True Blue LA - April 25: Rockies 5, Dodgers 4 (11)Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2014-04-25T22:53:29-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/54187152014-04-25T22:53:29-07:002014-04-25T22:53:29-07:00Beckett great, but Dodgers fall in 11
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<figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Four total runs in the first 10 innings, five runs in the 11th, but in the end it was just another Dodgers loss.</p> <p>LOS ANGELES -- The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a> had the better of the two 11th-inning rallies to take the opener of a three-game weekend set, 5-4 over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Colorado scored three runs off three Dodgers relievers in the top of the inning, then the Dodgers rallied for two against Rockies closer <span>LaTroy Hawkins</span>.</p>
<p>But the rally fell short and the Dodgers have dropped four of their last five games.</p>
<p><span>Jamey Wright</span> retired the first four hitters he faced in relief before pinch hitter <span>Brandon Barnes</span> doubled to the base of the wall in right field with one out in the 11th inning. Birthday boy and left-handed pitcher <span>J.P. Howell</span> was brought in to face <span>Charlie Blackmon</span>, who entered the game hitting .410/.453/.692 but was 0-for-4 before his game-winning hit.</p>
<p><span>Nolan Arenado</span> followed with a single, then <span>Carlos Gonzalez</span> reached on a fielder's choice when <span>Adrian Gonzalez</span> tried unsuccessfully to get the runner at home. A walk and a single against <span>Brandon League</span> brought home a third run, before a double play grounder finally ended the carnage.</p>
<p><span>Hanley Ramirez</span> started the bottom of the 11th with a double, then was followed by a home run by Adrian Gonzalez, but Hawkins retired the next three to end the game.</p>
<p><span>Josh Beckett</span> was great for eight innings, the longest any Dodgers starter has pitched this season. He allowed two runs on just four hits and struck out six with no walks, but got his fourth no-decision in as many starts this season, leaving with a tied game.</p>
<p>"I had a good feel of my changeup," Beckett said. "I threw a lot of breaking balls, and most of the changeups and splits I threw, most of them were quality. I got some easier outs - and there aren't many easy outs in that lineup - on the changeup."</p>
<p>Dodgers starters have allowed 21 runs in their last 11 starts, good for a 1.99 ERA, but the starting pitchers have just three wins to show for it during that span.</p>
<p>Home runs by <span>Troy Tulowitzki</span> and <span>Corey Dickerson</span> in the second inning gave Colorado a 2-1 lead, the first of which snapped Beckett's scoreless streak at 12 consecutive innings.</p>
<p>But after the home run by Dickerson, Beckett retired 17 of his next 18 batters, including 11 straight before <span>DJ LeMahieu</span> singled with one out in the eighth inning. LeMahieu stole second base but was left in scoring position as Beckett got Blackmon to ground out to end the threat.</p>
<p>Beckett over his last three starts has allowed just two runs in 18 innings, with seven hits, seven walks and 17 strikeouts.</p>
<p>"This was a step in the right direction for me personally. It showed me I can do some things I haven't done in a while," Beckett said. "I haven't been up and down six times in, I don't know, 400 days."</p>
<p>Beckett last pitched in the seventh inning of a game <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2013/4/14/4224464/josh-beckett-dodgers-diamondbacks" target="_blank">on April 14, 2013</a>, a game in which he pitched 8⅓ innings in Arizona, 376 days ago.</p>
<p><span>Yasiel Puig</span> drove in the first two Dodgers runs, the first on a solo home run in the first inning to the pavilion in right center field. The second came on a single to left to drive in <span>Dee Gordon</span>, who hit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2014/4/25/5654878/dee-gordon-ground-ball-double">an amazing infield double</a>.</p>
<p>The Dodgers threatened in the fourth and six innings, but for naught. Tim Federowicz's would-be two-run double down the left field line was caught on a great diving stab by 2013 Gold Glove Award winner Nolan Arenado at third base. Two innings later, Hanley Ramirez led off the frame with a double but was stranded at second.</p>
<p><span>Jordan Lyles</span> allowed just two runs on six hits in his seven innings, with four strikeouts and a walk.</p>
<h4>Notes</h4>
<p><span>Matt Kemp</span> was 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout, and was ejected for arguing the called strikeout in the ninth inning by home plate umpire Angel Hernandez. Kemp is the first Dodger to be ejected this season. It was his seventh career ejection. "It's something we'll talk about internally," manager Don Mattingly said. "We only have four guys [on the bench]."</p>
<p>Puig was nearly scratched with tightness in his leg, but he said if he's in the lineup on Saturday he will be ready to play. Puig came out in the 11th inning on a double switch, but Mattingly said it had nothing to do with his leg.</p>
<p>Aside from his double, Gordon also struck out twice on fouled bunt attempts with two strikes, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN201205170.shtml">the first Dodger to do so twice in a game since Aaron Harang on May 17, 2012</a>.</p>
<p>There have been 31 home runs hit at Dodger Stadium this season, 17 by the Dodgers, in 13 games. In 2013, the 31st home run hit at Dodger Stadium came in the 17th game (they also hit their 32nd in that game; 14 by the Dodgers, 18 by opponents).</p>
<p>The Dodgers have lost five of their six extra-inning games, and have been outscored 8-3 after the ninth inning this season.</p>
<blockquote align="center" class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
<p>This is the first April in at least a century the <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers">@Dodgers</a> have played six extra-inning games. Just searched Baseball-Reference back to 1914</p>
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) <a href="https://twitter.com/DodgerInsider/statuses/459919100311924737">April 26, 2014</a>
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<h4>Friday particulars</h4>
<p><b>Home runs</b>: Yasiel Puig (3), Adrian Gonzalez (7); Troy Tulowitzki (5), Corey Dickerson (2)</p>
<p><b>WP - <span>Rex Brothers</span> (2-2)</b>: 1 IP, 1 walk</p>
<p><b>LP - Jamey Wright (1-1)</b>: 1⅓ IP, 1 hit, 1 run, 1 strikeout</p>
<p><b>Sv - LaTroy Hawkins (7)</b>: 1 IP, 2 hits, 2 runs</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/4/25/5654834/josh-beckett-dodgers-rockies-recapEric Stephen2014-04-25T20:30:30-07:002014-04-25T20:30:30-07:00Dee Gordon's ground ball double
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<figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>A play that has to be seen to be believed.</p> <p>Sometimes MLB Gameday really says it all. Bottom of the third inning, against <span>Jordan Lyles</span> of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a>:</p>
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<p><span>Dee Gordon</span> doubles on a ground ball to second baseman <span>DJ LeMahieu</span></p>
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<p align="center"><img src="http://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/assets/4360535/DeeDouble.gif"></p>
<p>That's the second time on the homestand Gordon has hustled himself into a double, also doing so on a single to right center field on Tuesday against Philadelphia.</p>
<p>Through the third inning tonight, Gordon has four doubles, a triple and a home run in 78 plate appearances. His slugging percentage is .486.</p>
<p><span>Yasiel Puig</span> followed with a two-out single to left field to tie the game at 2-2.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/4/25/5654878/dee-gordon-ground-ball-doubleEric Stephen2014-04-25T15:04:09-07:002014-04-25T15:04:09-07:00Beckett, Dodgers look for home field edge
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<figcaption>Stephen Dunn</figcaption>
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<p>The Dodgers look to turn things around at home both this season (5-7 at Dodger Stadium) and against the Rockies.</p> <p>LOS ANGELES -- <span>Josh Beckett</span> takes the hill at Dodger Stadium on Friday night in the opener of a three-game weekend series against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a>, the only National League West opponent the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> had not yet played this season.</p>
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<h4>Starting Lineups</h4>
<table class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" align="center" border="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#000000" width="125"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Rockies</b></font></td>
<td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#157dec" width="125"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Dodgers</b></font></td>
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<td>RF</td>
<td>Blackmon (L)</td>
<td>2B</td>
<td>Gordon (L)</td>
</tr>
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<td>3B</td>
<td>Arenado</td>
<td>RF</td>
<td>Puig</td>
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<td>LF</td>
<td>Gonzalez (L)</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>Ramirez</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SS</td>
<td>Tulowitzki</td>
<td>1B</td>
<td>Gonzalez (L)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1B</td>
<td>Morneau (L)</td>
<td>CF</td>
<td>Kemp</td>
</tr>
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<td>C</td>
<td>Rosario</td>
<td>LF</td>
<td>Crawford (L)</td>
</tr>
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<td>CF</td>
<td>Dickerson (L)</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>Uribe</td>
</tr>
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<td>2B</td>
<td>LeMahieu</td>
<td>C</td>
<td>Federowicz</td>
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<tr>
<td>P</td>
<td>Lyles<br>
</td>
<td>P</td>
<td>Beckett</td>
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</tbody></table>
<span><b>Location</b>: Dodger Stadium<br><b>Time</b>: 7:10 p.m. PT <br><b>TV</b>: SportsNet LA<br></span>
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<p>After going 13-5 in winning five of six series against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium in 2011-2012, the Dodgers did not win a series against Colorado at home in 2013. The Rockies won both three-game series last year in Los Angeles and split the four-game series.</p>
<p>The Dodgers are just 5-7 at home this year and have been outscored 56-45 at Dodger Stadium.</p>
<p>Beckett has allowed no runs in five innings in each of his last three starts, and has 11 strikeouts against 11 runners allowed to reach base. But he doesn't have a win to show for it, thanks in part to one total run of support while he was in the game.</p>
<p>The last win for Beckett came on Sept. 30, 2012, at Dodger Stadium against the Rockies.</p>
<p>Beckett's last start, on Sunday against Arizona, was his best of the year, with seven strikeouts and just two walks and one hit allowed. Five of his seven strikeouts were finished off by a curveball.</p>
<p>Among Rockies, <span>Justin Morneau</span> has faced Beckett the most, with 18 plate appearances. The first baseman is 4-for-16 (.250) with a home run against Beckett, and is off to a hot start, hitting .346/.369/.615 with five home runs, six doubles and 17 RBI in 21 games.</p>
<p><span>Troy Tulowitzki</span> is 4-for-8 (.500) with three doubles against Beckett, while <span>Josh Rutledge</span> is 4-for-6 (.667) with two doubles. <span>Carlos Gonzalez</span> is 1-for-3 (.333) with a double and three walks, while both <span>Jordan Pacheco</span> and <span>Wilin Rosario</span> are each 0-for-5.</p>
<p><span>Carl Crawford</span> starts in left field on Friday, but he's batting sixth for the first time <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS201109200.shtml">since September 20, 2011</a>, when he was with Boston. The last time Crawford batted lower than second was <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BAL/BAL201208140.shtml">Aug. 14, 2012</a>, when he batted seventh for Boston.</p>
<p>"Carl is swinging the bat pretty well. He's hitting the ball on the nose, and he's not getting a lot for it. we can use him there, he has a chance to drive in runs, it allows Dee to be at the top," manager Don Mattingly said. "I feel like we have a better lineup with him right there."</p>
<p>Crawford is hitting .222/.231/.317 on the season, though his .269 batting average on balls in play is well below his career mark of .327. He said where he bats in the order won't change his style.</p>
<p>"You try not to let it affect your approach [at the plate], just do what you normally do," Crawford said. "For me, I just try to run no matter what. I don't know if that's going to free it up for me to run more, I don't know. I just try to stay ready to run at all times."</p>
<p><span>Jordan Lyles</span> starts for the Rockies. He faced the Dodgers just one time in his career, a loss in 2011. <span>Hanley Ramirez</span> was not a Dodger then but is 3-for-3 with a home run against Lyles. <span>Matt Kemp</span> is 2-for-3 (.667) with a home run, <span>Andre Ethier</span> is 0-for-3 and <span>Adrian Gonzalez</span> is 0-for-2 with a walk against the right-hander.</p>
<p>Ethier is not starting on Friday.</p>
<p><span>Zack Greinke</span>, not starting tonight, is 1-for-1 with a double against Lyles, while Beckett is 0-for-2.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/4/25/5654184/dodgers-rockies-preview-home-fieldEric Stephen2014-04-25T13:05:20-07:002014-04-25T13:05:20-07:00Dodgers-Rockies pitching matchups
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<figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Spor</figcaption>
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<p>LOS ANGELES -- The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> end their 10-game homestand with a weekend series against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Colorado Rockies</a>, beginning Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Here are the pitching matchups for the three-game series.</p>
<h4>Friday, 7:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA)</h4>
<p><span>Josh Beckett</span> has pitched five scoreless innings in each of his last two starts, and with 16 strikeouts in 14 innings this year has struck out 27.1% of his batters faced, which if it holds would be a career high.</p>
<p>The question 'Why the hell did Colorado trade <span>Dexter Fowler</span>?' can be answered with 23-year-old <span>Jordan Lyles</span>, who is 3-0 with a 3.04 ERA and a 56.3% ground ball rate in four starts. It's still early, but Lyles is doing it backwards so far, allowing two total runs in 13... innings at Coors Field, and giving up seven runs in 10 innings on the road, including one start at Petco Park.</p>
<h4>Saturday, 6:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA)</h4>
<p>On Thursday, one day after he said <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> would need more than one minor league rehab start, manager Don Mattingly was more cagey about his rotation going forward. On Thursday, Mattingly would only commit to one rehab start for Kershaw, and will make a decision after that start. Asked if Monday's off day could affect the rotation, Mattingly said, "I don't see us pushing anybody back, other than if we got another addition."</p>
<p>That addition, whenever it is, will be Kershaw, which means Saturday could be Paul Maholm's last start in a while. In the first four innings of his three starts, Maholm has a 3.75 ERA, but in the fifth inning he has allowed six runs, including two home runs, while recording seven outs.</p>
<p><span>Juan Nicasio</span> has 20 strikeouts against five walks this season, and has a 2.79 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 29 innings in five career starts at Dodger Stadium.</p>
<p>Fans can't have a catch with their dads after Saturday's game, but they can watch 'Field of Dreams,' which will be shown on the video boards, the first of three movie nights at Dodger Stadium this season.</p>
<h4>Sunday, 1:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA)</h4>
<p><span>Hyun-jin Ryu</span> has allowed two or fewer runs in 13 of his last 17 starts, dating back to 2013, with a 2.42 ERA during that span.</p>
<p>Among <a target="_blank" href="http://bbref.com/pi/shareit/YhtEU">Rockies pitchers with 500 innings</a>, Jorge De La Rosa ranks fourth in franchise history with a 107 adjusted ERA+. Watch out, Armondo Reynoso!</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/4/25/5653814/dodgers-rockies-starting-pitchersEric Stephen