True Blue LA - June 23: Royals 5, Dodgers 3Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2014-06-23T19:58:45-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/55993632014-06-23T19:58:45-07:002014-06-23T19:58:45-07:00Greinke has worst outing of the season in loss
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<figcaption>Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>KANSAS CITY -- Kansas City has not treated its former pitching ace <span>Zack Greinke</span> nicely in his three starts wearing an opponent's uniform. Greinke didn't pitch poorly in the first two times he faced the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Royals</a> but Greinke never had it on Monday night, giving up five runs in a game for the first time since July 3, 2013 while his mound opponent, <span>Jeremy Guthrie</span> pitched much better and was able to shut down the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a> bats for most of the game in a 5-3 Kansas City win.</p>
<p>Greinke said he located okay with the fastball but had nothing sharp beside that.</p>
<p>"The offspeed was really the problem," Greinke added. "I mean you didn't have to respect it, I was doing them a favor if I threw it today."</p>
<p>Greinke said his change up was "good" but he didn't throw it much to righties. It was effective against the lefties aside <span>Jarrod Dyson</span>.</p>
<p>Greinke said in the last few games, he's worked on different things. First he was trying to go longer in games and then the last game he was trying too be fine but he threw a lot of pitches in six innings, so Monday he threw more strikes and got hit. Greinke said he has to find "a happy medium" to all of that.</p>
<p>In a moment of levity when asked about how the Kansas City fans reacted to him, Greinke said they cheered when he pitched well the first two times he came back in 2012 and before today's game he got a nice cheer as his name was announced. Why he got some loud boos when he exited the game, he didn't know and as Greinke said, "I'm not a psychologist."</p>
<p>Don Mattingly mentioned the low pitch count for Guthrie and how long it took the Dodgers to get going. Mattingly didn't say if the game plan was to hit against Guthrie early in the count but it didn't sound like that part of the game went the way the Dodgers coaching staff had planned it.</p>
<p>Mattingly thought Greinke pitched okay, but there were a few balls that didn't go where Greinke wanted them to go.</p>
<p>"[Greinke] hasn't been as sharp as he was in his last few starts, though he still has been good," Mattingly said.</p>
<p>On <span>Yasiel Puig's</span> numbers since he injured his hip, Mattingly said he has no concerns about Puig while pointing to the line drives that were hit at fielders tonight.</p>
<p>The Royals started their scoring in the second inning as <span>Salvador Perez</span> hit his ninth home run of season. <span>Alcides Escobar</span> singled with two outs and moved to second on a wild pitch. Dyson singled in Escobar to give the Royals a 2-0 lead.</p>
<p>In the bottom of the fifth inning, Dyson led off with a single, stole second and scored on Lorenzo Cain's single to make it 3-0. In the sixth inning, Perez doubled to left and with two out Escobar hit a bloop triple followed by Dyson's third single to make it 5-0.</p>
<p>Guthrie was making his first career appearance against the Dodgers and Guthrie had them off-balance for most of the game by locating well and changing speeds throughout the game. The only blemish in Guthrie's game was in the eighth inning after allowing singles to <span>Carlos Triunfel</span> and <span>Justin Turner</span>, <span>Hanley Ramirez</span> doubled to left-center scoring two runs and sending Guthrie to the bench.</p>
<p><span>Wade Davis</span> came in and retired Puig on the first pitch to the end the inning.</p>
<p><span>Jamey Wright</span> relieved Greinke and retired four in a row. <span>Chris Perez</span> was brought in to pitch the eighth inning and retired the side in order in his first appearance in eight days.</p>
<p><span>Greg Holland</span>, who may have thought he had the night off with a five-run lead with two outs in the eighth, came in the ninth. He was greeted by <span>Adrian Gonzalez</span> homering to right making it a two-run game. <span>Mike Moustakas</span> made a nice stop and throw to get <span>Matt Kemp</span>, then <span>Andre Ethier</span> and <span>A.J. Ellis</span> struck out to end the game.</p>
<h5>Notes</h5>
<p>Kemp singled, to extend his hitting streak to 11 games.</p>
<p>Ramirez's double gave him a 10-game hitting streak.</p>
<p>Turner had his fifth pinch-hit of the season with his single in the eighth inning.</p>
<p>Gonzalez's solo home run extended his streak with at least one run batted in to five games.</p>
<h5>Up next</h5>
<p><span>Clayton Kershaw</span> makes his first start since no-hitting the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a>, facing left-hander <span>Danny Duffy</span>.</p>
<h5>Monday particulars</h5>
<p><b>Home runs</b>: Salvador Perez (9), Adrian Gonzalez (13)</p>
<p><b>WP - Jeremy Guthrie (5-6 )</b>: 7.2 IP, 7 hits, 2 runs, 0 walks, 5 strikeouts</p>
<p><b>LP - Zack Greinke (9-4)</b>: 5.2 IP, 11 hits, 5 runs, 0 walks, 4 strikeouts</p>
<p><b>Sv - Greg Holland (22)</b>: 1 IP, 1 hit, 1 run, 2 strikeouts</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/6/23/5836412/zack-greinke-dodger-game-recapCraig Minami2014-06-23T16:29:57-07:002014-06-23T16:29:57-07:00Rehab updates, Mattingly remembers pine tar game
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<figcaption>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Kansas City - Don Mattingly gave a brief update on the status of a few of the rehabbing <span class="sbn-auto-link"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> during his pre-game interview. </span></p>
<p><span>Carl Crawford</span> began his running program in Arizona, right now limited to Ultra-G machine where he can run at a percentage of his weight.</p>
<p><span>Juan Uribe</span> will DH tonight and play third base Tuesday for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, the Dodgers will re-evaluate Uribe after those two games.</p>
<p><span>Scott Elbert</span> will throw again Tuesday, but Mattingly didn't say where.</p>
<p><span>Justin Turner</span> is getting a day off after starting all three games in San Diego. Expect Turner to be in the lineup in one or both games remaining in this series.</p>
<p>Despite those injuries, Mattingly thinks the Dodgers are in a good place right now.</p>
<p>"For a couple weeks now we have been playing with good energy, been fairly consistent," Mattingly said. "Hopefully we have hit our stride and now we have to keep this pace up."</p>
<p>Mattingly said the biggest challenge in managing in an American League park are the pitching changes since they are not affected by when the pitcher is coming to bat.</p>
<p>Mattingly came up with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">Yankees</a> in 1982 and he was well aware of the Yankees rivalry with those <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Royals</a> teams.</p>
<p>"George [Brett] was still playing, Hal McRae, Willie Wilson and we still had Goose [Gossage] and [Graig] Nettles and all of those guys who had played in those playoff series," Mattingly recalled. "For the first couple of years I was here, it was still a pretty good rivalry."</p>
<p>When asked if Matttingly was there for the <a target="_blank" href="http://retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1983/B07240NYA1983.htm">"Pine Tar"</a> game, Mattingly said "Brett hit the homer." Note Mattngly pinch-hit and played the remainder of the game and when the game resumed from the point Brett was called out, Mattingly played second base. Despite Brett being called out, two runs did score on the home run and the Royals won the game 5-4.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/6/23/5836130/juan-uribe-carl-crawford-rehab-updatesCraig Minami2014-06-23T14:00:31-07:002014-06-23T14:00:31-07:00Designated hitter returns to Dodger lineup
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<figcaption>Denis Poroy</figcaption>
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<p>KANSAS CITY -- The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> begin their three-game set against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Royals</a> with <span>Hanley Ramirez</span> at designated hitter on Monday night in the opener at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.</p>
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<h4>Starting Lineups</h4>
<table class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" align="center" border="0">
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<tr>
<td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#1e90ff" width="125"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Dodgers</b></font></td>
<td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#0000CC" width="125"><font color="#FFFFFF"><b>Royals</b></font></td>
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<td>2B</td>
<td>Gordon (L)</td>
<td>RF</td>
<td>Cain<br>
</td>
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<td>DH</td>
<td>Ramirez</td>
<td>1B</td>
<td>Hosmer (L)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RF</td>
<td>Puig</td>
<td>DH</td>
<td>Butler</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1B</td>
<td>Gonzalez (L)</td>
<td>LF</td>
<td>Gordon (L)<br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LF</td>
<td>Kemp</td>
<td>2B</td>
<td>Infante</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CF</td>
<td>Ethier (L)<br>
</td>
<td>C</td>
<td>Perez</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C</td>
<td>Ellis</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>Moustakas (L)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3B</td>
<td>Rojas</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>Escobar</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SS</td>
<td>Triunfel</td>
<td>CF</td>
<td>Dyson (L)<br>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<span><b>Location</b>: Kauffman Stadium<br><b>Time</b>: 5:10 p.m. PT<br> <b>TV</b>: SportsNet LA</span>
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<p>It is the 11th career start at DH for Ramirez, and fourth as a Dodger. In his previous 10 starts at DH, Ramirez has hit .333/.395/.513. In three DH starts with the Dodgers, Ramirez is 7-for-12 (.583) with two doubles, a home run and three walks.</p>
<p>Manager Don Mattingly said on Sunday he plans to use the designated hitter spot during this series to give a day off to Ramirez, <span>Adrian Gonzalez</span> and <span>Yasiel Puig</span>.</p>
<p>Dodgers designated hitters this season (which to date consists of three games in Minnesota) are 5-for-13 (.385) with three doubles and three walks.</p>
<p><span>Carlos Triunfel</span>, who is 2-for-2 with a home run in limited duty, makes his first start at shortstop as a Dodger, batting ninth. Triunfel has played in four games as a late-inning replacement on defense at shortstop for Ramirez, totaling 7⅓ innings.</p>
<p><span>Miguel Rojas</span> starts at third base, batting eighth.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/6/23/5831700/hanley-ramirez-designated-hitter-dodgers-starting-lineupCraig Minami2014-06-23T12:00:05-07:002014-06-23T12:00:05-07:00Dodgers try to continue road success against AL
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<figcaption>Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>KANSAS CITY - The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> begin their second road interleague series against a resurgent <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Kansas City Royals</a>. The Dodgers have perked up, winning seven of their last nine games, the Royals have lost four straight after winning 10 straight games.</p>
<p><span>Zack Greinke</span> returns to the Kansas City, home of his 2009 Cy Young season. Greinke did pitch against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium twice in 2012, one has a Brewer and the second time as an Angel. Greinke pitched well both times but the Royals won both of those games.</p>
<p>This is only the third time the Dodgers and Royals have played each other since the beginning of interleague play. The last time they played was <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/KCA/KCA200506160.shtml">this game</a> on June 16, 2005 at Kauffman Stadium. Zack Greinke was the Royals starter that day, there is no one on the Dodger roster who was on the team that day.</p>
<p><span>Justin Turner</span> returned to starting lineup in San Diego and with <span>Juan Uribe</span> continuing his rehab with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes for a few more days, Turner figures to be in the lineup in Kansas City. Turner has had a great June, hitting .391/.451/.500 in 51 plate appearances.</p>
<p>Don Mattingly said that he plans to use <span>Adrian Gonzalez</span>, <span>Hanley Ramirez</span> and <span>Yasiel Puig</span> at the designated hitter position during this series, making it likely we'll see <span>Scott Van Slyke</span> and <span>Miguel Rojas</span> on the field during those games.</p>
<p>The Dodgers have a well-spaced out six-game winning streak against AL teams on the road, starting with the series last July in Toronto, a Dodgers series sweep. The Dodgers also swept the Twins in Minnesota from April 30-May 1.</p>
<p>Thunderstorms are <a target="_blank" href="http://www.weather.com/weather/hourbyhour/graph/Kansas+City+MO+64129:4:US">predicted in the Kansas City area today</a> and Wednesday following a pattern of the Dodgers bringing rain with them once they leave the state of California.</p>
<h5>Game info</h5>
<p>Time: 5:10 p.m. PT</p>
<p>TV: SportsNet LA</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/6/23/5834506/zack-greinke-dodgers-royals-game-previewCraig Minami2014-06-23T10:58:59-07:002014-06-23T10:58:59-07:00Dodgers-Royals starting pitchers
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<figcaption>Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> make their first trip to Kauffman Stadium in nine years for an interleague series against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Royals</a>. Here is a look at the pitching matchups for the three-game set.</p>
<h5>Monday, 5:10 p.m. PT (SportsNet LA)</h5>
<p><span>Zack Greinke</span> is 36-28 with a 3.48 ERA in 110 career games in Kansas City, including 90 starts, his last start at Kauffman Stadium coming in 2012. <span>Jeremy Guthrie</span> has allowed two or fewer runs in five of his last six starts, with a 2.52 ERA during that span, with 32 strikeouts and 13 walks in 39⅓ innings.</p>
<h5>Tuesday, 5:10 p.m. PT (SportsNet LA, MLB Network)</h5>
<p><span>Clayton Kershaw</span> last started in an American League park in 2012, when he allowed one run in eight innings. He is 7-3 with a 2.64 ERA in 18 interleague starts in his career, including 2-2 with a 3.49 ERA on the road. <span>Danny Duffy</span> pitched in relief in April but since rejoining the Royals rotation he has allowed two our fewer runs in six of his nine starts, including a 1.75 ERA, 23 strikeouts and six walks in June.</p>
<h5>Wednesday, 5:10 p.m. PT (SportsNet LA)</h5>
<p><span>Dan Haren</span> has been flirting with the minimum definition of a quality start all season, and in the last two months it has been most evident. In his last 10 starts, Haren has allowed 30 earned runs in 61 innings. <span>James Shields</span> allowed only five home runs in his first 10 starts, but has given up nine home runs in his last six starts, resulting in a 5.54 ERA, though the Royals have won five of those six games.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/6/23/5833738/dodgers-royals-starting-pitching-matchupsEric Stephen