Dodger’s rookie right hander Ross Stripling returns to the mound tonight still in search of his first win. He is just one start removed from his near no-hitter last week in San Francisco. Stripling was fantastic mixing fastballs and nasty off-speed offerings to no-hit the Giants for 7.1 innings. Unfortunately pitch count limits, the Dodger bullpen and Dave Roberts ruined his night. This time he gets a chance for redemption in the series finale against the Dbacks.
This will be Stripling’s first home game and I am sure his family and friends will be in tow in attendance. The 26-year old was very impressive in his debut and I am very excited to see him pitch tonight at Dodger Stadium. Besides coming five outs away from making history, Stripling is multi-faceted. According to Dani Wexelman of Sports on Earth, he’s actually a licensed stockbroker. Stripling called it money management, and he was a finance major at Texas A&M. Maybe Ross can give me some advice with my jacked up financials. Interesting times isn’t it?
Dodgers Lineup vs. Arizona
Hernandez LF
Puig RF
Gonzalez 1B
Kendrick 3B
Seager SS
Thompson CF
Ellis C
Barnes 2B
Stripling P
Robbie Ray-0-0 vs. Ross Stripling-0-0
Game time – 7:10 PM TV-SNLA
Countering Stripling for the Dbacks in the rubber game will be 24-year old left hander Robbie Ray. The Brentwood Tennessee native finished the 2015 season with a 5-12 record and posted a 3.52 ERA in 127.2 frames. This season Ray has a no-decision in his only start. He allowed two earned runs on four hits across six innings against the Cubs.
Ray has pitched well against the Dodgers in the past. He has a 2-2 record with a 2.28 ERA in 4 starts against the Dodgers. He is 1-1 with a 1.42 ERA in two starts at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers are hitting just .227 (10 for 44) with a home run against Ray.
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | SH | SF | IBB | HBP | GDP |
| Howie Kendrick | 9 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | .250 | .222 | .625 | .847 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| A.J. Ellis | 8 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .143 | .250 | .286 | .536 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Adrian Gonzalez | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Enrique Hernandez | 6 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .400 | .500 | 1.000 | 1.500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yasiel Puig | 6 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .400 | .500 | .400 | .900 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Corey Seager | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .333 | .600 | .333 | .933 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Justin Turner | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .250 | .400 | .500 | .900 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yasmani Grandal | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .333 | .333 | .667 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alex Wood | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 52 | 44 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 10 | .227 | .314 | .409 | .723 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
The Dodgers can pick up a nice series victory with a win tonight. The Giants come into town on Friday night so the Dodgers better be prepared. I don’t want to hear any excuses. One more win against the Snakes, and then beat those bastards over the weekend.
Go Blue!
Will Stripling be on the same pitch count limit tonight?
I disagree with you Scott that Roberts had anything to do with ruining Stripling’s night. The bull pen ruined his night. It was smart to take him out when he did. No sense in ruining a pitcher. Even Stripling said he was done.
Scott .. “Unfortunately pitch count limits, the Dodger bullpen and Dave Roberts ruined his night. “..
I agree Al, Dave Roberts had nothing to do with RUINING Stripling’s night. That should never have been said. It aggravates me when Scott does that.
It’s a joke Bum, I know it wasn’t really Roberts who made the call. Lighten up please. The internet is supposed to be a fun place
I am glad it was a joke. If someone else had written that I might have caught that it was a joke. Maybe if you would stop writing when you are mad your posts would be consistently good instead of mixed. Call it tough love Scott.
I think Roberts did the right thing. It is more important to win the game, then try for the no hitter. And Stripling was tiring. The only problem in that game, was Hatcher, and Blanton.
The problem was not using Jansen. Luckily it wasn’t repeated last night. Kudos to Roberts.
Agree completely, Artieboy. I was looking for Kenley on Stripling SF start in the rain. That was the key mistake Roberts made.
I just hope are players hit with people on base, especially in scoring position. I just read that the Dodgers have left the second most runners, on base, in baseball. The Pirates are the only team, that has been worse. I think the Dodgers have left 69 people on base. Last time I heard, the Giants were losing to the Rockies, by quite a bit, in the seventh inning, so I hope the Giants lose of course.
I think Roberts learned from that game, which is why Kenley pitched the last five outs last night.