True Blue LA - Aug. 18: Phillies 3, Dodgers 2Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2013-08-18T14:02:09-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/43970352013-08-18T14:02:09-07:002013-08-18T14:02:09-07:00Phillies 3, Dodgers 2: Defensive let down in 9th
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/LOyVF4v0Xd41z-LWu7-92nM_kX4=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/18070433/20130818_hcs_sy4_016.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Dodgers, once up 2-0 on Sunday, suffered their second loss of August, and snapped a streak of 30 straight wins when they had scored first.</p> <p>Well, it had to come to an end at some point. <span>Hanley Ramirez</span> committed two errors in the bottom of the ninth, including a walk-off E6 to give the <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Phillies</a> a 3-2 win over the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a>, snapping Los Angeles' win streak at 10 games.</p>
<p><span>Casper Wells</span> reached base with one out in the ninth when Ramirez bounced a throw to first base. Ramirez got the error, but it was really a ball that should have been caught by <span>Jerry Hairston</span>, making a spot start on Sunday for <span>Adrian Gonzalez</span>.</p>
<p>After Carlos Ruiz advanced Wells to third base with his fourth hit of the day, pinch hitter <span>Jimmy Rollins</span> was walked intentionally to load the bases for pinch hitter Michael Young. With the infield in and one out, Young grounded to Ramirez, who booted the ball then inexplicably threw to first base but at that point the game had been all but decided, as he had no chance to get Wells at home.</p>
<p><span>Brandon League</span>, who replaced <span>Paco Rodriguez</span> after the lefty retired all four batters he faced on just 15 pitches, allowed one single, an intentional walk and two ground balls to shortstop. But thanks to the defense he got no outs and was hung with the loss.</p>
<p>The Dodgers got on the board first with a home run by <span>Andre Ethier</span> off <span>Cole Hamels</span> in the second inning. It was his ninth home run of the season for Ethier, and his third against a left-handed pitcher. Ethier went 2-for-4 on the day, and is hitting .317/.402/.477 on the road this season.</p>
<p>Ethier also singled in the fourth inning and ultimately scored on a single by Hairston, who was 2-for-4 in his spot start at first base. But that was all for the offense on Sunday.</p>
<p>"We didn't do enough," manager Don Mattingly said after the game, via Prime Ticket, "We didn't put ourselves in position to win. Really we just kind of stayed in the position to have a chance to lose, and extend the game. We just didn't tack on any runs."</p>
<p><span>Ricky Nolasco</span> allowed a home run to <span>Darin Ruf</span> in the fourth inning, snapping the Dodgers' collective streak of 30 consecutive scoreless innings. It ruined the chances of matching the 1966 Dodgers as the last team in franchise history with a shutout sweep of three or more games (the 1966 team <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/tgl.cgi?t=p&team=LAD&year=1966#139-142-sum">shutout Houston in four straight games</a>).</p>
<p>Then the Phillies rallied in the sixth. The statuesque <span>Chase Utley</span> watched a pitch hit him, then beat Yasiel Puig's throw to third base on a single to right field by <span>Domonic Brown</span>.</p>
<p>Unfortunately for the Dodgers Puig's throw was too high to get Utley and too high to be cut off, and Brown easily advanced to second base. Fortunately for the Dodgers, Philadelphia was unable to cash in the extra runner in scoring position, though they did tie the game at 2-2 when Utley scored on a slow ground ball by <span>Cody Asche</span>.</p>
<p>That was all Nolasco would allow in his six innings, the eighth straight start with the Dodgers for the right-hander allowing three or fewer runs.</p>
<p>The Dodgers were unable to score again off Hamels, who struck out eight and walked none in his seven innings. Hamels has a 2.05 ERA in his last nine starts with 55 strikeouts and just eight walks in 63 innings.</p>
<p><span>Jonathan Papelbon</span> pitched a scoreless ninth inning to pick up the victory for the Phillies.</p>
<h3>Up next</h3>
<p>The Dodgers take their road show down to Miami for four games. Hyun-jin Ryu, who faced and beat <span>Matt Harvey</span> in his last start, goes for the Dodgers in the opener Monday night. Ryu got another challenging draw, facing <span>Jose Fernandez</span> of the <a href="https://www.fishstripes.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Marlins</a> as the Dodgers try to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time since June 20-21.</p>
<h3>Sunday particulars</h3>
<p><b>Home runs</b>: Andre Ethier (9), Darin Ruf (8)</p>
<p><b>WP - Jonathan Papelbon (3-1)</b>: 1 IP, 1 hit, 2 strikeouts</p>
<p><b>LP - Brandon League (6-4)</b>: 0 IP, 1 hit, 1 unearned run, 1 intentional walk</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/8/18/4634190/hanley-ramirez-defense-dodgers-phillies-recapEric Stephen2013-08-18T08:30:02-07:002013-08-18T08:30:02-07:00Dodgers road warriors at the plate
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5hZjRw-QUi46QSow19bMtsNt0bw=/29x0:3971x2628/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/18045865/173114007.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Thearon W. Henderson</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Dodgers have won 19 of their last 20 games while wearing the road grays, thanks in large part to an offense that seems to spring to life away from Dodger Stadium.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> have already won their series against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a>, and have won seven of their last eight games at Citizens Bank Park, the home of playoff tortures and five straight postseason losses in 2008 and 2009. But the 2013 Dodgers are a different breed, and look to complete their fifth sweep in their last six road series.</p>
<div class="sidebar">
<table align="center" border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"><tbody>
<tr>
<th colspan="4">Dodgers on the Road </th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><u><b>Player</b></u></td>
<td align="center"><u><b>Home OPS</b></u></td>
<td align="center"><u><b>Road OPS</b></u></td>
<td align="center"><u><b>Difference</b></u></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ethier</td>
<td align="center">.617</td>
<td align="center">.864</td>
<td align="center">+.247</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kemp</td>
<td align="center">.581</td>
<td align="center">.827</td>
<td align="center">+.246</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ellis, A</td>
<td align="center">.601</td>
<td align="center">.796</td>
<td align="center">+.195</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Pitchers</td>
<td align="center">.373</td>
<td align="center">.558</td>
<td align="center">+.185</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ramirez</td>
<td align="center">.986</td>
<td align="center">1.117</td>
<td align="center">+.141</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Uribe</td>
<td align="center">.743</td>
<td align="center">.753</td>
<td align="center">+.010</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Schumaker</td>
<td align="center">.678</td>
<td align="center">.677</td>
<td align="center">-.001</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Gonzalez</td>
<td align="center">.824</td>
<td align="center">.771</td>
<td align="center">-.053</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Punto</td>
<td align="center">.710</td>
<td align="center">.641</td>
<td align="center">-.069</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ellis, M</td>
<td align="center">.767</td>
<td align="center">.658</td>
<td align="center">-.109</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Puig</td>
<td align="center">1.062</td>
<td align="center">.948</td>
<td align="center">-.114</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Crawford</td>
<td align="center">.829</td>
<td align="center">.686</td>
<td align="center">-.143</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<p>The Dodgers are an absurd 19-1 in their last 20 road games, the first team since the 1916 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a> to pull off that feat, <a target="_blank" href="http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=330817122">per STATS</a>. At 35-25, the Dodgers own the best away mark in the majors (.583), percentage points ahead of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a> (36-26, .580).</p>
<p>On the road the Dodgers are hitting .274/.342/.412 and scoring 4.70 runs per game, compared to .262/.317/.380 and 3.50 runs per game at home.</p>
<p>On the other side of the ball the home and road numbers are much closer, as Dodgers opponents are hitting .243/.308/.367 and averaging 3.65 runs against the Dodgers pitching and defense on the road, compared to .246/.305/.368 and 3.66 runs against at Dodger Stadium.</p>
<p>A few notes:</p>
<ul>
<li> <span>Andre Ethier</span> has hit 16 of his 25 doubles on the road and has hit .313/.401/.463 on the road compared to .217/.289/.328 at Dodger Stadium.</li>
<li> <span>A.J. Ellis</span> is a .272/.366/.430 hitter away, compared to .234/.301/.299 at home, with all six of his home runs hit on the road.</li>
<li> <span>Juan Uribe</span> has hit five of his seven home runs on the road.</li>
<li>Dodgers pitchers .220/.274/.284 with seven extra-base hits on the road, compared to .134/.185/.188 with three extra-base hits at home.</li>
<li> <span>Adrian Gonzalez</span> has hit 10 of his 16 home runs away from home, but has hit 16 of his 25 doubles at Dodger Stadium.</li>
<li> <span>Tim Federowicz</span> is hitting .263/.311/.421 on the road, but .190/.290/.293 at Dodger Stadium.</li>
<li>With runners in scoring position the Dodgers are hitting .273/.351/.376 on the road, compared to .239/.323/.356 at home.</li>
</ul>
<p><span>Ricky Nolasco</span> has made five of his seven starts as a Dodger on the road, and on Sunday looks for his fourth straight victory. Nolasco has yet to allow more than three runs in a game since joining the Dodgers, going 4-1 with a 2.97 ERA, 29 strikeouts and 13 walks in 39⅓ innings.</p>
<p>That juggernaut Dodgers road offense will face <span>Cole Hamels</span>, who has pitched quite well since the beginning of July. The southpaw Hamels is 3-2 with a 1.98 ERA in his last eight starts, with 47 strikeouts and just eight walks in 59 innings.</p>
<div class="read-more">
<h3>Starting Lineups</h3>
<p>A 10-game winning streak, plus at the front end of 13 games in 13 days means lots of rest for the regulars and a house money lineup for the finale in Philadelphia.
</p>
<table class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" align="center" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"><tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#157dec" width="125"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Dodgers</b></font></td>
<td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#CA1f2c" width="125"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Phillies</b></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2B</td>
<td>Ellis<br>
</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>Martinez (S)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3B</td>
<td>Punto (S)<br>
</td>
<td>1B</td>
<td>Frandsen<br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SS</td>
<td>Ramirez</td>
<td>2B</td>
<td>Utley (L)<br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RF</td>
<td>Puig</td>
<td>LF</td>
<td>Brown (L)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CF</td>
<td>Ethier (L)<br>
</td>
<td>RF</td>
<td>Ruf</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LF</td>
<td>Van Slyke<br>
</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>Asche (L)<br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1B</td>
<td>Hairston<br>
</td>
<td>CF</td>
<td>Wells</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C</td>
<td>Federowicz<br>
</td>
<td>C</td>
<td>Ruiz<br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>P</td>
<td>Nolasco<br>
</td>
<td>P</td>
<td>Hamels (L)<br>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<h3>Game info</h3>
<p>Time: 10:35 a.m.</p>
<p>TV: Prime Ticket, TBS</p>
<p><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_08_18_lanmlb_phimlb_1" target="_blank">MLB Gameday</a></p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/8/18/4632956/dodgers-phillies-preview-road-recordEric Stephen2013-08-15T18:43:43-07:002013-08-15T18:43:43-07:00Dodgers-Phillies pitching matchups
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3uNApYQAEjBwke0zBr_T5jxsgp8=/1x0:998x665/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/17940673/20120705_hcs_sy4_068.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Dodgers beat the Phillies in three of four games at Dodger Stadium from June 27-30, back in the first week of the Dodgers' current 40-8 run.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a> have an eight-game winning streak they will take on the road for their seven-game trip. The team will likely lose at some point, and judging by the pitching matchups it could even happen this weekend in Philadelphia. Here is a look at the schedule against the <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Phillies</a> and the starting pitching matchups.</p>
<h3>Friday, 4:05 p.m. (Prime Ticket)</h3>
<p>The best pitching matchup of the series comes in the very first game, with a pair of Cy Young Award winners pitching in the opener. <span>Zack Greinke</span> has allowed nine total runs in his last seven starts, with a 1.66 ERA during that span to go with 41 strikeouts and nine walks. <span>Cliff Lee</span> has been battling a stiff neck recently, and has allowed at least three runs in six straight starts, including at least four runs in four of his last five outings. Lee has a 5.64 ERA over his last five starts.</p>
<h3>Saturday, 4:05 p.m. (KCAL, MLB Network)</h3>
<p><span>Clayton Kershaw</span> has allowed two or fewer runs in five straight starts and in eight of his last nine. Kershaw has a 1.57 ERA in those last nine starts, with 63 strikeouts and seven walks. <span>Kyle Kendrick</span> took the loss at Dodger Stadium on June 30, allowing four runs in six innings. After entering that game 7-4 with a 3.46 ERA, Kendrick is 3-5 with a 7.07 ERA in his last eight starts.</p>
<h3>Sunday, 10:35 a.m. (Prime Ticket, TBS)</h3>
<p><span>Ricky Nolasco</span> is 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA in three starts against the Phillies this season, and has lasted at least six innings in all three starts. The <a href="https://www.fishstripes.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Marlins</a> scored just five total runs in those three games, so Nolasco will be looking for more support from the Dodgers on Sunday. It's a little jarring to see <span>Cole Hamels</span> tied for the MLB lead in losses, but even at 5-13 his ERA is 3.65, and in his last eight starts he's at 1.98 with 47 strikeouts and eight walks. That sounds like the Hamels we know.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/8/15/4626318/dodgers-vs-phillies-tv-schedule-starting-pitchersEric Stephen