanning 11. Kershaw's shutout streak extends to 29 innings, and the Dodgers' lead in the NL West stretches to three full games while the Giants get another cushy-schedule relaxation day off.

Post-Game 45 Thread: Kershaw Fans 10

DODGERS 8, BRAVES 0

Clayton Kershaw may be a pedestrian 3-3, but he is still far from mortal, as he showed many a Brave today. Freddie Freeman alone had 4 Ks (one to J.P. Howell in the eighth), but Jace Freeman and Jonny Gomes each contributed two Ks. The Braves totaled 11 Ks in the game.

The Dodgers opened up a six-spot in the fourth inning, putting this game away:

• Joc Pederson single
• Jimmy Rollins forceout
• Howie Kendrick double, scoring Rollins
• Adrian Gonzalez IBB
• Justin Turner single, scoring Kendrick
• Andre Ethier double, scoring Gonzalez and Turner
• Alex Guerrero walk
• A.J. Ellis double, scoring Ethier but nailing Guerrero at the plate
• Clayton Kershaw single, scoring Ellis
• Pederson ground out

Not a bad outing! And good to see Kershaw, who went seven strong innings, get the win.

Post-Game 35 Thread: Kershaw, With Just Enough

DODGERS 6, ROCKIES 4

Clayton Kershaw has had a rough go at it this year, but his 6.2 IP, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB and 10 K performance was just enough to get the Dodgers the victory. Jimmy Rollins (solo HR and RBI single), Justin Turner (2-RBI double), Andre Ethier (RBI single), and Adrian Gonzalez (run-scoring GIDP) all contributed to give LA a 6-0 lead.

But things got dicey in the top of the seventh, when Kershaw left the game with a 6-1 lead and two on. Paco Rodriguez gave up a single and bases-clearing double (to Daniel Descalso), before Yimi Garcia came in and got Wilin Rosario to K for the third out. Much harder than it has to be, fellas!

Post-Game 23 Thread: Pederson Again (And Turner Too)

Keep smiling, Joc

DODGERS 6, DIAMONDBACKS 4

The Dodgers maintain their three-game lead in the west with another win over Arizona. Pederson homered for the fourth straight game, making him the first Dodgers rookie since Bill Sudakis (1969) to do so. And despite being down 2-0, 3-2, and 4-3, the Dodgers kept on coming, tying the game in the seventh with the aforementioned Pederson HR, and then going ahead on a Howie Kendrick single later that inning. Jimmy Rollins added an insurance run in the eighth for the final tally.

Justin Turner had a home run earlier in the game, and scored three runs to lead the Dodgers.

Post-Game 21 Thread: Vogelsong Pounded

Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof

DODGERS 7, GIANTS 3

And there we go! Dodgers win the rubber match with the Giants, as Ryan Vogelsong got pounded today by the big Dodger bats. Joc Pederson, Adrian Gonzalez, and Andre Ethier all had home runs for the Dodgers in the first (the latter, a two-run shot scoring Scott Van Slyke). Jimmy Rollins added a HR in the third to make it 5-1, and the Dodgers had a 7-3 lead by the fourth inning, so no more scoring (by either team) was even necessary).

Zack Greinke (of course) takes the win to grow to 4-0. This guy is unstoppable--unlike Vogelsong.

photo: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images

Post-Game 90 Thread: A-Gon, The All-Star

Picture from Friday's night's game, but Counsell's expression is timeless

DODGERS 4, BREWERS 3

With Kyle Lohse and his 6.17 ERA having made it through five innings and wielding a 3-2 lead, Craig "The Rat" Counsell opted to go to his bullpen (I was listening to the radio broadcast at the time, and I think Monday said that Milwaukee's bullpen ERA rated pretty well, though their team ERA ranks 12th in the NL, which obviously isn't very good). However, the third reliever in the Brewers' parade, Will Smith, wasn't gettin' jiggy with it, and replaced Jeremy Jeffress (who had left Howie Kendrick on second with none out) only to give up the go-ahead HR to Adrian Gonzalez.

Gonzalez is now taking his offensive firepower to the All-Star Game, along with Zack Greinke, Clayton Kershaw, Yasmani Grandal, and Joc Pederson. This is the first time that the Dodgers have had five All-Stars since 1995 (a year which was so crazy, even Jose Offerman was an All-Star). Smith, on the other hand, is not advancing to the All-Star Game.

A.J. Ellis also had a home run, his second. I have to record this for the record books. He is batting .217, which is still ahead of Jimmy Rollins (1-for-4 today, batting .213). Justin Turner also had a two-out base-hit RBI in the first.

Brett Anderson went a respectable 7.0 IP (8 H, 3 ER, 0 BB and 3 Ks), but Pedro Baez got the win and Kenley Jansen took his 18th save.

Let's all take a little break now, so Counsell can stop grimacing.

Post-Game 77 Thread: Greinke Finally Prevails

"My God, they're not going to give me run support, yet again. And why the hell is that Callaspo guy batting seventh again, Donnie? I can't take this crap."

DODGERS 2, MARLINS 0

Once again burdened with the albatross of anemic Dodgers offense, Zack Greinke pitched into the eighth inning and won the rubber match for us against Miami, 2-0. His outstanding performance was again necessary, as the Dodgers' only real run came off a seventh-inning Adrian Gonzalez double (his 23rd, and 48th RBI), scoring Howie Kendrick from first. Kendrick got an RBI of his own in the fifth, but it was kind of a gift as a grounder to second with men at the corners scored Jimmy Rollins from third, but should have been an inning-ending double play if not for Adeiny Hechavarria's botched throw to first (Kendrick was safe as Justin Bour was dragged off the bag).

Rollins went 1-for-4 and is at .211. Call the fireworks brigade.

Greinke went 7.2 IP and gave up no ER, 6 Ks and 1 BB, to lower his ERA to 1.58. Says ESPN in its Sunday Power Rankings article:

2. Zack Greinke, Los Angeles Dodgers: Greinke didn’t ask to be a show room display for the importance of run support, but finally, he got a win for the first time in 10 starts, beating the Marlins in Miami by a score of 2-0. Overall, Greinke is getting 3.75 runs per game in support on the season, but that’s counting a lot of scoring that happened in his first six starts, when he got his first five wins. Greinke has gotten just 2.6 runs per game over the past 10 turns (counting Sunday), and just seven runs total in his past five. Greinke’s scoreless streak is now at 20⅔ IP; can you blame a guy for doing whatever it took to get one measly win?

So now Greinke is 6-2, but he should be at least 9-2, even with the sporadic support from the lineup. That’s because the Dodgers’ pen also hasn’t done him many favors, costing him three wins. That trio of victories taken away from Greinke’s season tally is not the most in the National League -- Kyle Hendricks of the Cubs and Julio Teheran of the Braves have both seen five wins slip away thanks to pen implosions -- but you’d be forgiven if you thought that if it wasn’t for bad luck, Greinke wouldn’t have any. Even without those wins, Greinke should at least have the honor of following Max Scherzer in the All-Star Game.

Off to Arizona for three, starting Monday.

photo: AP / J Pat Carter

Addressing Dodger Holes

Jason Martinez of ESPN.com indicated the Jimmy Rollins hole can be filled, but our starting pitcher rotation is the bigger vulnerability (link insider only):

Los Angeles Dodgers
39-33 record (NL West leader)
Trade target: Cole Hamels, LHP

The Dodgers have fared quite well in the pitching department despite losing starters Brandon McCarthy (Tommy John surgery) and Hyun-Jin Ryu (shoulder surgery) for the season. Of course, that's helped by Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke making two out of every five starts.

But don't let the success of the rotation mislead you into believing that struggling shortstop Jimmy Rollins is this team's biggest problem. Top prospect Corey Seager, currently getting his feet wet in Triple-A, will be the starting shortstop if Rollins doesn't get on track soon. That's a simple solution should the team conclude that the 36-year-old doesn't have enough left in the tank.

But what happens when guys like Mike Bolsinger (5.32 ERA over his past four starts) and Carlos Frias (10 ER in 10 2/3 innings over his past two starts) come back down to earth, which they're already showing signs of doing? And what if Brett Anderson gets hurt? His 14 starts are the most he has made in a season since 2010.

They'll need more than Brandon Beachy, who recently began a rehab assignment and is trying to come back from his second Tommy John surgery, if they want to avoid falling victim to another late-season Giants run.

With Joc Pederson now established as a key part of this Dodgers' team and Seager in line to be the team's starting shortstop very soon, the team might have a difficult time putting together a package to land Hamels. But if they were willing to include Julio Urias, who likely would be in the Phillies' rotation in 2016 as a 19-year-old, they might be able to get something done.

Post-Game 58 Thread: Who Are You?

DODGERS 9, DIAMONDBACKS 3

Who are you, Dodgers? In search of an identity, you've rolled over like a dying lamb the past two weeks, only to open up some unexpected whupping sticks this past evening against the Diamondbacks. With Rubby De La Rosa shifting from passable starter to batting practice pitcher in the fourth inning, the Dodgers decided to unload, with three-run blasts coming from ice-cold albatross Jimmy Rollins in the fourth (capping a five-run inning), and then Andre Ethier in the fifth. De La Rosa's line: 5.0 IP, 10 H, 9 ER, 1 BB, 4Ks, 2 HR.

Meanwhile, Mike Bolsinger put up another quality start, 7.0 IP with 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB and 8 Ks. The Dodgers went 5-for-8 with RISP and also had RBIs from Howie Kendrick (3-for-4, 2 runs) and Alex Guerrero (1-for-4, 1 run). Aside from an unfortunate injury to Justin Turner, who fouled a ball off his knee in the third inning, this game was perfect for the LA crowds...which included a couple of Sons from whom we are eagerly awaiting At-Game Recaps. Have at it, boys!

Post-Game 52 Thread: No Retreat, No Surrender

DODGERS 9, ROCKIES 8

The Dodgers dug deep in Game 2 of the doubleheader, and came away with one of the most amazing victories of the year. After dropping Game 1 and watching their NL West lead shrink to one game, the Dodgers saw a 4-0 lead evaporate and clawed back to tie the game at 5 in the seventh off a Joc Pederson triple (Pederson had also homered earlier in the game, as had Enrique Hernandez and Adrian Gonzalez). The 5-5 tie quickly turned sour, however, when Yimi Garcia allowed Troy Tulowitzki a two-run HR to make it 7-5 Colorado. The Rockies tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth.

The stage was set for dramatics in the ninth inning, however. Alberto Callaspo, Jimmy Rollins, and Chris Heisey led off the inning with singles. Rockies pitcher Rafael Betancourt got Justin Turner to strike out, and Pederson to fly out to left. But with two out and down by three runs, Alex Guerrero launched a grand slam to center field, hurling the Dodgers back in front with a 9-8 lead. Amazing! The Dodgers went on to load the bases again in that frame, before Callaspo lined out for the final out. Kenley Jansen came in for the bottom of the ninth, and allowed a one-out double but stranded the runner at third by striking out Ben Paulsen, to win the game.

Right after that, the Giants saw a 2-0 lead disappear and ended up losing 7-4 at home, so the NL West lead is back to two games. The Giants game is also significant because it signals they will lose the belt to Pittsburgh. If Pittsburgh goes on to lose to Atlanta June 5-7, and then the Braves proceed to lose to the Padres June 8-11 (a four-game series, which makes it tough), then it could be all set up for the Dodgers to reclaim the belt in the Padres series June 12-14. The plot thickens!

However, the groin stretches. One more, just for QuadSevens:

Post-Game 50 Thread: Return of the Bats

DODGERS 11, ROCKIES 4

If there was any place the Dodgers' bats were going to breakout, it had to have been Coors Field, right? Clayton Kershaw not only whent 7.0 IP with 5 H and 2 ER (1 BB, 7 Ks), he also went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run from the plate, to help lead the Dodgers to an amazing 18-hit victory. 18 hits is only nine times the number of hits we had Sunday, or more hits than we had in the entire three-game series in St. Louis.

Joc Pederson and Howie Kendrick each had three-run HRs to help the cause (the Dodgers broke open the game in the sixth with a six-run frame), but it was Kershaw who was the man today, with a great effort obscured only by a two-run Nolan Arenado HR in the fourth.

Andre Ethier and Jimmy Rollins each had solo shots in the second inning to give the Dodgers a short-lived 2-0 lead. Very cool to see everyone getting into this, however: Adrian Gonzalez went 4-for-4 with a run; and Rollins' 2-for-4 effort lifts his batting average to .209. Happy days!

Scoreboard watching: Pirates @ Giants is in play now, with the Giants wasting a bases-loaded, no-out chance in the sixth (scoring no runs). 4-2 Pittsburgh, bottom 7.

UPDATE: The Giants lost, 4-3.

Post-Game 49 Thread: Dodgers Lose, But Giants Bigger Losers

Yasmani Grandal tags Matt Carpenter out at the plate in the eighth inning.

CARDINALS 3, DODGERS 1

The Dodgers dropped the rubber match of the series by mustering only two hits, one of which was an eighth-inning Joc Pederson HR to close the gap to 2-1. Brett Anderson only allowed a Jhonny Peralta two-run HR in the first inning, and then proceeded to keep the Cardinals quiet through six full frames. Peralta got a bloop single in the bottom of the eighth to add a third run for the Cards. The Dodgers had a two-out threat in the ninth when Andre Ethier and Yasmani Grandal took two-out walks, but Justin Turner Kd to end the game.

The Dodgers' bats were absolutely pathetic this roadtrip, and the finger pointing has to start with Jimmy Rollins, whose drop to the eight hole didn't do anything to lift his Mendoza-like average (Rollins went 0-for-3 with a K). Alberto Callaspo started at 3B in Rollins' (now vacated) second spot in the lineup, but also went 0-for-3, with 2Ks. Adrain Gonzalez went 0-for-4. The only other hit of the game was a single by Ethier in the second inning.

But the real story of the day was Santiago Casilla's third blown save of the year for the Giants, who lost 7-5 to the Braves. Casilla came in for the ninth and ceded a solo HR to Freddie Freeman, before loading the bases and then Jace Pederson tripled home three runs to put the Braves up 7-5 (the Giants entered the ninth with a 5-3 lead). Awesome stuff up there in Birdshit Park! (Oh, and Juan Uribe had a two-run HR for the Braves in the seventh inning, which helped chase Ashley Madison from the game.)

Dodgers stay in first place. Giants remain in second place, though they have the belt.

photo: Chris Lee, St. Louis Post-Dispatch