Jamie Moyer Oldest To Start At Dodger Stadium

Jamie Moyer of the Colorado Rockies on Friday night against the Dodgers will make history in Los Angeles, becoming the oldest pitcher to start a game at Dodger Stadium. At 49 years, 175 days old, Moyer will break the old record of 46 years, 199 days old, set by Moyer himself on June 5, 2009.

Dodger Stadium opened on April 10, 1962, a mere 222 days before Moyer was born in Sellersville, Pennsylvania. Dodger Stadium is just one of a whopping 49 major league parks in which Moyer has pitched.

Moyer allowed just two runs in seven innings three years ago at Chavez Ravine but took home a no-decision thanks to a walk-off two-run double by Andre Ethier in the ninth inning. That was one of six walk-off hits that season for Ethier, who would hit a walk-off home run one day later.

While Moyer will be the oldest to start a game at Dodger Stadium on Friday, he won't be the oldest ever to pitch at the venue. Hall of Famer knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm ended his career with the Dodgers, and pitched seven games in relief at ages older than Moyer. Wilhelm's final home game saw him pitch two scoreless innings against the Big Red Machine on June 26, 1972, at 49 years, 336 days old. Wilhelm was released by the Dodgers on July 21, five days shy of his 50th birthday.

If Moyer gets a decision Friday night, win or loss, he will be the oldest to do so at Dodger Stadium. Wilhelm suffered a loss at 49 years, 53 days old on September 17, 1971 by allowing an 11th inning home run to Mike Lum of the Atlanta Braves. The oldest pitcher to win at Dodger Stadium was also a knuckleballer, as former Dodger Charlie Hough won as a member of the Florida Marlins at 45 years, 248 days old on September 10, 1993.

Here is how a few Dodgers in uniform tonight have fared against Moyer:

• Manager Don Mattingly: 6-for-20 (.300) with a double and a home run
• First base coach Davey Lopes: 2-for-4 (.500) with two doubles
• Third base coach Tim Wallach: 8-for-32 (.250) with two doubles and a home run

In Moyer's major league debut, on June 16, 1986 at Wrigley Field, Lopes was Moyer' teammate, and started at third base while batted leadoff for the Chicago Cubs. Steve Carlton started for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Drive For Five

Chris Capuano has allowed five runs in his last five starts, and looks for his fifth win of the season for the Dodgers on Friday night. Capuano during those last five starts has a 1.41 ERA with 32 strikeouts and 10 walks in 32 innings.

Capuano has also had two consecutive starts allowing no runs, and carries an active streak of 18 2/3 straight scoreless innings into his start on Friday.

Game Time: 7:10 p.m.

TV: Prime Ticket

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