True Blue LA - June 11: Giants 5, Dodgers 4 (10)Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2016-06-11T20:38:49-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/116916112016-06-11T20:38:49-07:002016-06-11T20:38:49-07:0010th inning HR goes to waste
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<figcaption>Kenny Karst-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a> got a last at-bat, go-ahead home run for a second night in a row, but closer <span>Kenley Jansen</span> couldn't hold the lead this time. The <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Giants</a> rallied for two runs in the bottom of the 10th inning to stun Jansen and the Dodgers 5-4 in a gut-punch turnaround result on Saturday night at AT&T Park in San Francisco.</p>
<p>Minutes away from a two-game deficit in the division, the Dodgers now trail the Giants by four in the National League West.</p>
<p>After getting a pop out to open the inning, <span>Denard Span</span> lined a ball down the right field line for a double, then scored on a single to left center field by <span>Joe Panik</span>. a <span>Brandon Belt</span> followed with a pop fly that somehow <span>Trayce Thompson</span> didn't catch, instead breaking back on the ball, then trying to confuse Panik by faking like he would catch it. The result was another single, and runners on first and second.</p>
<p><span>Buster Posey</span> lined a hard grounder that bounced off the mound and just past a diving <span>Corey Seager</span>, scoring Panik with the game-winner.</p>
<p>It was Jansen's third blown save of the year in 20 attempts, and <a target="_blank" href="http://bbref.com/pi/shareit/j4k5U">the four hits allowed matched a career high</a>, done three other times, the last on Sept. 3, 2014 against Washington.</p>
<h4>Power surge</h4>
<p><span>Adrian Gonzalez</span> had just six extra-base hits (four doubles, two home runs) in his last 41 games and saw his slugging percentage dip to .389 on the season entering Saturday. But he absolutely smoked a ball off the wall to the deepest part of the ballpark in center field in the fifth inning. What was probably a home run in just about any other park was instead a double, and one that tied the game at 2-2.</p>
<p>But against <span>Chris Stratton</span>, the Giants' <i>eighth</i> reliever of the night, Gonzalez made sure his drive made it over the wall, this one to the opposite field to nearly the same spot as the game-winner by <span>Justin Turner</span> in the ninth inning on Friday night.</p>
<p>After his 2-for-4 game on Saturday, with six total bases, Gonzalez's slugging percentage is back up to .409.</p>
<p>Stratton, in just his third major league game, ended up with the win.</p>
<h4>Pen workhorse</h4>
<p><span>Joe Blanton</span> pitched two scoreless innings in the eighth and ninth, his sixth appearance of at least two innings this season. Blanton has a 2.43 ERA in 33⅓ innings this season, with 34 strikeouts and nine walks, just five unintentional. He's on pace for just shy of 86 innings this season.</p>
<p>No Dodgers pitcher <a target="_blank" href="http://bbref.com/pi/shareit/JkkyL">has thrown 80 innings in relief since Ramon Troncoso in 2009</a>.</p>
<h4>Seventh heaven</h4>
<p>Down a run in the seventh inning, the Dodgers sent seven batters to the plate, and they faced five different Giants pitchers. One single and three walks later, the Dodgers tied the game at 3-3, the equalizer coming on a bases-loaded free pass to <span>Trayce Thompson</span>, whose brother Klay was watching from a suite at AT&T Park, still two days before Game 5 of the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba-finals" class="sbn-auto-link">NBA Finals</a> in Oakland.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Klay approves <a href="https://t.co/itWFKXVffj">pic.twitter.com/itWFKXVffj</a></p>
— Ryan Walton (@RyanWaltonSBN) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanWaltonSBN/status/741813389807128576">June 12, 2016</a>
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<p><span>Joc Pederson</span> popped out to end the inning, leaving the bases loaded and leaving the game tied.</p>
<h4>GISP</h4>
<p>The Dodgers ran into some familiar trouble in the sixth inning, which opened with a single and a walk to chase <span>Scott Kazmir</span> with nobody out in the frame. <span>Louis Coleman</span> entered, then induced consecutive potential double play grounders, but on neither ball could the Dodgers turn two.</p>
<p>The first was a sharp ground ball by Posey to Justin Turner at third base, but <span>Chase Utley</span> couldn't get the ball out of his glove in time on the turn to get the second out. The second was a tough hop to Seager at shortstop, who fed awkwardly to second, where Utley was off balance with Posey barreling down the line. They got the out at second, but Utley's falling-down throw to first was too late to get <span>Matt Duffy</span>, allowing the go-ahead run to score, for a brief 3-2 lead.</p>
<p>The Dodgers are <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2016-standard-fielding.shtml#teams_standard_fielding::12" target="_blank">last in the majors in both double plays turned</a> and <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=fld&lg=all&qual=0&type=1&season=2016&month=0&season1=2016&ind=0&team=0,ts&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=18,d" target="_blank">29th in double play runs</a>.</p>
<h4>Free passes</h4>
<p>That walk in the sixth inning was Kazmir's fifth of the game, more than he had in his previous three starts combined (four, with 24 strikeouts during that span).</p>
<p>Kazmir allowed three runs in his five-plus innings on Saturday, and struck out three. In three starts against the Giants this season, the left-hander has allowed 13 runs on 17 hits in 13 innings, with 10 walks and 10 strikeouts. Against everyone else, Kazmir has a 3.56 ERA in 10 starts, with 65 strikeouts and 19 walks in 60⅔ innings.</p>
<h4>Up next</h4>
<p>These two teams are at it again on Sunday night, with a bit of an abnormal 5:30 p.m. PT start time, part of a rare ESPN doubleheader. <span>Julio Urias</span> puts his feet, and left arm, to the fire again, while <span>Jake Peavy</span> starts the series finale for San Francisco.</p>
<h4>Saturday particulars</h4>
<p><b>Home run</b>: Adrian Gonzalez (6)</p>
<p><b>WP - Chris Stratton (1-0)</b>: 1 IP, 2 hits, 1 run, 1 strikeout</p>
<p><b>LP - Kenley Jansen (2-2)</b>: ⅓ IP, 4 hits, 2 runs</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2016/6/11/11910954/kenley-jansen-blown-save-dodgers-late-home-run-erased-giants-recapEric Stephen2016-06-11T13:25:15-07:002016-06-11T13:25:15-07:00Rehab weekend with the Quakes
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<p>It's a busy few days for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga, with a trio of rehabbing <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> joining the Quakes in a three-day span.</p>
<p>First comes Brandon McCathy, who will start for Rancho Cucamonga on Saturday night at Lake Elsinore, a 6 p.m. PT start. It is the first time on a mound in a game for McCarthy since he had Tommy John surgery in May 2015. The right-hander is expected to last two innings on Saturday.</p>
<p>On Sunday, also in Lake Elsinore, <span>Hyun-jin Ryu</span> will restart his rehab, starting in the 1 p.m. game. The left-hander, out since missing all of 2015 with left shoulder surgery, made three starts on a rehab assignment already, topping out at four scoreless innings with Triple-A Oklahoma City on May 25. But he was shut down after feeling soreness following that start. It is unknown just how long Ryu will start on Sunday, but he can't be expected to last too long.</p>
<p>UPDATE:</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Hyun-Jin Ryu will throw two innings, Roberts said. He'll need 4-5 starts to be ready. So his throwing program has basically been reset.</p>
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) <a href="https://twitter.com/McCulloughTimes/status/741740164607680512">June 11, 2016</a>
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<p>On Monday, <span>Yasiel Puig</span> begins a rehab assignment when the Quakes return home with a 7:05 p.m. PT game against Lancaster. The outfielder has been on the disabled list with a left hamstring strain, and last played on June 2.</p>
<p>Manager Dave Roberts told reporters on Friday that he expected Puig could be activated beginning on Monday, June 20 when the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Nationals</a> are in Los Angeles for a three-game series, <a href="https://twitter.com/THEREAL_DV/status/741427738016251904" target="_blank">per Dodger Talk co-host David Vassegh</a>.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2016/6/11/11910146/brandon-mccarthy-hyun-jin-ryu-yasiel-puig-rehab-dodgers-rancho-cucamongaEric Stephen2016-06-11T11:00:37-07:002016-06-11T11:00:37-07:00Dodgers try to build momentum vs. Giants
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<p>The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a> will try for a second straight win over the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Giants</a> on Saturday night, relying on an improved <span>Scott Kazmir</span> and ideally some continued road production from the offense.</p>
<p>LA was held to three runs on Friday night, but that was in a tremendous pitching duel between <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> and <span>Johnny Cueto</span>, and they got a huge home run from <span>Justin Turner</span> in the ninth to win the game.</p>
<p>On the season, the Dodgers are hitting .244/.315/.379 on the road, which may not sound like much until you notice they are hitting .217/.296/.366 at home. Entering Saturday the Dodgers have played 31 games at home and 31 on the road. Away from home they have scored 38 more runs than at Dodger Stadium, averaging 4.80 runs per game in the road grays compared to 3.58 in LA.</p>
<p>Kazmir only lasted four innings in each of his two starts against the Giants this season, back-to-back outings on April 10 and April 16, allowing 10 total runs on 14 hits and five walks in those starts, with seven strikeouts.</p>
<p>But the left-hander has been solid for the better part of six weeks, outside of a seven-walk start on May 20 in San Diego that he called "unacceptable." In his last eight starts he has a 3.62 ERA, with 57 strikeouts and 18 walks in 49⅔ innings.</p>
<p>Since that seven-walk start, Kazmir has 24 strikeouts and just four walks in 17 innings.</p>
<p><span>Jeff Samardzija</span> had a stretch that saw him last at least 7⅔ innings in six of eight starts, though in his last two starts he has taken a step back, allowing 11 runs on 15 hits in just 10 innings.</p>
<h4>Game info</h4>
<p>Time: 4:15 p.m. PT</p>
<p>TV: Fox</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2016/6/11/11909748/scott-kazmir-dodgers-offense-giants-previewEric Stephen2016-06-09T11:00:02-07:002016-06-09T11:00:02-07:00Urias moved up to start Sunday against Giants
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<p>The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a> have a chance to make up some ground in the National League West this weekend, and shuffled their starting rotation against the division-leading <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Giants</a> at AT&T Park in San Francisco. There will be three left-handers facing the Giants, with <span>Julio Urias</span> moved up to start the Sunday night series finale on ESPN.</p>
<p>"We like that matchup," manager <span>Dave Roberts</span> told reporters after Thursday night's game.</p>
<p>The Giants as a team are hitting .267/.332/.409 against southpaws, which is better than their .244/.324/.385 against right-handers. But San Francisco is also without outfielders <span>Hunter Pence</span> and <span>Angel Pagan</span>, both on the disabled list, with left-handers <span>Jarrett Parker</span> and <span>Gregor Blanco</span> getting more time of late, in addition to lefty regulars <span>Brandon Crawford</span>, <span>Brandon Belt</span>, <span>Denard Span</span> and <span>Joe Panik</span>.</p>
<p>Giants left-handed batters are hitting .265/.333/.391 against left-handed pitching this season.</p>
<p>Urias will start on regular rest, thanks to Thursday's off day, which gives <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> and <span>Scott Kazmir</span> an extra day. <span>Mike Bolsinger</span> will start the series opener on Monday against the <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Diamondbacks</a> in Phoenix.</p>
<p>Here is the schedule and matchups for the weekend series:</p>
<h4>Friday, 7:15 p.m. PT (SportsNet LA, MLB Network)</h4>
<p>Clayton Kershaw had a 2.42 ERA in three starts in San Francisco last year, and this year he has a 2.25 ERA at AT&T Park (two runs in eight innings on April 9; with this offense, a no-decision, naturally). Before that, he never had a season with an ERA above 1.20 on the road against the Giants.</p>
<p>Friday is the best pitching matchup of the series, with <span>Johnny Cueto</span> dominating like his days with the <a href="https://www.redreporter.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Reds</a>. He's 9-1 with a 2.16 ERA, but in his last six starts he has been even better, allowing five total runs (four earned) for a 0.79 ERA. Kershaw (7.72) and Cueto (7.31) rank first and second in the majors in innings per start this season.</p>
<h4>Saturday, 4:15 p.m. (Fox)</h4>
<p>Scott Kazmir has at least five strikeouts in each of his last eight starts, with a 3.62 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 49⅔ innings during that span. He allowed 10 runs in eight innings in a pair of losses to the Giants in April, each start lasting a season-low four innings.</p>
<p><span>Jeff Samardzija</span> so far this season has been everything the Giants have asked, going deep into starts (his 6.75 innings per start ranks seventh in MLB) while putting up a 3.33 ERA. He has had a hiccup in his last two starts, allowing 11 runs in 10 innings, including allowing four home runs in St. Louis on Sunday after giving up just five long balls in his first 11 starts. In 2015, Samardzija led the American League with 29 home runs allowed in his 32 starts.</p>
<p>Dodgers broadcaster Joe Davis will call the game for Fox, with <span>C.J. Nitkowski</span>.</p>
<h4>Sunday, 5:30 p.m. (ESPN)</h4>
<p>After facing last year's NLCS teams in his first two major league starts, both on the road, Urias gets another tough test with the division-leading Giants in his fourth start. So far, left-handed batters are 2-for-13 with a home run, two walks and five strikeouts (.154/.267/.385) against Urias, but right-handers have tattooed him to the tune of .378/.439/.649.</p>
<p><span>Jake Peavy</span> has had terrible results so far this year, 2-6 with a 6.41 ERA in 12 starts, though his peripherals haven't been <i>that bad</i>, with 48 strikeouts and 20 walks giving him a 4.30 FIP. He has a 2.41 ERA in his last three starts and has kept the ball in the ballpark during that span.</p>
<p>The broadcasts on Saturday and Sunday are exclusive broadcasts, with those games unavailable on SportsNet LA.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2016/6/9/11892986/julio-urias-dodgers-giants-pitching-matchupsEric Stephen