The Dodgers finally awoke from their post clinch malaise to beat the Padres 9-4 in the series finale on Thursday evening to avoid what would have been an embarrassing sweep. Julio Urias was hooked after just 3 innings but the offense came through with nine runs battering opposing starter Christian Friedrich. The bullpen took things the rest of the way as has been the customary script this season.
Now the Dodgers will play their final three games of the season against the Giants in San Francisco. For the Dodgers these games are pretty meaningless as they continue to trail Washington for the second seed in the NL playoff standings. These games for the Giants are an entirely different story. The Giants are fighting for their lives and they are just a game ahead of the Cardinals for the second wild card spot. The Cardinals will be at home against the Pirates tonight.
Dodgers Lineup @ San Francisco
Tonight's Dodger lineup:
Kendrick LF
Turner 3B
Seager SS
Puig RF
Ruiz C
Segedin 1B
Hernández CF
Culberson 2B
Hill P— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 30, 2016
Rich Hill-3-2 vs. Madison Bumgarner-14-9
Game Time – 7:15 PM – TV- SNLA (Games are simulcast)
The greatest of all time. #VIN pic.twitter.com/3cJDaQkBp1
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 24, 2016
Close your eyes for a minute and imagine all of the times the Giants have knocked the Dodgers out of the postseason race. There was of course the 1951 NL playoff series that featured the infamous shot heard round the world from Bobby Thompson. You can also remember the 1982 regular season finale that featured Joe Morgan’s awful home run (for those that are old enough to remember it) that eliminated the Dodgers on the last day. There was that irritating 2012 race that saw the Giants knock the Dodgers out of the race on the second to last day of the season. I can still remember Angel Pagan making a throat cutting motion towards the Dodger dugout after the final out.
Now it’s the Dodger’s chance to enact some revenge. The Dodgers can officially kill the Giants and send them home without supper. All they have to do is win and get a little help from the Cardinals. Wouldn’t it be sweet to see the Dodgers eliminate the Giants in Vin Scully’s final game?
The pitching match-up will see Rich Hill battling left hander Madison Bumgarner. Hill is making his sixth start as a Dodger and is 3-2 with a 1.53 ERA. Over 29.1 innings pitched as a Dodger he’s allowed just five earned runs and struck out35 against 4 walks. Hill has been nearly flawless as a Dodger. Hill has faced the Giants twice this season. In his Dodger debut back on August 24 he tossed six shutout innings to pick up the win. On September 20 he pitched five innings allowing just one earned run on 6 hits and striking out 7. Unfortunately he took a tough loss in a tight 2-0 game. Hill is 3-2 with a 2.60 ERA in 7 career starts against the Giants.
Hill vs. Giants
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | SH | SF | IBB | HBP | GDP |
| Hunter Pence | 14 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | .333 | .429 | .417 | .845 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Eduardo Nunez | 8 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | .429 | .375 | 1.000 | 1.375 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gorkys Hernandez | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .200 | .200 | .200 | .400 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Buster Posey | 5 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .600 | .600 | .600 | 1.200 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ehire Adrianza | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .250 | .250 | .250 | .500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brandon Belt | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .250 | .250 | .250 | .500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brandon Crawford | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .250 | .250 | .250 | .500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Johnny Cueto | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Angel Pagan | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gordon Beckham | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .500 | .500 | 1.000 | 1.500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jake Peavy | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Panik | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Denard Span | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 57 | 52 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 9 | .288 | .333 | .404 | .737 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bumgarner Comes into tonight’s series opener with a 14-9 record and a 2.71 ERA in 33 starts. He’s struck out 246 and walked 53 over 219.1 innings pitched. He’s allowed just 7.0 hits per nine and struck out over 10.0 per nine. Bumgarner has faced the Dodgers four times this year suffering two losses and earning two no-decisions. Bumgarner has won just one decision since August 28th which coincides with the Giant’s epic collapse in the second half of the season.
The tall left hander has a 3.98 ERA in the month of September. Bumgarner is 13-9 with a 2.66 ERA in his career against the Dodgers. Season long bust Kike Hernandez has hit Bumgarner well in the past. He’s batting .500 (11 for 22) with 3 home runs against the lefty. Naturally he is in the starting lineup tonight.
Bumgarner vs. Dodgers
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | SH | SF | IBB | HBP | GDP |
| Adrian Gonzalez | 56 | 53 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 10 | .189 | .214 | .226 | .441 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Justin Turner | 48 | 44 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 8 | .250 | .292 | .432 | .723 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yasiel Puig | 36 | 32 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 9 | .250 | .333 | .469 | .802 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Andre Ethier | 25 | 24 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | .125 | .160 | .167 | .327 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Enrique Hernandez | 22 | 22 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 8 | .500 | .500 | 1.091 | 1.591 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Clayton Kershaw | 22 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | .143 | .143 | .143 | .286 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Howie Kendrick | 21 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | .143 | .143 | .143 | .286 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Carlos Ruiz | 21 | 19 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | .368 | .350 | .632 | .982 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Charlie Culberson | 17 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | .250 | .294 | .375 | .669 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Chase Utley | 15 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .143 | .200 | .143 | .343 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yasmani Grandal | 14 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | .083 | .143 | .167 | .310 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Joc Pederson | 9 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | .222 | .222 | .667 | .889 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Corey Seager | 9 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | .250 | .333 | .375 | .708 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Blanton | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Josh Reddick | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | .667 | .750 | 1.667 | 2.417 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rob Segedin | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .500 | 1.333 | 1.833 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Scott Kazmir | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kenta Maeda | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brandon McCarthy | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alex Wood | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 334 | 309 | 70 | 17 | 0 | 11 | 32 | 11 | 85 | .227 | .261 | .388 | .650 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 4 |
Of course with a left hander on the mound the Dodgers will not be starting their best players. The all-righty lineup returns as Rob Segedin will play first base. Kike is in center field and Charlie Culberson will bat eighth and play second base. Carlos Ruiz is behind the plate as Howie Kendrick slots into left field.
The great payback starts tonight my friends. The Giants have had this coming for a long time now. It’s time to bury them and leave them for dead in their own ball park. Revenge is a dish best served cold.
Go Blue!
Defeat SF!
Nice article! And yes, I did forget about what Pagan did. F him.
I wasn’t around for 1951 or 1962 but I do remember Joe Morgan 1982 (Darrell Evans jogging around 3B with his hands over his head).
One last chance to stick it to them, for Vinny’s sake. Should be fun 🙂
I just hope we can make a big impact on the Giants season, in this series.
And I hope they lay down for us, like they have with most every other team they have played in this second half of the season.
I am suprised that Agone is not in this line up, I just hope Corey and the rest of the infield makes good throws tonight.
I don’t know if I would play Howie in left tonight, because Howie doesn’t have a good arm, and AT&T is one big park.
I just hope Kike has a better showing tonight against Bumgarner.
Because Bumgarner make Kike look pretty bad, in that last game, and Kike didn’t do much to adjust.
Let’s hope Bumgarner throws Kike a hanging curve, and Kike straightens that up, for a HR or big hit.
Almost game time!!!!!
Dodger fans in SF!!
Mad Bum,
Puig is looking at you… From 2B!
You are his b________!
His bitch? lol Wasn’t able to view the last three games. These final three I’m thankful KTLA is showing em so I’m not going without hearing Vin’s last in season issue to us all. I’m certain I’m not the only one who has hopes he’ll give a post season appearance.
Hey Quasi! Good to see you!
Hey Scott, Bet Kenny has a great seat! That’s something most certain!
What a game so far!!!
That is two baserunning mistakes!
Crap!!!!
What a mess!
McCarthy is nothing but a joke.
Get the bum out of there. I’m tired of this spring training crap. A guy who had the yips a month ago shouldn’t be getting a look for the playoffs.
Guess this was his tryout to see if he could be long man and/or game 4 starter.
FAIL. Leave him off the roster
Yes, McCarthy will not be on the post season roster.
The problem is that we have MCCarthy and Kazmir, for two more years!
Neither MCCarthy or Anderson should ever step on the mound again for the Dodgers!
McCarthy came in and gave this game away.
He is nothing but a huge waste of money, and roster space.
And he might have ignited the Giants, all by himself.
Why take Hill out of the game? Was it the blister?
The game is a blow out. Six more outs remaining and Bochy still has his ace out there.
dave gave this game away..3 second stringer and put a pitcher that should of come out of the game when he gave up the first 2 hits.that led to 7 run..s this was a game i got to watch after 3 yrs in black out
Dodgers are not interested in revenge. They seem more interested in whipping a dead horse than going for the jugular. They are still unsure of their pitchers. Why? How long do they need to make some hard decisions and stick with them? Look at the Hatcher experiment. It should have ended last season. You need a healthy staff to begin with or you are immediately disadvantaged.
Hill seems to be the best acquisition the Dodgers made this season. He looks more and more like a #2 guy. Don’t bring back Kaz this season. Rehab him and either set up a trade or have him healthy for next season. He’s fine as a #4 if healthy. Wood is the big question mark for me. He’s got a game but injury has derailed him. I’d like to see if he could go. He big and young. They should try and work with him.
Dodgers are not interested in revenge. They seem more interested in whipping a dead horse than going for the jugular. They are still unsure of their pitchers. Why? How long do they need to make some hard decisions and stick with them? Look at the Hatcher experiment. It should have ended last season. You need a healthy staff to begin with or you are immediately disadvantaged.
Hill seems to be the best acquisition the Dodgers made this season. He looks more and more like a #2 guy. Don’t bring back Kaz this season. Rehab him and either set up a trade or have him healthy for next season. He’s fine as a #4 if healthy. Wood is the big question mark for me. He’s got a game but injury has derailed him. I’d like to see if he could go. He big and young. They should try and work with him.