The Dodgers welcomed the hated ones to town for a three game set. Derek Holland was on the mound for the Giants against Ross Stripling. Stripling has been dynamite for the Dodgers lately and the Dodgers have reached the .500 mark at home. On the 2nd pitch of the game Dodger killer Joe Panik hit a double. Stripling was able to get out of the inning. Kiki Hernandez hit a solo shot and the Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
Kike' Hernandez jumps on a Derek Holland fastball, lines it into the left-field pavilion. The June boom continues for #Dodgers– their MLB-high 31st home run this month
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) June 16, 2018
Ross Stripling held the Giants scoreless through the 2nd, 3rd, and Fourth inning. Matt Kemp then hit a solo shot and the Dodgers took a 2-0 lead. Yasmani Grandal then hit a double and got a triple out of it due to an error. Yasiel Puig then doubled him in and the Dodgers took a 3-0 lead. Stripling pitched into the 7th inning giving the bullpen a much needed break. Andrew McCutchen singled in the 7th. Pablo Sandoval then hit a two run shot and the score was 3-2 Dodgers.
Players All-Star ballots were passed out today. #Dodgers Ross Stripling: "I opened it up and saw my name on it. That's pretty neat. I didn't vote for myself, though."
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) June 16, 2018
Josh Fields came in to finish the inning. Fields got the final two outs of the 7th inning as well. He then got the first two out in the 8th inning. Scott Alexander came in to get the final out of the 8th inning. Kenley Jansen then came in to finish off the Giants. The Dodgers are now over .500 at home. It was fireworks night at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers won a solid game and the fans went home happy.
Kenley Calrissian on to close it out for the #Dodgers
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) June 16, 2018
James Moya
Hi I’m James Moya. I am an avid Dodgers fan. I graduated Cal State Fullerton with a Bachelors in Communications. I used to freelance at the San Bernardino Sun. I’m excited about this opportunity to write for LA Dodger Report to gain experience. I’m a straight shooter on my opinions and I hope to get some good conversations going. My dream has always been to report on the Dodgers because Baseball is the National Past-time. I hope you enjoy the ride with me.
Follow Me:
Not a very well played game. We had a couple of great chances to tack on an extra run or two, but the bull pen did well and closed it out. MadBum tomorrow. Hopefully Kike and Puig continue to hit well and mess with him.
I didn’t see much of it, but the box tells a story. Squirrels slept most of the game, pitching was good. Offense 6 for 30, 9 Ks, 1 for 6 WRISP. That won’t usually get it done. Forsythe with 2 hits, including a double. That might be encouraging. Pitching – 2 earned in 9. I figure that’s why we won this one.
Still 2.5 out but it appears the Division is taking the shape I expected it to.
Giants only one game out of the cellar. Padres closing fast.
I thought the Rockies would deliver more offense, one source being Ryan McMahon, but outside the usual suspects, their bats have been a disappointment.
Not too difficult to get inside Bumgarner’s head. If the ump doesn’t call the close pitches a strike, the ump is in his head and he resorts to stare down, intimidate the umpire mode.
lolz I’ve seen this. Hey Rye!
Well we know Kemp will show up more often then not, like he did last night.
But Puig has not hit lefties well again this year, so it was good to see him get a good hit, against a leftie last night.
But I thought Holland didn’t look like a tough leftie.
Bumgarner is totally different with the angle he pitches with, on the pitchers plate.
But if Puig can jump him, it is always a good nite, because he is so unlikeable.
I think Belt and Posey will be in the line up tonight, so we will be facing a tougher Giant’s team tonight.
Taylor struck out way to much last night, he needs to adopt a shorter swing with two strikes, because although he does hit with some power, the team needs the other things he brings to the game, when he is in the lead off position.
I like Taylor, but he is not a forty HR guy, he is someone that has a little power, but his speed and defense is his best qualities for the game, so he needs to get on base ahead of the big bats.
Hey MJ
Yes it will be tougher with Posey and Belt tonight but the Dodgers just have that knack for winning. Don’t ask me why but last year and this year they have been able to win an unexplainable amount of wins. I called for them to be out of it already but they have gone on a winning spree and are definitely in it. I think FAZ has uncovered a new way to win. They deserve that credit even though I do not like their brand of baseball. It works.
They are still under .500 against the Giants, 5-6 and the D-Backs. They need to sweep SF.
Package
That is pretty big of you, to say that!
I also like top talent, but I also like some of the underdog players too, because these type of players give their all more often, then really talented players do, as a generalization.
Because as you know, these underdog type players are always having to work harder, to make up their lack of God given, talent.
I like Muncy and his approach, and the way he makes the most of every at bat he gets, but I also know he is not going to hit at this rate, the rest of the season.
But I also think someone else in the line up will step up, when that happens.
But I also think this front office should use the Dodger’s many assets to also bring top talent to the team, to help all of the other average players we have, and make the team stronger.
And if Harper and Machado are just over priced next year, I would like them to bring a couple players or pitchers, that are in the middle of the road, when it comes to free agents.
Because the luxury tax won’t be a factor anymore, and after all, the Dodgers are the second richest team in baseball, so they need to use some of those many assets the Dodgers have, just like the Yankees has done, in the last few years.
Notes and news. Hill will start Tuesday in Chicago. Kershaw threw a 55 pitch bullpen and looked good. Baez to 10 day DL and Farmer recalled. Rios had 3 more hits at OKC last night. Banuelos went 6 gave up 1 hit, walked 3 and struck out 9 for his 7th win. Wood has more victories and a lower ERA than Bumgarner. Orioles bench Davis indefinitely….how would you like that albatross of a contract? Trout homers again, and Seattle scores 2 in the 8th to beat Boston, another 1 run victory for the Mariners. Angels set a team record yesterday when 4 more players placed on the DL, bringing their total to 15. Arizona and the Dodgers the only 2 teams in the West over .500
Michael
The owner is the one that insisted that he wanted to keep Davis and give him that contract, because for some reason, he really liked Davis, so this contract was an outlier, when it comes to other contracts.
There are times when the owner should just leave the contracts to the lawyers and the GM. He was coming off a monster year. Has never approached those numbers since. Same thing happened to Seattle when they signed Beltre. He has never come close to those 2004 numbers. But he has been consistent, which Davis has not.
Michael
I don’t know about that, because Davis has done one thing consistently, and that is consistently strike out!
In 2013, his best year, and contract year, he hit .286 with 53 HR’s and 138 RBI’s. 14 he hit .196 with 26 HR’s and 72 RBI’s. In 2015 he had a pretty good year. .262 with 47 HR’s and 117 RBI’s. 16, 17 and so far this year, he is nowhere near as good. He also has not struck out less than 169 times a year since 2012. Twice going over 200 and twice over 190. .221, .215 and .150 this year. Definitely not the guy they paid all that money for.
In 2013 he was 27. 26-30 he was a real thumper. The more we see of 30 year old ball players the more it appears age 30 is the beginning of the end.
Dodger case in point, Logan Forsythe. Ages 28-29 in Tampa he was good. 8.6 rWAR. Age 30 with LA – 1.9. Now? -0.1. Look at our staff – Kershaw, Maeda, Jansen, 30, Ryu, 31, Hill, (and Utley) Utley, older than dirt…. we need to get younger and limit signing players past their prime.
You know what would help? If the remaining quarter billion Cubans would step up and step in. Alvarez and Diaz are coming of age. Who’s left from that group?Estevez? Sierra? Sierra is 27. Throw him out there.
Estevez and Heredia are both developing nicely, but they’re still only 19. They won’t be ripe until 2021, or so I’ve read.
Diaz and Alvarez as you noted are a little further along, but they are also both 2 years older (21, for those with math difficulties…)
So maybe next year at the earliest for them.
Package
How did you like that one Kemp hit out?
MJ
I loved that HR. I think it is great the way he has played all year. I hope he keeps it up and the Dodgers win it all with him in the lineup. Sweet!!
Longoria opts for surgery. Will miss 6-8 weeks. Kershaw will throw a simulated game. Then have a re-hab start in the minors. 10-14 days away.
Gotta love the fact that Kike, Muncey and Barnes are reserves on this team.
Better yet that Muncy is playing regularly because our higher paid starters like Forsythe sucks.
As for Kike and Barnes … I think there are excellent subs on most contenders. And we are not a contender this year yet.
Totally agree on contendership (is that a word?), but depth is depth.
Depth? I think it’s more selective sample size. I think if a team goes on a winning streak like we have, at least series wins, you will find good production up and down the lineup. Why not look at the whole picture when the team is not doing so well. It evens out.
The main reason we are getting excited again is that the NL West is very weak and our depth did not do anything earlier in the season when we were losing against the likes of the Marlins and the Reds.
We are only a handful of games above .500, and it’s been our regulars hitting better that’s started the turnaround. That, Muncy and the bullpen.
Interesting
Kike!
Kike on both side of the field.