True Blue LA - June 20: Padres 6, Dodgers 3Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2013-06-20T22:54:01-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/42156092013-06-20T22:54:01-07:002013-06-20T22:54:01-07:00Padres 6, Dodgers 3: Defensive expertise prevails
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<figcaption>Denis Poroy</figcaption>
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<p>The Padres defeated the Dodgers 6-3, and moved up to third in the NL West standings ahead of the Colorado Rockies.
</p> <p>June 20, 2013 will always belong to LeBron James and the Miami Heat for winning the NBA championship, but the <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Padres</a> also deserve ESPN recognition for numerous impressive catches. <span>Pedro Ciriaco</span> took care of the offense, and guided San Diego to a 6-3 win by going 3-for-4 with a home run, a triple and drove in three RBI.</p>
<p>The web gems started in the seventh frame, as second baseman <span>Logan Forsythe</span> made a ridiculous over the shoulder basket catch. On the next play, left fielder <span>Chris Denorfia</span> dove head first into the stands to retire Elian Herrera. Fast forward to the bottom of the eighth, and center fielder <span>Alexi Amarista</span> covered a lot of ground and fully extended to rob <span>Juan Uribe</span> of an RBI.</p>
<p>In comparison, the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a> accumulated two costly errors. The sure-handed <span>Mark Ellis</span> two-base error in the fifth inning allowed the Padres to fight another day. Neither of the Padres runs in the fifth would've scored if Ellis made the play.</p>
<p>Bud Black's team has participated in 14 consecutive contests decided by three or less runs. Ciriaco's eighth inning two-run long ball provided the Padres with insurance, and extended the lead to 6-2.</p>
<p>Pitching wise, <span>Jason Marquis</span> and <span>Stephen Fife</span> went stride-for-stride, posting relatively similar stat lines. However, the Padres bullpen outclassed the Dodgers relievers. Marquis couldn't find a consistent rhythm, yet hung tough and still earned a quality start.</p>
<p>The Dodgers looked good early, grabbing a 1-0 lead in the first inning via <span>Yasiel Puig's</span> solo home run. Although, Puig struggled the rest of the night, finishing 1-for-5 with three strikeouts, and appeared lost against off-speed pitches.</p>
<p>The boys in blue comeback attempt came up short. <span>A.J. Ellis</span> homered to begin the 9th frame and was followed up by back-to-back singles. Although, per usual, the opportunity ended prematurely.</p>
<p>The Padres have now won seven consecutive home games.</p>
<h3>Notes</h3>
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<li> <span>Hanley Ramirez</span> continues to heat up, as he went 2-for-4 and is 8-for-12 over the past three games.</li>
<li> <span>Scott Van Slyke</span> will begin a rehab assignment Saturday at Triple-A Albuquerque, <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/THEREAL_DV/status/347871501296467970">per David Vassegh of KLAC 570</a>.<br>
</li>
<li>Don Mattingly believes <span>Matt Kemp</span> may be ready for a three to four game rehab assignment in the upcoming days, which might put the center fielder in line for a return next weekend against Philadelphia, <a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130620&content_id=51272306&notebook_id=51283850&vkey=notebook_la&c_id=la">per Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.</a> </li>
<li>Dodgers 2012 first-round pick <span>Corey Seager</span> returned to the Great Lake Loons (low class A) lineup and went 2-for-4.</li>
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<h3>Up next</h3>
<p>Dodgers ace <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> faces off with <span>Clayton Richard</span> for game two of the series. During the 2013 season, Kershaw sports an 0-2 record against the Padres.</p>
<h3>Thursday's particulars</h3>
<p><b>Home runs</b>: Yasiel Puig (6), Pedro Ciriaco (1), A.J. Ellis (3)</p>
<p><b>WP - <span>Nick Vincent</span> (2-0): </b>1 IP, 1 walk</p>
<p><b>LP - <span>Matt Guerrier</span> (2-3): </b>ZERO IP, 2 hits, 2 runs</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/6/20/4450540/dodgers-padres-recap-pedro-ciriaco-defenseBen Haber2013-06-20T16:26:43-07:002013-06-20T16:26:43-07:00Dodgers recall Elian Herrera, option Chris Withrow
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<figcaption>Kirby Lee-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Ultra-utility man Elian Herrera joins the Dodgers in San Diego and Chris Withrow relocates to Albuquerque.</p> <p><span>Elian Herrera's</span> time at Triple-A Albuquerque appears to be over for the time being, as he surprisingly showed up at Petco park Thursday. Meanwhile, the hard throwing reliever <span>Chris Withrow</span> got optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque. The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a> are back to 12 pitchers on roster.</p>
<p>Herrera hit .300 with five home runs, 28 RBI, 12 stolen bases, and posted an impressive .381 on base percentage for the Isotopes. After going up and down all last year, Herrera has only played one game for the Dodgers in 2013. Herrera's sole big league appearance was against the <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Arizona Diamondbacks</a> on May 8th; and he went one-for-three, batted eighth, and played left field.</p>
<p>Withrow, the Dodgers first round pick in 2007, made three appearances for Don Mattingly and ended up with an ERA of 5.40. At the minor league level, Withrow has been excellent at 4-0 with an ERA of 1.93, and averaged 11.6 strikeouts per nine innings.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/6/20/4450112/elian-herrera-chris-withrow-dodhersBen Haber2013-06-20T15:00:07-07:002013-06-20T15:00:07-07:00Dodgers vs. Padres, old school against new school
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<figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Stephen Fife and Jason Marquis get the ball to begin the Dodgers and Padres four games series.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> arrived into San Diego late at night from New York, and the boys in blue must shake off season-long jet lag. Don Mattingly will send <span>Stephen Fife</span> to the mound for his 10th career start, while Bud Black has the savvy veteran <span>Jason Marquis</span> pitching.</p>
<p>Fife defeated the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a> at Chavez Revine on June 3rd by posting 5 1/3 innings, one earned run, five hits, five strikeouts and two walks. On the other hand, Marquis has already seen the Dodgers three times in the 2013 season. Marquis is 2-0 in the outings and didn't allow more than two runs in each matchup. Marquis sports a 9-2 overall record with a 3.63 ERA, while silently accumulating career best numbers.</p>
<p>Despite the familiarity between the teams, a lot has changed over the past couple weeks. San Diego won six straight by sweeping the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Atlanta Braves</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Arizona Diamondbacks</a>. Therefore, the 66 million dollar Padres are only three games back in the NL West and may be favorites over the 220 million dollar Dodgers.</p>
<p>Rookie phenomenon <span>Yasiel Puig</span> debuted against the Padres on June 3rd, and the rest is history. Puig may not be headed to the all-star game because of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">San Francisco Giants</a> skipper Bruce Bochy, but the 22-year-old Cuban star has stolen baseball's headlines via all-star type of production.</p>
<p>Thursday's encounter marks the first time the Dodgers and Padres square off at Petco park since the early season brawl.</p>
<p><b>Game info</b></p>
<p>Tv: KCAL</p>
<p>Time: 7:10 p.m.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_06_20_lanmlb_sdnmlb_1#gid=2013_06_20_lanmlb_sdnmlb_1&mode=preview">MLB Gameday</a></p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/6/20/4449666/stephen-fife-jason-marquis-dodgers-padres-Ben Haber2013-06-20T13:00:05-07:002013-06-20T13:00:05-07:00Dodgers-Padres pitching matchups
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Dodgers are 4-5 against the Padres this season, including 2-3 in San Diego.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> conclude their nine-game road trip with a four-game weekend series in San Diego, battling the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a> at Petco Park for the first time since <span>Carlos Quentin</span> broke <span>Zack Greinke's</span> collarbone. Here is a look at the television scheduled and pitching matchups for the National League West showdown.</p>
<h3>Thursday, 7:10 p.m. (KCAL)</h3>
<p>Since getting recalled <span>Stephen Fife</span> has posted a 2.65 ERA with 16 strikeouts and six walks in 17 innings, and in his 10th major league start he finally faces an opponent that he has seen before in the Padres. <span>Jason Marquis</span> has allowed five runs in three starts against the Dodgers this season and has generally owned them throughout his career.</p>
<h3>Friday, 7:10 p.m. (Prime Ticket)</h3>
<p>This is only the second battle of left-handed NL West Claytons despite both being in the same division since 2009. In their only previous meeting, <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> got the 2-1 win over <span>Clayton Richard</span> and San Diego, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN201207130.shtml">last July 13</a>.</p>
<h3>Saturday, 4:15 p.m. (Fox)</h3>
<p>Greinke returns to the site of his Apr. 11 brawl, his first time facing Quentin and the Padres since the infamous hit by pitch. Greinke followed up two great starts with a dud in Pittsburgh in his last outing. <span>Edinson Volquez</span> has had a bizarre season; his ERA, by month, has been 6.39 in April, 4.02 in May and 7.91 in June.</p>
<h3>Sunday, 1:10 p.m. (KCAL)</h3>
<p>The Dodgers haven't announced anything yet, but with <span>Matt Magill</span> pulled after just two innings and 42 pitches on Wednesday, plus the fact that he's the only starting pitcher left on the 40-man roster, makes him the favorite to start on Sunday. <span>Andrew Cashner</span> get the call in the series finale for the Padres, looking for his ninth straight start of six innings or more..</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/6/20/4448774/dodgers-vs-padres-tv-schedule-startng-pitching-matchupsEric Stephen