True Blue LA - June 9: Dodgers 6, Reds 2Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2014-06-09T20:22:12-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/55586872014-06-09T20:22:12-07:002014-06-09T20:22:12-07:00Puig falls just short of Howard, Piazza HR record
<figure>
<img alt="Frank Howard, here in 1960." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/uER5NS45gw8w3V16ztva7tiE7Zo=/0x234:1377x1152/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/33711521/frank-howard-1960-getty.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Frank Howard, here in 1960. | <a href='http://www.gettyimages.com/'>Getty Images</a></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Puig has 30 home runs in 162 career games, behind only Frank Howard and Mike Piazza for most home runs by a Dodger in their first 162 games.</p> <p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> outfielder Yasiel Puig was 1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored in Monday's win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a>, his 162nd career big league game. Puig's career stats, to date:</p>
<p>.324/.406/.552<br>30 home runs, 37 doubles, five triples<br>100 runs, 82 RBI<br>67 walks, 145 strikeouts<br>195 hits, 332 total bases<br>17 steals, 12 caught stealing<br>17 HBP, 12 outfield assists<br>two sacrifice bunts</p>
<p>But Puig has gone 10 games without a home run, his last hit on May 28. He's still stuck on 30 home runs in his career, a fine total to be sure, but one home run behind both Frank Howard and <span>Mike Piazza</span> for the most home runs by a Dodger in their first 162 career games.</p>
<p>Here is a look at the home run logs for all three players.</p>
<table align="center" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><u><b>HR</b></u></td>
<td><u><b>Frank Howard (1958-61)</b></u></td>
<td><u><b><span>Mike Piazza</span> (1992-93)</b></u></td>
<td><u><b>Yasiel Puig (2013-14)</b></u></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Game 1 (Robin Roberts, PHI)</td>
<td>8 (<span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Steve Reed</span></span>, SF)</td>
<td>2 (<span>Clayton Richard</span>, SD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>16 (Lindy McDaniel, STL)</td>
<td>29 (Rene Arocha, STL)</td>
<td>2 (<span>Tyson Ross</span>, SD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>21 (Bob Buhl, MIL)</td>
<td>31 (Dave Otto, PIT)</td>
<td>4 (<span>Cory Gearrin</span>, ATL)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>28 (Jim Umbricht, PIT)</td>
<td>39 (Dwight Gooden, NYM)</td>
<td>5 (Paul Maholm, ATL)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>38 (Mark Freeman, CHC)</td>
<td>42 (Jose DeLeon, PIT)</td>
<td>15 (<span>Adam Warren</span>, NYY)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>39 (Bob Buhl, MIL)</td>
<td>43 (Ben Rivera, PIT)</td>
<td>16 (<span>Jason Marquis</span>, SD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>42 (Don Newcombe, CIN)</td>
<td>53 (Mark Portugal, HOU)</td>
<td>20 (<span>Madison Bumgarner</span>, SF)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
<td>46 (Taylor Phillips, PHI)</td>
<td>56 (Kevin Wickander, CIN)</td>
<td>27 (<span>Adam Ottavino</span>, COL)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td>53 (Carl Wiley, MIL)</td>
<td>58 (David Nied, COL)</td>
<td>44 (<span>Juan Perez</span>, TOR)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10</td>
<td>55 (Lew Burdette, MIL)</td>
<td>70 (<span>Tom Glavine</span>, ATL)</td>
<td>48 (Curtis Partch, CIN)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11</td>
<td>55 (Don McMahon, MIL)</td>
<td>71 (<span>Greg Maddux</span>, ATL)</td>
<td>51 (Hector Rondon , CHC)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12</td>
<td>57 (Robin Roberts, PHI)</td>
<td>79 (Butch Henry, COL)</td>
<td>68 (<span>Dan Jennings</span> , MIA)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13</td>
<td>66 (Georges Miranda, SF)</td>
<td>79 (Keith Shepherd, COL)</td>
<td>74 (<span>Michael Bowden</span>, CHC)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14</td>
<td>69 (Ernie Broglio, STL)</td>
<td>82 (Tom Browning, CIN)</td>
<td>79 (<span>Dale Thayer</span>, SD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15</td>
<td>70 (Ron Kline, STL)</td>
<td>83 (Tim Belcher, CIN)</td>
<td>83 (<span>Mat Latos</span>, CIN)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16</td>
<td>71 (Billy O'Dell, SF)</td>
<td>84 (Mark Portugal, HOU)</td>
<td>87 (Patrick Corbin, ARI)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17</td>
<td>77 (Gene Conley, PHI)</td>
<td>97 (Tommy Greene, PHI)</td>
<td>94 (Brandon McCarthy, ARI)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18</td>
<td>82 (Jim O'Toole, CIN)</td>
<td>100 (Mike Draper, NYM)</td>
<td>97 (<span>Tim Stauffer</span>, SD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19</td>
<td>84 (Juan Pizarro, MIL)</td>
<td>101 (Frank Tanana, NYM)</td>
<td>99 (<span>Matt Cain</span>, SF)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20</td>
<td>91 (Lew Burdette, MIL)</td>
<td>107 (Roger Mason, PHI)</td>
<td>108 (<span>Ian Kennedy</span>, SD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>21</td>
<td>103 (Bob Buhl, MIL)</td>
<td>111 (Frank Tanana, NYM)</td>
<td>119 (Josh Collmenter, ARI)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>22</td>
<td>103 (Bob Buhl, MIL)</td>
<td>113 (Bryan Hickerson, SF)</td>
<td>124 (<span>Jordan Lyles</span>, COL)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>23</td>
<td>115 (Billy O'Dell, SF)</td>
<td>121 (Bobby Ayala, CIN)</td>
<td>131 (<span>Jacob Turner</span>, MIA)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>24</td>
<td>123 (Dick Ellsworth, CHC)</td>
<td>128 (Wally Whitehurtst, SD)</td>
<td>135 (Madison Bumgarner, SF)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>25</td>
<td>129 (Mike McCormick, SF)</td>
<td>131 (<span>John Smoltz</span>, ATL)</td>
<td>137 (<span>Tim Hudson</span>, SF)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>26</td>
<td>139 (Al Ciccotte, STL)</td>
<td>137 (Jeff Ballard, PIT)</td>
<td>138 (<span>Tom Koehler</span>, MIA)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>27</td>
<td>144 (Dick Ellsworth, CHC)</td>
<td>141 (Allen Watson, STL)</td>
<td>141 (Wade Miley, ARI)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>28</td>
<td>144 (Dick Ellsworth, CHC)</td>
<td>141 (Todd Burns, STL)</td>
<td>142 (<span>Chase Anderson</span>, ARI)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>29</td>
<td>147 (Don Nottebart, MIL)</td>
<td>142 (Joel Johnston, PIT)</td>
<td>145 (Jacob deGrom, NYM)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>30</td>
<td>152 (Red Witt, PIT)</td>
<td>154 (<span>Doug Brocail</span>, SD)</td>
<td>152 (Homer Bailey, CIN)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>31</td>
<td>159 (Mike McCormick, SF)</td>
<td>154 (Tim Hauser, SD)</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/6/9/5762564/yasiel-puig-home-runs-dodgers-frank-howard-mike-piazzaEric Stephen2014-06-09T19:35:37-07:002014-06-09T19:35:37-07:00Van Slyke has career night in Cincy
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vlNSI7m2WDS2RCZ3eJ_yW0I0PmE=/0x105:4000x2772/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/34135081/20140609_lbm_bk2_050.JPG.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Van Slyke punished Tony Cingrani to the tune of two home runs in Monday's win.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> utilized their not-so-secret weapon, riding the <span>Scott Van Slyke</span> wave to a 6-2 victory over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a> in the opener of a four-game series on Monday night at Great American Ball Park.</p>
<p>Van Slyke hit two home runs in what was a career night, and drove in four of the Dodgers' six runs. Van Slyke was 3-for-3 with two walks and set game career highs for hits, home runs, RBI, runs scored (three), times on base (five) and total bases (nine).</p>
<p>Earlier this season, manager Don Mattingly summed up Van Slyke's role on the team perfectly.</p>
<p>"He's here to punish lefties," Mattingly said in May, and that's exactly what the 27-year-old has done.</p>
<p>Just ask Reds starter <span>Tony Cingrani</span>, who faced Van Slyke's wrath on Monday night. Van Slyke homered to center field in the second against the southpaw for a 1-0 Dodgers lead, then walked and scored in the fourth as Los Angeles built a 3-1 lead.</p>
<p>After Cincinnati cut the lead to 3-2, Cingrani walked both <span>Yasiel Puig</span> and <span>Matt Kemp</span> with two outs, then Van Slyke made him pay the ultimate price, launching his second home run, this one to left field for a three-run home run and a 6-2 Dodgers advantage.</p>
<p>On a team with outfielders Kemp, <span>Andre Ethier</span> and <span>Carl Crawford</span> combining to make $57.75 million in 2014, and with Puig making $2 million as part of an overall $42 million contract, it's Van Slyke and his $507,500 salary managing to carve out an important and much-needed niche for himself.</p>
<p>Monday was the 17th game this season that the Dodgers have faced a left-handed starting pitcher, and Van Slyke has started every one of those games, with good reason.</p>
<p>Van Slyke is hitting .302/.474/.837 against left-handed pitchers this season, leading the team against southpaws in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS (1.311), home runs (six), doubles (five, tied), RBI (nine) and walks (12).</p>
<p>A mere 19 months ago, Van Slyke was designated for assignment by the Dodgers, off the 40-man roster, and he cleared waivers with ease. None of the other 29 teams wanted to use a 40-man roster spot on him.</p>
<p>His career at a crossroads, Van Slyke trimmed down, worked hard and by last May found himself back in the big leagues. He has hit .254/.377/.522 with 13 home runs and 13 doubles in 93 games in the majors since the start of 2013, providing a very valuable cog in the Dodger wheel.</p>
<p>Already a shining beacon of perseverance, Van Slyke on Monday even started his fourth career game in center field. It's enough to make a man feel like he can do anything, even something crazy like beating Puig in a race.</p>
<p align="center"><img src="http://giant.gfycat.com/SpotlessTiredIberianbarbel.gif"><br><i>GIF <a href="https://twitter.com/ChadMoriyama/status/476163212551790593" target="new">per Chad Moriyama</a></i></p>
<h4>Notes</h4>
<p>Kemp doubled in the fourth inning, after hitting triples on both Saturday and Sunday in Colorado. It is his first three-game streak of games with an extra-base hit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?t=b&id=kempma01&year=2012#828-830-sum">since July 18-21, 2012</a>.</p>
<p><span>Dan Haren</span> nearly had more problems with the long ball on Monday. He allowed one home run to <span>Ryan Ludwick</span>, but also allowed near home runs to <span>Donald Lutz</span> (flyball to the wall in center field in the GIF above), <span>Zack Cozart</span> (foul ball to left field) and <span>Jay Bruce</span> (foul ball to right field).</p>
<p>But Haren was able to escape allowing only two runs, though his 5⅓ innings was his shortest outing of the season. Haren snapped a streak of nine starts lasting six or more innings, and snapped a streak of 10 straight starts allowing three or more runs.</p>
<p><span>J.P. Howell</span> helped Haren allow just those two runs, leaving a pair of inherited runners on base thanks to a double play by Brayan Pena. Howell has stranded 16 of 18 inherited runners this season.</p>
<p>Howell got another double play to exit the seventh inning, this one off the bat of the speedy <span>Billy Hamilton</span>, his first <i>career </i>double play grounder, in 237 plate appearances.</p>
<p>The Reds hit into a double play for a third straight inning in the eighth, this one a 1-2-3 job off the bat of Ryan Ludwick to help <span>Brandon League</span> escape his own bases-loaded, no-out jam.</p>
<p><span>Dee Gordon</span>, held out of the starting lineup for a second straight game with left hip discomfort incurred on Saturday, appeared as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning and reached on an infield single, showing no signs of malady in beating out the ground ball to shortstop. Gordon was also thrown out trying to steal, for just the fifth time all season, thanks in part to a tremendously quick tag by second baseman <span>Brandon Phillips</span>.</p>
<p><span>Kenley Jansen</span> pitched with a four-run lead in the ninth inning, his first appearance since last Monday. He retired the side in order on 11 pitches, with two strikeouts.</p>
<h4>Up next</h4>
<p>The Dodgers go for a third straight victory on Tuesday night, sending <span>Josh Beckett</span> to the mound. <span>Mike Leake</span> starts for Cincinnati.</p>
<h4>Monday particulars</h4>
<p><b>Home runs</b>: Scott Van Slyke 2 (6), Ryan Ludwick (5)</p>
<p><b>WP - Dan Haren (6-4)</b>: 5⅓ IP, 5 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts</p>
<p><b>LP - Tony Cingrani (2-7)</b>: 4⅔ IP, 7 hits, 6 runs, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/6/9/5795142/scott-van-slyke-dodgers-reds-recapEric Stephen2014-06-09T12:00:52-07:002014-06-09T12:00:52-07:00Puig back in lineup; Gordon, Gonzalez sit
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/a5LeR_zzPlKZlRUKY3EVty8rD10=/0x49:4000x2716/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/34116625/20140602_ajl_al2_094.JPG.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Dee Gordon, also dealing with a hip injury, does not return to the starting lineup.</p> <p>CINCINNATI -- The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> open up a four-game series against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a> in Cincinnati and will have <span>Yasiel Puig</span> back in the starting lineup two days after suffering a left hip flexor strain in Colorado. Puig is batting third, playing right field.</p>
<div class="sidebar">
<h4>Starting Lineups</h4>
<table class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" align="center" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#1e90ff" width="125"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Dodgers</b></font></td>
<td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ff0000" width="125"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Reds</b></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2B</td>
<td>Figgins (S)</td>
<td>CF</td>
<td>Hamilton (S)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SS</td>
<td>Ramirez</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>Frazier</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RF</td>
<td>Puig</td>
<td>2B</td>
<td>Phillips</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LF</td>
<td>Kemp</td>
<td>RF</td>
<td>Bruce (L)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CF</td>
<td>Van Slyke</td>
<td>LF</td>
<td>Ludwick</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3B</td>
<td>Turner<br>
</td>
<td>C</td>
<td>Pena (S)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1B</td>
<td>Romak</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>Cozart</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C</td>
<td>Federowicz</td>
<td>1B</td>
<td>Lutz (L)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>P</td>
<td>Haren</td>
<td>P</td>
<td>Cingrani (L)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<span><b>Location</b>: Great American Ball Park<br> <b>Time</b>: 4:10 p.m. PT<br> <b>TV</b>: SportsNet LA, ESPN</span>
</div>
<p><span>Dee Gordon</span>, also dealing with hip discomfort, is not starting for the Dodgers for a second straight day. <span>Adrian Gonzalez</span>, in the midst of an 0-for-20 slump, also gets the day off at first base.</p>
<p>Puig left Saturday's game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a> in the fifth inning with the hip injury and did not play on Sunday. Puig is hitting .335/.430/.591 with 11 home runs and 16 doubles in 57 games this season. He is 0-for-2 with two strikeouts and a walk against Reds starter <span>Tony Cingrani</span>.</p>
<p>No active Dodgers have a hit against Cingrani, though only five have even faced him. Gonzalez and <span>Hanley Ramirez</span> are each 0-for-3 against the southpaw, while <span>Andre Ethier</span> and <span>Tim Federowicz</span> are both 0-for-2.</p>
<p><span>Jamie Romak</span>, who Sunday made his first major league start, in right field, on Monday starts at first base in place of Gonzalez.</p>
<p><span>Chone Figgins</span> gets the call at second base and at leadoff for the second straight day. His .397 on-base percentage ranks third on the team behind Puig and Monday's center fielder <span>Scott Van Slyke</span>. Though Figgins against left-handers this season is hitting only .211/.318/.263 in 22 plate appearances.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/6/9/5794138/yasiel-puig-starting-lineup-dodgers-redsEric Stephen2014-06-09T11:00:03-07:002014-06-09T11:00:03-07:00Dodgers-Reds scheduled starters
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/lONNAOVC9gJOpmNZ1m5ep9JngNs=/0x145:4000x2812/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/34092389/20140525_kkt_se7_280.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> conclude their road trip with four games against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a> in Cincinnati, beginning Monday evening. Here is a look at the starting pitchers lined up for the series at Great American Ball Park.</p>
<h5>Monday, 4:10 p.m. PT (SportsNet LA, ESPN)</h5>
<p><span>Dan Haren</span> has allowed eight home runs in his last five starts, and in his last two starts his home runs allowed (four) have equaled his strikeouts. Not to be outdone, <span>Tony Cingrani</span> has also allowed eight home runs in <i>his</i> last five starts, all Cincinnati losses.</p>
<p>The ESPN broadcast is national, and will not be blacked out in the Los Angeles area.</p>
<h5>Tuesday, 4:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA, MLB Network)</h5>
<p>Since his no-hitter <span>Josh Beckett</span> has allowed 14 hits in two starts, but an otherwise respectable four runs in 11 innings, to go with 11 strikeouts and just three walks. But he has two losses to show for it. <span>Mike Leake</span> has walked two or fewer hitters in 11 straight starts, with 13 total free passes during that span, including only 12 unintentional walks.</p>
<h5>Wednesday, 4:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA)</h5>
<p><span>Hyun-Jin Ryu</span> has won four straight starts since returning from the disabled list and retired the first 21 Reds he faced on Memorial Day. Cincinnati ace <span>Johnny Cueto</span> has allowed only 11 runs in seven home starts, with 57 strikeouts and 10 walks to go with his 1.87. Yet he is 3-3 in Cincinnati.</p>
<h5>Thursday, 9:35 a.m. (SportsNet LA, MLB Network)</h5>
<p>The super early getaway day start sees <span>Zack Greinke</span> get the start. He is 6-1 with a 2.55 ERA in 11 daytime starts since joining the Dodgers, with three total home runs allowed. <span>Alfredo Simon</span> has eight total walks since hte beginning of May, and half of them came in his start against the Dodgers on May 27 in Los Angeles.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/6/9/5792018/dodgers-reds-starting-pitchersEric Stephen