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The Matt Kemp Triple Crown Show moves to Petco Park this weekend as the Dodgers open a three-game series with the Padres in San Diego. But on Friday we might see history of a different kind.
Eugenio Velez is starting tonight's game, batting eighth and playing second base. Velez this season has no hits in 33 at-bats. Zero hits. Dating back to last year, Velez is hitless in his last 42 at-bats.
The record for most consecutive at-bats without a hit by a position player is 45, held jointly by Bill Bergen (in 1909 with the Brooklyn Dodgers) and Craig Counsell (earlier this season with the Milwaukee Brewers). In addition, the record for most at-bats in a season without a hit, by a position player, is 35, by Hal Finney, a catcher for the 1936 Pittsburgh Pirates.
Velez has started six previous games this season, and has reached four at-bats only once, and had three at-bats three other times. It is conceivable that Velez could tie or break the Bergen/Counsell record tonight. Or, he could get a hit. Either way, we see history.
Lineups
| Dodgers | Padres | |||
| SS | Gordon | CF | Maybin | |
| 3B | Sellers | SS | Bartlett | |
| CF | Kemp | RF | Denorfia | |
| RF | Sands | C | Hundley | |
| LF | Oeltjen | 2B | Hudson | |
| 1B | Mitchell | LF | Cunningham | |
| C | Federowicz | 1B | Gonzalez | |
| 2B | Velez | 3B | Parrino | |
| P | Lilly | P | LeBlanc | |
Game Time: 7:05 p.m.
TV: Prime Ticket