True Blue LA - Aug. 4: Dodgers 1, Cubs 0Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2013-08-04T15:02:38-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/43518432013-08-04T15:02:38-07:002013-08-04T15:02:38-07:00Dodgers 1, Cubs 0: Unos, Dos, Tres, Catorce
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<figcaption>Jonathan Daniel</figcaption>
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<p>Shortstop Hanley Ramirez jammed his shoulder in the win, and will have an MRI on Monday in St. Louis.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> continued their amazing run on Sunday, as <span>Stephen Fife</span> and the bullpen guided the Dodgers to a 1-0 victory over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> to complete a four-game sweep at Wrigley Field, the first sweep by the Dodgers in Chicago of four games or more in 25 years.</p>
<p>The win, coupled with Arizona's loss at Fenway Park on Sunday, gave the Dodgers their biggest lead of the season, at 5½ games over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> in the National League West. The Dodgers have gained 15 games in the standings in their last 37 contests.</p>
<p>In their last 38 games the Dodgers are 31-7, the best mark for the franchise since 1953.</p>
<p>The Dodgers extended their own franchise record with a 14th consecutive road victory, but the celebration was muted because of <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2013/8/4/4588468/hanley-ramirez-injury-right-shoulder-dodgers" target="_blank">the shoulder injury to Hanley Ramirez</a>. The Dodgers' shortstop jammed his shoulder on a catch in the seventh inning, and will be evaluated again on Monday.</p>
<p>Ramirez was in a sling after the game and will have an MRI on Monday, <a href="https://twitter.com/kengurnick/status/364138927386411008" target="_blank">per Ken Gurnick of MLB.com</a>. Manager Don Mattingly told reporters that Ramirez didn't feel anything pop.</p>
<p>For what it's worth, Ramirez himself said he thought he would avoid the disabled list, <a href="https://twitter.com/dylanohernandez/status/364140477659881473" target="_blank">per Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times</a>.</p>
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<a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2013/8/4/4588468/hanley-ramirez-injury-right-shoulder-dodgers">
<h2>Ramirez jams shoulder</h2>
<img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3006815/hanley.gif"></a> Hanley Ramirez jammed his right shoulder in the seventh inning. He will have an MRI on Monday.</div>
<p>On a day the wind was blowing in at Wrigley Field, the Dodgers hit several fly balls hard that died on or around the warning track. The only run of the game was scored in the second inning, when <span>A.J. Ellis</span> followed a pair of walks with a single to center field to score Ramirez.</p>
<p>Fife made that hold up by pitching scoreless ball into the sixth inning and lowered his ERA to 2.47, making a strong case of his own to keep the fifth starter job he held before getting placed on the disabled list.</p>
<p>Fife left with the bases loaded and one out in the sixth inning, but <span>Chris Withrow</span> came in and saved his bacon by getting out of the inning. Withrow also pitched the seventh, followed by <span>J.P. Howell</span> in the eighth and <span>Kenley Jansen</span> in the ninth. Those three combined to retire the final 11 Cubs in order to finish off the sweep.</p>
<p>Jansen struck out the side in the ninth, extending his streak to 25 straight batters retired, including 13 by strikeout. Not bad for someone making his ninth appearance in 13 days.</p>
<p>Dodgers pitchers allowed just six runs in four games to the Cubs, including two straight shutouts and 23 consecutive scoreless innings to end the series.</p>
<h3>Up next</h3>
<p>The Dodgers move on to another NL Central foe, opening a four-game series in St. Louis on Monday. <span>Zack Greinke</span>, on five days rest, gets the call for Los Angeles in the opener, a 4 p.m. PT start, against <span>Adam Wainwright</span> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a>. While Time Warner Cable customers might not see the KCAL broadcast, the game will also be available on ESPN, at least in some markets.</p>
<h3>Sunday particulars</h3>
<p><strong>WP - Stephen Fife (4-3)</strong>: 5⅓ IP, 7 hits, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts</p>
<p><strong>LP - <span>Carlos Villanueva</span> (2-8)</strong>: 6 IP, 2 hits, 1 run, 3 walks, 6 strikeouts</p>
<p><strong>Sv - Kenley Jansen (17)</strong>: 1 IP, 3 strikeouts</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/8/4/4588388/dodgers-cubs-vertigo-road-winning-streakEric Stephen2013-08-04T14:08:10-07:002013-08-04T14:08:10-07:00Hanley jams shoulder at Wrigley, MRI Monday
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<figcaption>David Banks-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Ramirez appeared to hurt his right shoulder after falling into the stands after a catch at Wrigley Field on Sunday.</p> <p><a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a> shortstop <span>Hanley Ramirez</span> appeared to hurt his right shoulder as he went into the stands making a catch in the seventh inning on Sunday against the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cubs</a> at Wrigley Field. Ramirez, the Dodgers' best hitter this season and in many ways the key cog in their ascent to the top of the National League West, left the game immediately.</p>
<p>The Dodgers announced after the game that Ramirez has a jammed right shoulder and that he'd be evaluated again on Monday.</p>
<p>Ramirez ranged to the Cubs' bullpen, down the left field line at Wrigley Field, to catch a foul pop up by <span>David DeJesus</span>. After Ramirez caught the ball his momentum took him into the stands, where he tumbled over the wall.</p>
<p align="center"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3006815/hanley.gif"></p>
<p>Ramirez was holding his right shoulder as he walked off the field with trainers and manager Don Mattingly. <span>Nick Punto</span> replaced Ramirez at shortstop.</p>
<p>It has been a great season for Ramirez, when healthy. He has hit .361/.411/.644 with 11 home runs and 37 RBI in 54 games. But he has also had two long stints on the disabled list. He missed the first 24 games of the season after March thumb surgery, then missed another 28 games in May with a right hamstring strain.</p>
<p>This is not the same shoulder Ramirez had surgery on while with the <a href="https://www.fishstripes.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Marlins</a>. He had season-ending arhtroscopic surgery in 2011 on his <i>left</i> shoulder.</p>
<p>The Dodgers are 32-14 when Ramirez starts this season.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/8/4/4588468/hanley-ramirez-injury-right-shoulder-dodgersEric Stephen2013-08-04T10:07:45-07:002013-08-04T10:07:45-07:00Puig out of lineup in Wrigley finale
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<figcaption>Jonathan Daniel</figcaption>
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<p>Puig has played in 53 of 54 games since joining the Dodgers, including 50 stars, but he is out of the starting lineup for the Dodgers in Sunday's series finale at Wrigley Field.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> for a four-game sweep of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> on Sunday afternoon, and will do so without outfielder <span>Yasiel Puig</span> in the starting lineup. Puig <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2013/8/3/4586308/yasiel-puig-injury-dodgers-left-thumb-contusion" target="_blank">suffered a left thumb contusion while making a diving catch in the seventh inning on Saturday</a> and left the stadium with a brace on his left hand.</p>
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<h2>Starting Lineups</h2>
<table class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" cellspacing="2" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="2"><tbody>
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<td align="center" colspan="2" bgcolor="#157dec" width="125"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Dodgers</b></font></td>
<td align="center" colspan="2" bgcolor="#0e3386" width="125"><font color="#fffff"><b>Cubs</b></font></td>
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<td>LF</td>
<td>Crawford (L)</td>
<td>CF</td>
<td>DeJesus (L)</td>
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<td>2B</td>
<td>Ellis</td>
<td>LF</td>
<td>Lake</td>
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<td>1B</td>
<td>Gonzalez (L)</td>
<td>1B</td>
<td>Rizzo (L)</td>
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<td>SS</td>
<td>Ramirez</td>
<td>C</td>
<td>Navarro</td>
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<td>CF</td>
<td>Ethier (L)</td>
<td>RF</td>
<td>Schierholtz (L)</td>
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<td>C</td>
<td>Ellis</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>Ransom</td>
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<td>RF</td>
<td>Schumaker (L)</td>
<td>2B</td>
<td>Watkins (L)</td>
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<td>3B</td>
<td>Uribe</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>Barney</td>
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<td>P</td>
<td>Fife</td>
<td>P</td>
<td>Villaneuva</td>
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</tbody></table>
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<p>Puig's injury likely isn't too bad, as <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2013/8/4/4586952/stephen-fife-activated-dodgers-disabled-list-scott-van-slyke-optioned" target="_blank">the Dodgers optioned their fourth outfielder in Scott Van Slyke before the game</a>. For what it is worth, manager Don Mattingly told reporters before the game he thinks Puig will be back in the starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> in St. Louis, <a href="https://twitter.com/THEREAL_DV/status/364063869632647168" target="_blank">per Dodger Talk co-host David Vassegh</a>.</p>
<p>In each of the first three games of the series, Puig had two hits and a walk, including a home run and a double on Thursday. Puig has six multi-hit games in his last 11 contests, hitting .425/.540/.725 during that span (17-for-40) with eight walks, three home runs, three doubles and 12 runs scored.</p>
<p>The Dodgers' last sweep of four games or more at Wrigley Field came 25 years ago, when the club <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2013/7/18/4533258/1988-dodgers-week-15-review-kirk-gibson-alejandro-pena">won all five games in Chicago directly after the All-Star break from July 14-18, 1988</a>.</p>
<p>The Dodgers are 30-7 after their 30-42 start, their best 37-game mark for the franchise since the 1953 Brooklyn team that ended up with a team record 105 wins and a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/world-series">World Series</a> trip.</p>
<p>If the team is able to complete their four-game sweep on Sunday, the Dodgers would be the first MLB team to go 31-7 since <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIN/2006_sched.shtml#62" target="_blank">the 2006 Twins</a>. There hasn't been a better 38-game stretch since <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/1998_sched.shtml#6" target="_blank">the 114-win Yankees went 32-6 in 1998</a>, and only three teams in the interim have even reached 31-7 over a 38-game stretch: the <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/OAK/2001_sched.shtml#108" target="_blank">Athletics in 2001</a>, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/OAK/2002_sched.shtml#119" target="_blank">2002</a> and <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/OAK/2005_sched.shtml#67" target="_blank">2005</a>.</p>
<p>The Dodgers' franchise-best 13-game road winning streak is the longest in baseball since the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Mariners</a> won 15 straight between 2001-2002. The National League record for consecutive road wins is 17, by the 1916 New York <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a>, and the major league record is 21, by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Tigers</a> in 1983-1984.</p>
<h3>Cubs move</h3>
<p>The Dodgers weren't the only team to make a roster move before Sunday's series finale. The Cubs placed infielder <span>Luis Valbuena</span> on the 15-day disabled list with a strained oblique, and recalled infielder <span>Logan Watkins</span> from Triple-A Iowa. Watkins starts at second base and bats seventh for the Cubs on Sunday, making his major league debut.</p>
<h3>Game info</h3>
<p>Time: 11:20 a.m.</p>
<p>TV: Prime Ticket, WGN</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_08_04_lanmlb_chnmlb_1">MLB Gameday</a></p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/8/4/4587086/yasiel-puig-starting-lineup-dodgers-vs-cubsEric Stephen2013-08-04T09:30:44-07:002013-08-04T09:30:44-07:00Dodgers activate Fife to start finale against Cubs
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Fife missed 23 games with right shoulder bursitis, the second time this season the pitcher has been on the disabled list for said injury.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> activated pitcher <span>Stephen Fife</span> from the disabled list, and the right-hander will start on the mound on Sunday going for the sweep of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> at Wrigley Field. To make room on the roster, the Dodgers optioned outielder <span>Scott Van Slyke</span> to Triple-A Albuquerque.</p>
<p><span>Carlos Marmol</span>, who has allowed 10 baserunners and recorded 11 outs, and hasn't appeared in an inning as a Dodger without allowing at least two runners to reach, remains employed.</p>
<p>The move to start Fife pushes back the rest of the starting rotation an extra day, and allows the Dodgers to start both <span>Zack Greinke</span> and <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> against both the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Rays</a> next week, teams that own the fifth- and fourth-best record, respectively, in MLB.</p>
<p>Fife is 3-3 with a 2.76 ERA in eight starts for the Dodgers this season, and beat out <span>Chris Capuano</span> for the fifth starter spot just before the All-Star break. But Fife was placed on the disabled list with right shoulder bursitis that caused him to miss 23 games.</p>
<p>Fife made a pair of rehab starts with Triple-A Albuquerque and allowed three runs, two earned, in 10⅓ innings, with 13 strikeouts and two walks. He last started Monday for the Isotopes and threw 83 pitches in six innings, with seven strikeouts and one unearned run allowed.</p>
<p>Starting Fife on Sunday also temporarily delays the decision of Fife or Capuano for the fifth starter spot, which will come up next on Friday against Tampa Bay at Dodger Stadium. Capuano, who is 4-6 with a 4.16 ERA, has been inconsistent this season but has also pitched 13 scoreless innings over his last two starts and since returning from the disabled list on June 19 has a 3.16 ERA in eight starts, including five scoreless outings.</p>
<p>Van Slyke hit .242/.327/.505 in 36 games in multiple stints for the Dodgers this season, with six home runs and seven doubles in 110 plate appearances. Van Slyke started each of the last three games for the Dodgers, filling in at right field, left field and first base. Van Slyke, who was just recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque on Wednesday, was 2-for-8 with a double and three walks in the series at Wrigley Field.</p>
<p>The Dodgers temporarily have 13 pitchers on the active roster, though that could be remedied by optioning Fife to Triple-A after Sunday's game. Since both <span>Elian Herrera</span> and Van Slyke have been optioned without the last 10 days, they couldn't be called up without someone else going on the disabled list. That leaves <span>Alex Castellanos</span>, <span>Dee Gordon</span> and <span>Justin Sellers</span> as potential call-ups from Triple-A Albuquerque, just counting non-catchers on the 40-man rosters.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/8/4/4586952/stephen-fife-activated-dodgers-disabled-list-scott-van-slyke-optionedEric Stephen