True Blue LA - June 24: Dodgers 2, Royals 0Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2014-06-24T22:22:47-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/56036252014-06-24T22:22:47-07:002014-06-24T22:22:47-07:00Kershaw and Jansen combine for 2-0 win
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<figcaption>Ed Zurga</figcaption>
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<p>KANSAS CITY -- <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> continued his outstanding June to lead the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> to a 2-0 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Royals</a> on Tuesday night. Kershaw pitched eight scoreless innings, giving up six hits, walking one and striking out eight. <span>Kenley Jansen</span> recorded the save with a spotless ninth inning which included striking out the last two batters.</p>
<p><span>Justin Turner</span>, batting leadoff for the first time this season, tripled after a lengthy at-bat. With one out and runners on first and third, <span>Adrian Gonzalez</span>' hit a ground ball that was deflected by pitcher <span>Danny Duffy</span> and the Royals could only record one out. Turner scored on that play to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.</p>
<p>"The first at bat of the game was huge, the number of pitches he sees and then ends up with a triple there," manager Don Mattingly said.</p>
<p>The Dodgers would score their second run in the top of the ninth. Pinch-hitter Andre Ethier grounded a single up the middle and Gonzalez scored from second without a throw.</p>
<p>Kershaw struck out <span>Lorenzo Cain</span> to begin his start but then <span>Eric Hosmer</span> singled to end any thought of another no-hitter. <span>Billy Butler</span> immediately grounded into an inning ending double play to end the inning.</p>
<p><span>A.J. Ellis</span> said that he talked to Hosmer when Ellis was on first and Hosmer said "I'm up there swinging because I saw [Kershaw] on tape and I don't want to get to the two strike stuff."</p>
<p>"Clayton went back to work" was how Mattingly described Kershaw's demeanor once Hosmer singled in the first.</p>
<p>Despite Kershaw's low pitch count in the early part of the game, Mattingly said it looked to him that Kershaw "was fighting it."</p>
<p>"It was a good win for us," Kershaw added. "It definitely wasn't easy tonight. My fastball command was all over the place."</p>
<p>"More stressful pitches" was how Kershaw described the different between Tuesday night's game and his June 18th no-hitter.</p>
<p>"That was stressful for other reasons," Kershaw said of his no-hitter. "The game was in-hand so it was more personal."</p>
<p>It was the first time Kershaw had seen many of the Royals.</p>
<p>"It's good and bad," he explained. "You don't have a great feel for the guys but then they don't have a feel for you either."</p>
<p>Kershaw and Duffy settled into a pitching duel. Duffy gave up only one hit after the second inning. Duffy would pitch six innings and leave the game trailing 1-0.</p>
<p>Kershaw would retire eight batters in a row before Hosmer would get his second single in the fourth inning. With two outs, Kershaw walked <span>Alex Gordon</span> putting runners on first and second. <span>Salvador Perez</span> would then ground out to end the threat.</p>
<p>The defensive play of the game came in the bottom of the seventh. With runners on first and third and two out, <span>Alcides Escobar</span> hit a grounder up the middle. Dodger second baseman <span>Miguel Rojas</span> was positioned in the right spot and Rojas threw out Escobar to keep the 1-0 lead.</p>
<p>Kershaw said Rojas has 'been great" defensively and Turner is "playing great defense" at third base.</p>
<p>Mattingly said that Kershaw was coming out of the game after he pitched the eighth no matter what. Mattingly thought about taking him out after the seventh inning but he decided to let him go one more inning.</p>
<p><b>Notes</b></p>
<p>Kershaw is now 5-0 with 0.97 ERA in 37 innings in June, with 21 hits allowed, two walks and struck out 48 this month.</p>
<p>Gonzalez has driven in a run in six straight games.</p>
<p>Kershaw has struck out seven or more batters in seven straight games tying <span>Max Scherzer</span> for the longest such streak this season.</p>
<p>Kershaw struck out 8 Royals which ties the third highest amount by a starting pitcher against Kansas City this season.</p>
<p>Gordon received Kershaw's second walk in June.</p>
<h5>Up next</h5>
<p>The series finale features two veteran right-handers facing off, <span>James Shields</span>, who like <span>Jeremy Guthrie</span>, has never faced the Dodgers before and <span>Dan Haren</span> who has some history with the Royals.</p>
<h5>Tuesday particulars</h5>
<p><b>Home runs</b>: none</p>
<p><b>WP - Clayton Kershaw (8-2)</b>: 8 innings, no runs, 6 hits, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts</p>
<p><b>LP - Danny Duffy (4-7)</b>: 6 innings, 1 run, 4 hits, 4 walks and 5 strikeouts</p>
<p><b>Sv - Kenley Jansen (23)</b>: 3 batters faced, 2 strikeouts</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/6/24/5840768/clayton-kershaw-kenley-jansen-shutout-recapCraig Minami2014-06-24T16:12:44-07:002014-06-24T16:12:44-07:00Hanley sidelined with shoulder pain
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<figcaption>Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>KANSAS CITY -- Don Mattingly had initially written in <span>Hanley Ramirez</span> in Tuesday's lineup but after Ramirez reported pain in his shoulder while swinging the bat on Monday night, <span>Carlos Triunfel</span> replaced Ramirez at shortstop.</p>
<p>"It's no true injury, more the shoulder thing. He felt it a little bit in San Diego," said manager Don Mattingly "He felt a little bit swinging yesterday and had never not felt that at all [before]."</p>
<p>Mattingly said it was the same thing that Ramirez had felt in Cincinnati but would not go as far as say it was the A-C joint or say if there were any plans for a cortisone shot. Mattingly said the team would know more after batting practice whether or not Ramirez would be available to hit or play in the field during Tuesday's game.</p>
<p>The shoulder injury is something Ramirez has dealt with off and on the last two seasons, and was an injury Mattingly didn't expect would land his shortstop on the disabled list.</p>
<p>"At this point I'm not that concerned because it seems like he had a little bit of this over the last couple of years, so it is not like that this is the first time I ever heard about this," Mattingly said. "We'll pay attention, he will get treatment, and we'll just kind of take it day-to-day."</p>
<p>Mattingly confirmed that outside of Triunfel playing for Ramirez, the other moves were already planned, <span>Dee Gordon</span> was getting a day off, <span>Yasiel Puig</span> was starting at designated hitter and <span>Jamie Romak</span> was starting in right field.</p>
<p>Also today marks the fifth time in his career and first time as a Dodger that <span>Justin Turner</span> is starting in the lead off spot.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/6/24/5839762/hanley-ramirez-shoulder-irritation-injuryCraig Minami2014-06-24T14:31:33-07:002014-06-24T14:31:33-07:00Justin Turner returns to lineup
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<figcaption>Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>KANSAS CITY -- <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> return to the mound for his first start for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> after a his no-hitter facing a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Royals</a> lineup with two left-handed hitters and <span>Yasiel Puig</span> making his first career start as the designated hitter.</p>
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<h4>Starting Lineups</h4>
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<td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#1e90ff" width="125"><font color="#ffffff"><b><span class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</span></b></font></td>
<td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#0000CC" width="125"><font color="#fffff"><b><span class="sbn-auto-link">Royals</span></b></font></td>
</tr>
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<td>3B</td>
<td>Turner</td>
<td>CF</td>
<td>Cain<br>
</td>
</tr>
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<td>LF</td>
<td>Kemp</td>
<td>1B</td>
<td>Hosmer (L)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DH</td>
<td>Puig</td>
<td>DH</td>
<td>Butler</td>
</tr>
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<td>1B</td>
<td>Gonzalez (L)</td>
<td>LF</td>
<td>Gordon (L)<br>
</td>
</tr>
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<td>CF</td>
<td>Van Slyke</td>
<td>C</td>
<td>Perez</td>
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<td>C</td>
<td>Ellis<br>
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<td>2B</td>
<td>Infante</td>
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<td>RF</td>
<td>Romak</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>Valencia</td>
</tr>
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<td>SS</td>
<td>Triunfel</td>
<td>RF</td>
<td>Maxwell</td>
</tr>
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<td>2B</td>
<td>Rojas</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>Escobar<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>Royals left-handed starter <span>Danny Duffy</span> has moved <span>Dee Gordon</span> and <span>Andre Ethier</span> to the bench and <span>Hanley Ramirez</span> is getting his second day off from the field (Ramirez was the designated hitter on Monday).</p>
<p><span>Justin Turner</span> returns to the lineup after his successful pinch-hitting appearance on Monday, <span>Miguel Rojas</span> and <span>Carlos Triunfel</span> make their second straight starts in the lineup, Rojas moving to second base. <span>Jamie Romak</span> makes his second start at right field.</p>
<p><span class="sbn-auto-link">Gordon</span> and <span class="sbn-auto-link">Ramirez</span> are both on the bench for the first time this season, they have started together most of the time at second and shortstop respectively and when one sat, the other played.</p>
<p>This is Rojas' first start at second base. Only five Dodgers in the starting lineup were on the 40-man roster when spring training camp opened in February.</p>
<p>Three starters, Rojas, Triunfel and Romak, were not on the 40-man roster when the team opened up in Australia.</p>
<p>The Royals made a roster move before the game, activating left-hander <span>Bruce Chen</span> from the disabled list. The club optioned lefty reliever <span>Tim Collins</span> to Triple-A Omaha, and designated left-hander <span>Donnie Joseph</span> for assignment.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/6/24/5838298/yasiel-puig-jamie-romak-starting-lineupCraig Minami2014-06-24T12:00:10-07:002014-06-24T12:00:10-07:00Kershaw takes on Duffy in lefty duel in KC
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<figcaption>Justin Edmonds</figcaption>
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<p>KANSAS CITY - How good has Dodgers ace <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> pitched this month? His opposing pitcher, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Royals</a> starter <span>Danny Duffy</span> has made four starts in June, Duffy has pitched 25⅔ innings, allowed five runs, 14 hits and six walks to go with 23 strikeouts and a 1.75 ERA. Yet Duffy trails Kershaw in every one of those stats except maybe the most obvious.</p>
<p>So far in June, Kershaw has made four starts, thrown 29 innings, allowed four runs (a 1.24 ERA), 15 hits and one walk, with 40 strikeouts.</p>
<p>Kershaw would appear to be set to join <span>Zack Greinke</span> soon in this stat that the <span class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</span> tweeted yesterday:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Zack Greinke joins elite LAD company with his 100th K: only Koufax (19) and Sutton (also 20) allowed fewer walks at time of their 100th.</p>
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers/statuses/481244364866195456">June 24, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
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<p>Kershaw has 86 strikeouts with eight walks thus far in 2014.</p>
<p>The only Royal with any history against Kershaw is <span>Omar Infante</span>, who is 2-for-9 with a walk and a strikeout. <span>Adrian Gonzalez</span> has nine plate appearances against Duffy, going 2-for-5 with three walks and a sacrifice fly.</p>
<p>Kauffman Stadium remains the only ballpark where the Dodgers have played where they have still not won a game. The Dodgers have lost all four games they have played there.</p>
<p>It should be a little warmer in Kansas City on Tuesday but there is no rain predicted in the area.</p>
<h5>Game info</h5>
<p>Time: 5:10 p.m. PT</p>
<p>TV: SportsNet LA, MLB Network</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/6/24/5837060/clayton-kershaw-dodgers-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