True Blue LA - Aug. 14: Dodgers 5, Mets 4 (12)Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2013-08-15T00:06:24-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/43866432013-08-15T00:06:24-07:002013-08-15T00:06:24-07:00Dodgers 5, Mets 4: Of course that happened
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<figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Spor</figcaption>
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<p>The Dodgers have not lost a series since June 14-16 in Pittsburgh, and are 12-0-4 in their last 16 series. The run continued Wednesday night with a comeback 5-4 win to end a perfect homestand.</p> <p>At this point it doesn't seem to matter how much the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a> fall behind, as they seemingly always find a way to come back. <span>Andre Ethier</span> hit a game-tying home run in the ninth inning, then <span>Yasiel Puig</span> and <span>Adrian Gonzalez</span> hit back-to-back doubles in the 12th inning to give the Dodgers another thrilling win, 5-4 over the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Mets</a> to complete a three-game sweep.</p>
<p>The Dodgers have won eight straight games, including all six on the homestand, their first homestand sweep since April 2012. The Dodgers are 23-3 since the All-Star break and 40-8 since June 22, the first MLB team to win 40 out of 48 games since the 1942 <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cardinals</a>, who went 41-7.</p>
<p>That team featured a 21-year-old rookie named Stan Musial. This Dodgers team had several players audition for the role of The Man on Wednesday night.</p>
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<li>Ethier, out of the lineup a second straight day with left calf tightness, pinch hit in the ninth inning against <span>LaTroy Hawkins</span> and homered to the opposite field to erase a two-run deficit and tie the game at 4-4.</li>
<li>Some losses qualify as a gut punch, but this one might have been a groin punch for the Mets, as <span>Jerry Hairston</span> preceded Ethier with a ground ball that hit Hawkins in the groin. After a few warm-up pitches Hawkins stayed in, but was he adversely affected enough to allw the home run to Ethier?</li>
<li> <span>Carlos Marmol</span> struck out three in two scoreless innings, keeping the Mets down in the ninth, 10th and 11th innings. Marmol also batted for himself in the 10th and flew out to left field, a ball that was seen by thousands of hearts as a near home run, even if it wasn't really close.</li>
<li> <span>Chris Withrow</span> also pitched two scoreless frames, part of a stellar bullpen effort that included nine strikeouts in seven scoreless innings.</li>
<li>Gonzalez, who had his RBI streak stopped at seven games on Tuesday night, delivered the winning run with a line drive down the left field line to score Puig. Gonzalez was 3-for-6 on the night.</li>
<li>That Puig was even on second base was a story in itself. Puig already put his stamp on the game with <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2013/8/14/4623114/yasiel-puig-throw-marlon-byrd-gif-dodgers-mets">a laser throw in the second inning to nail Marlon Byrd at third base</a>, then in the 12th he grounded a ball just past shortstop <span>Omar Quintanilla</span> into short center field. Puig never stopped running and made it into second base, putting himself in scoring position for Gonzalez. Without looking it up, Puig had the best 1-for-6 game by a Dodger this season.</li>
<li> <span>Hanley Ramirez</span> welcomed himself back to the lineup nicely, as he was 2-for-5 with an RBI in his first start in 10 days.</li>
<li> <span>Paco Rodriguez</span> finished the aforementioned bullpen brilliance, recording the final four outs for his third win of the season.</li>
</ul>
<p>The Dodgers have won 12 straight one-run games, a franchise record, and remained 7½ games up in the National League West.</p>
<p><span>Marlon Byrd</span> had three hits, including a three-run home run in the third inning, and just about the only thing he had trouble with on Wednesday was reaching third base. After singling in the second inning, he tried to advance to third base on a single by <span>Justin Turner</span>, <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2013/8/14/4623114/yasiel-puig-throw-marlon-byrd-gif-dodgers-mets" target="_blank">only to be thrown out by a laser beam from Yasiel Puig in right field</a>.</p>
<p>But the Mets weren't done against <span>Chris Capuano</span>. Andrew Brown - no, not <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/brownan01.shtml" target="_blank">the one traded for Milton Bradley twice</a> - hit one past Puig later in the second inning to score Turner for a quick 1-0 lead.</p>
<p><span>Dillon Gee</span> held the Dodgers scoreless through five innings, but they got to him in the sixth. A double by Ramirez, in his first game back in the lineup in 10 days, followed a single by Adrian Gonzalez, and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with one out. A ground out by <span>Mark Ellis</span> and a single by Hairston brought home two runs, but <span>Tim Federowicz</span> struck out to end the frame.</p>
<p>Capuano snapped his streak of allowing either zero runs or five earned runs at nine starts, and he settled Friday night for allowing four runs on 10 hits in five innings, with two walks and three strikeouts. Capuano's alternate for the fifth starter role <span>Stephen Fife</span>, pitching in relief for Triple-A Albuquerque temporarily to keep him ready to come up for a spot start at a moment's notice if needed, allowed two runs on three hits <a target="_blank" href="http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2013_08_14_slcaaa_albaaa_1&t=g_box&did=milb&sid=t342">in two innings for the Isotopes on Wednesday night</a>, with one walk and no strikeouts.</p>
<p>The Dodgers won all six games of their homestand, including games their trailed 6-0, 2-0, 1-0 and 4-0.</p>
<h3>Up next</h3>
<p>The Dodgers have Thursday off, but open a three-game series in Philadelphia on Friday night. <span>Zack Greinke</span> gets the start in the opener, with southpaw <span>Cliff Lee</span> starting for the <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Phillies</a>. Whether the Dodgers bullpen will have <span>Brian Wilson</span> remains to be seen.</p>
<h3>Wednesday particulars</h3>
<p><b>Home run</b>: Andre Ethier (8), Marlon Byrd (18)</p>
<p><b>WP - Paco Rodriguez (3-2)</b>: 1⅓ IP, 1 hit, 2 strikeouts</p>
<p><b>LP - <span>Pedro Feliciano</span> (0-1)</b>: ⅓ IP, 2 hits, 1 run</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/8/15/4623354/andre-ethier-adrian-gonzalez-yasiel-puig-dodgers-mets-recapEric Stephen2013-08-14T19:37:31-07:002013-08-14T19:37:31-07:00Yasiel Puig goes Byrd hunting
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<figcaption>SB Nation</figcaption>
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<p>The Dodgers rookie unleashed his great throwing arm on Wednesday night against the Mets at Dodger Stadium.</p> <p>In the top of the second inning on Tuesday night after <span>Marlon Byrd</span> of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> singled, he tried to advance to third base on a bloop single to right field by <span>Justin Turner</span>. But <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> outfielder <span>Yasiel Puig</span> had other ideas.</p>
<p align="center"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3057911/puiglaser.gif"></p>
<p>It was Puig's sixth outfield assist of the season, one shy of <span>Andre Ethier</span> for the team lead.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/8/14/4623114/yasiel-puig-throw-marlon-byrd-gif-dodgers-metsEric Stephen2013-08-14T17:46:13-07:002013-08-14T17:46:13-07:00Tolleson moves rehab to Class-A Rancho Cucamonga
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<figcaption>Rob Tringali</figcaption>
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<p>Tolleson is building toward a return roughly four months after lower back surgery.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a> bullpen figures to have a different look as early as Friday, with the potential addition of <span>Brian Wilson</span>. But come September there will be even more reinforcements. One of those could be <span>Shawn Tolleson</span>, who has moved his minor league rehab assignment to Class-A Rancho Cucamonga.</p>
<p>Tolleson had <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2013/4/25/4264942/shawn-tolleson-injury-dodgers-back-surgery" target="_blank">surgery on April 25 to repair a herniated disc in his lower back</a>, and has missed nearly four months. He pitched one rehab game for the AZL Dodgers on Sunday, pitching one scoreless inning with a walk.</p>
<p>After beginning the season with Triple-A Albuquerque, Tolleson <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2013/4/12/4218480/zack-greinke-disabled-list-shawn-tolleson-recalled-dodgers" target="_blank">was recalled on Apr. 12</a> after <span>Zack Greinke</span> broke his collarbone in San Diego. Tolleson appeared in just one game for the Dodgers, and walked both batters he faced. He needs to return if only to avoid becoming <a href="http://bbref.com/pi/shareit/pAEkQ" target="_blank">the fourth Dodgers pitcher to face at least two batters in a season and not record an out</a>. The last to do so was Cal McLish in 1946.</p>
<p>Another returning reliever will be <span>Jose Dominguez</span>, who was placed on the disabled list on July 23 with a left quad strain. Dominguez, owner of <a target="new" href="http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=0&type=4&season=2013&month=0&season1=2013&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=4,d">the second-fastest average fastball in MLB at 98.5 mph</a>, put up a 2.16 ERA in nine games, with four strikeouts and three walks in his first stint in the big leagues.</p>
<p>Dominguez has been rehabbing at Camelback Ranch in Arizona. His return schedule just happens to coincide with the timing of rosters expanding on September 1. How convenient.</p>
<p>"From the emails I'm reading, he's still kind of going slow. He hasn't really gotten to where he's throwing off flat ground. He is just starting to play catch from a certain distance," manager Don Mattingly said on Friday. "He's been moving a little slow. If he was ready by (September) first that would be optimistic."</p>
<p>Add in others on the 40-man roster, like <span>Javy Guerra</span> (2.23 ERA, 27 strikeouts in 32⅓ innings in Triple-A Albuquerque) and <span>Peter Moylan</span> (.303 ERA, 39 strikeouts in 38⅔ innings with the Isotopes), plus <span>Stephen Fife</span> as the sixth starter and potential long man in the bullpen, and the Dodgers have quite a selection of helpful arms to add as reinforcements in September.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/8/14/4622722/shawn-tolleson-rehab-assignment-rancho-cucamongaEric Stephen2013-08-14T16:19:22-07:002013-08-14T16:19:22-07:00Hanley back in lineup, Ethier sits again
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<figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>A pair of injuries suffered 10 days ago are still relevant on Wednesday. Ramirez is back from his injury, while Ethier is still battling complications from his.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a> got some good news and bad news with their lineup on Wednesday. As expected, <span>Hanley Ramirez</span> is back in the starting lineup against the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Mets</a>, his first start since Aug. 4. But outfielder <span>Andre Ethier</span> is out of the lineup for a second straight day while dealing with a right calf injury.</p>
<div class="sidebar">
<h2>Starting Lineups</h2>
<table class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" cellspacing="2" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="2"><tbody>
<tr>
<td align="center" colspan="2" bgcolor="#004685" width="125"><font color="#F7742C"><b>Mets</b></font></td>
<td align="center" colspan="2" bgcolor="#157dec" width="125"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Dodgers</b></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CF</td>
<td>Lagares</td>
<td>LF</td>
<td>Crawford (L)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2B</td>
<td>Murphy (L)</td>
<td>RF</td>
<td>Puig</td>
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<td>3B</td>
<td>Satin<br>
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<td>1B</td>
<td>Gonzalez (L)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RF</td>
<td>Byrd</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>Ramirez</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SS</td>
<td>Turner</td>
<td>CF</td>
<td>Schumaker (L)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1B</td>
<td>Davis (L)</td>
<td>2B</td>
<td>Elis</td>
</tr>
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<td>LF</td>
<td>Brown</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>Hairston</td>
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<td>C</td>
<td>Buck</td>
<td>C</td>
<td>Federowicz</td>
</tr>
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<td>P</td>
<td>Gee</td>
<td>P</td>
<td>Capuano (L)</td>
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</tbody></table>
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<p>Ramirez jammed his shoulder against the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cubs</a> on Aug. 4, and has been limited to one pinch hitting opportunity in the past nine games. He struck out. <span>Nick Punto</span> (six starts) and <span>Dee Gordon</span> (three games) did admirable work filling in for Ramirez, especially at the plate. That duo combined to hit .424/.500/.606 (14-for-33) with seven RBI and six runs scored.</p>
<p>Ramirez, hitting .359/.410/.641 with 11 home runs in 55 games this season, is back batting cleanup on Wednesday against <span>Dillon Gee</span>. But bating fifth in center field behind Ramirez is <span>Skip Schumaker</span> and not Ethier, who is out for a second straight day.</p>
<p>Ethier was <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2013/8/13/4620044/andre-ethier-injury-dodgers-calf">sent to the hospital on Tuesday</a> as his calf hadn't healed since getting hit by a pitch on Aug. 4 at Wrigley Field, the same game in which Ramirez was injured. Ethier on Tuesday sounded as if he might play on Wednesday but it makes sense he is given an extra day, especially with the off day on Thursday. That way Ethier can have a full three days off before the Dodgers open a weekend series in Philadelphia against the <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Phillies</a> on Friday.</p>
<p><span>Tim Federowicz</span> gets the call behind the plate, his 10th consecutive time catching <span>Chris Capuano</span>.</p>
<h3>Game info</h3>
<p>Time: 7:10 p.m.</p>
<p>TV: Prime Ticket</p>
<p><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_08_14_nynmlb_lanmlb_1" target="_blank">MLB Gameday</a></p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/8/14/4622440/hanley-ramirez-andre-ethier-dodgers-mets-starting-lineupsEric Stephen2013-08-14T15:12:11-07:002013-08-14T15:12:11-07:00Capuano goes for sweep of Mets
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<figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Dodgers have fared quite well in 2013 when afforded the opportunity to sweep an opponent. They get another chance on Wednesday night against the Mets.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> go for their eighth straight victory on Wednesday night as they host the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> in the series finale at Dodger Stadium. Los Angeles also goes for a sweep, something they have been quite good at closing out when given the opportunity.</p>
<p>Ten times the Dodgers have had an opportunity to finish off a sweep, including one two-game series and one four-game set. The Dodgers are 8-2 in the final games of those series, including 4-1 at home.</p>
<p>A win on Wednesday would give the Dodgers a homestand sweep (6-0), their first undefeated homestand <a href="http://Jo-Lonn%20Dunbar,%20Joe%20Don%20Baker%20suspended%204%20games%20by%20NFL%20http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2013/8/14/4622180/jo-lonn-dunbar-suspended-rams-nfl" target="_blank">since April 10-15, 2012</a>, when they won six games against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a>.</p>
<p>The last time the Dodgers had a winning streak this long was when <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/tgl.cgi?t=p&team=LAD&year=2010#31-39-sum" target="_blank">they won nine straight in May 2010</a>.</p>
<p>We have talked so much about the Dodgers' 39-8 run, the best mark in the majors since the 1951 New York <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a>. But the Dodgers are also 22-3 since the All-Star break. It matches the best run in franchise history, also accomplished in Brooklyn in 1955 (that team started 22-2), 1953, 1941 and 1899. It is the best 25-game stretch for any major league team this season.</p>
<p><span>Chris Capuano</span> takes the mound for the Dodgers in the series finale, with his streak of zero or five earned runs at nine consecutive starts. In those nine starts Capuano is 3-2 with a 3.83 ERA, with 32 strikeouts against just five walks in 47 innings. The Dodgers have won seven of the nine games, including each of the last five.</p>
<p><span>Dillon Gee</span> starts for the Mets on Wednesday. The right-hander has lasted at least 6... innings in each of his last seven starts and in 12 of his last 13 starts. In those 13 starts Gee is 6-2 with a 2.42 ERA with 64 strikeouts and 20 walks.</p>
<h3>Game info</h3>
<p>Time: 7:10 p.m.</p>
<p>TV: Prime Ticket</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_08_14_nynmlb_lanmlb_1">MLB Gameday</a></p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/8/14/4621942/dodgers-mets-previewEric Stephen2013-08-12T12:00:08-07:002013-08-12T12:00:08-07:00Dodgers-Mets pitching matchups
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<figcaption>Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Dodgers look to extend their winning ways against the Mets, and will face National League Cy Young Award contender Matt Harvey in the middle game of the series.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a> started their homestand off with a weekend sweep of the <a href="https://www.draysbay.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Rays</a>, and now welcome the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Mets</a> to town beginning Monday night at Dodger Stadium. Here is a look at the pitching matchups for the three-game series at Chavez Ravine.</p>
<h3>Monday, 7:10 p.m. (Prime Ticket)</h3>
<p>The Dodgers are 5-1 in <span>Ricky Nolasco's</span> six starts, but after pitching seven innings in his debut in blue the right-hander has recorded between 15 and 17 outs in his last five starts. He's 5-8 with a 5.13 ERA in 24 career games against the Mets, including 0-2 with a 4.30 ERA in the last three seasons. <span>Jenrry Mejia</span> has only made three starts since rejoining the Mets, but he has been impressive with 18 strikeouts and a 1.96 ERA in 18⅓ innings.</p>
<h3>Tuesday, 7:10 p.m. (KCAL)</h3>
<p>Hyun-jin Ryu has received 53 runs of support in his last eight starts, all Dodgers wins, and the rookie left-hander has put up a 3.06 ERA during that span. <span>Matt Harvey</span>, the man who made <span>Clayton Kershaw's</span> All-Star Game start, has allowed just three earned runs in his last four starts and just 13 total runs in his last nine starts.</p>
<h3>Wednesday, 7:10 p.m. (Prime Ticket)</h3>
<p><span>Chris Capuano</span> has allowed either zero runs or five earned runs in each of his last nine starts. <span>Dillon Gee</span> has allowed two or fewer runs in 10 of his last 13 starts, with a 2.42 ERA during that span. Gee has lost both career starts at Dodger Stadium, allowing 10 runs in 11⅔ innings.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/8/12/4614568/dodgers-vs-mets-tv-schedule-starting-pitchersEric Stephen