True Blue LA - July 20: Dodgers 4, Cardinals 3Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2014-07-20T21:07:09-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/56851342014-07-20T21:07:09-07:002014-07-20T21:07:09-07:00Hanley hit again, but Dodgers rally to beat Cards
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<figcaption>Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Dodgers (55-45, .550) are back in a virtual tie with San Francisco (54-44, .551) atop the National League West.</p> <p>In a game that saw a <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> stolen base, pinch runner <span>Drew Butera</span>, and three more hit by pitches, it was <span>Adrian Gonzalez</span> who showed proof of life with the game-winning RBI single in the ninth inning in the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>' 4-3 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> on Sunday night.</p>
<p><span>A.J. Ellis</span> opened the ninth with a double against St. Louis closer <span>Trevor Rosenthal</span>, but after a pair of strikeouts things did not look good for the Dodgers. They looked especially worse when Rosenthal hit <span>Hanley Ramirez</span> in the hand by a pitch, the second time Ramirez was hit by a pitch on the night.*</p>
<p>Ramirez exited the game and with <span>Yasiel Puig</span> unavailable after getting hit on the hand himself on Saturday, the backup catcher Butera was brought in to pinch run for Ramirez. X-rays were negative on Ramirez's hand, <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/dylanohernandez/status/491065702250332160">per Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times</a>, but Ramirez, like Puig, will have his hand examined again when the Dodgers reach Pittsburgh.</p>
<p><font size='-2"'><i>*Both benches were warned after Kershaw hit <span>Matt Holliday</span> in retaliation for Ramirez getting hit in the shoulder in the fourth inning.</i></font></p>
<p>Gonzalez, 0-for-4 on the night at that point, hitting just .200 (11-for-55) with three extra-base hits in 15 games in July, singled to right field to score <span>Miguel Rojas</span>, who had entered as a pinch-runner for Ellis, giving the Dodgers a 4-3 advantage.</p>
<p>For Gonzalez, it was a welcome sight. Even with the single, the first baseman is hitting .224/.287/.338 with 12 doubles and six home runs in 70 games since the beginning of May. Not that he has been alone struggling on offense.</p>
<p>The Dodgers had scored just 12 runs in their previous seven games, and were averaging 3.6 runs per game in the month, but the offense showed glimpses of life early, scoring a run in the second on a triple by <span>Andre Ethier</span> and a single by <span>Juan Uribe</span>, then added two more runs in the third on RBI singles by <span>Matt Kemp</span> and Ethier for a 3-1 lead.</p>
<p><span>Carlos Martinez</span> was unable to get through five innings for a second time against the Dodgers this season, allowing those three runs on six hits and a pair of walks in his four innings, with five strikeouts.</p>
<p>The score stayed that way until the sixth, when noted nemesis <span>Matt Carpenter</span> coaxed a 10-pitch walk to open the inning, Kershaw's only walk of the game. <span>Peter Bourjos</span> followed with a shot into the left field seats to tie the game at 3-3.</p>
<p>The three runs allowed by Kershaw in his seven innings were his most since doing the same on May 28 against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a>.</p>
<p>Kershaw ended with eight strikeouts in his seven innings, his seventh consecutive start lasting at least seven frames.</p>
<p>Kershaw stole his base in the fourth inning after reaching on a force play. It was the first stolen base of Kershaw's career, and the first steal by a Dodgers pitcher this season. While on the mound, Kershaw has only allowed two steals this year, in four attempts.</p>
<p>After tying the game in the sixth, St. Louis threatened with runners in scoring position in both the seventh and eighth. In the seventh Ellis threw to second to pick off old friend <span>Mark Ellis</span> to end the inning, and in the eighth <span>J.P. Howell</span>, in relief of <span>Brian Wilson</span>, got <span>Matt Adams</span> to ground out with two on to end that threat.</p>
<p>Howell picked up the win in relief, and <span>Kenley Jansen</span> pitched a perfect ninth for his 28th save, tying his career high set in 2013.</p>
<h5>Up next</h5>
<p>The Dodgers move on to Pittsburgh for a three-game series against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a>, winners of three straight games. <span>Hyun-Jin Ryu</span> gets the start in the opener on Monday night, with old friend <span>Edinson Volquez</span> starting for Pittsburgh.</p>
<h5>Sunday particulars</h5>
<p><b>Home run</b>: Peter Bourjos (3)</p>
<p><b>WP - J.P. Howell (2-3)</b>: 1 up, 1 down</p>
<p><b>LP - Seth Rosenthal (1-5)</b>: 1 IP, 2 hits, 1 run, 3 strikeouts</p>
<p><b>Sv - Kenley Jansen (28)</b>: 1 IP, 1 strikeout</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/7/20/5921655/hanley-ramirez-hbp-magnet-dodgers-rallyEric Stephen2014-07-20T17:00:02-07:002014-07-20T17:00:02-07:00Dodgers vs. Cardinals Game VII chat
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<figcaption>Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p></p>
<div class="read-more"> <br><h4>Starting Lineups</h4> <br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><table class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" align="center" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#1e90ff" width="125"><font color="#ffffff"><strong>Dodgers</strong></font></td> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#c41e3a" width="125"><font color="#fffff"><strong>Cardinals</strong></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td>2B</td> <td>Gordon (L)</td> <td>3B</td> <td>Carpenter (L)</td> </tr> <tr> <td>SS</td> <td>Ramirez</td> <td>CF</td> <td>Bourjos</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1B</td> <td>Gonzalez (L)</td> <td>LF</td> <td>Holliday</td> </tr> <tr> <td>LF</td> <td>Kemp<br><br> </td> <td>SS</td> <td>Peralta</td> </tr> <tr> <td>RF</td> <td>Ethier (L)<br><br> </td> <td>1B</td> <td>Adams (L)<br><br> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>CF</td> <td>Van Slyke<br><br> </td> <td>RF</td> <td>Craig<br><br> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>3B</td> <td>Uribe</td> <td>2B</td> <td>Ellis<br><br> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>C</td> <td>Ellis</td> <td>C</td> <td>Cruz</td> </tr> <tr> <td>P</td> <td>Kershaw (L)</td> <td>P</td> <td>Martinez</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <br><span><strong>Location</strong>: Busch Stadium<br><strong>Time</strong>: 5:05 p.m. PT<br> <strong>TV</strong>: ESPN</span><br> </div>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/7/20/5921087/dodgers-vs-cardinals-game-vii-chatEric Stephen2014-07-20T14:23:34-07:002014-07-20T14:23:34-07:00Puig out of lineup in finale vs. Cardinals
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<figcaption>Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>ST. LOUIS -- The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> will try to salvage the final game of their three-game series against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> in St. Louis on Sunday night, but will do so without <span>Yasiel Puig</span>. The right fielder is out of the starting lineup one day after getting hit by a pitch in his left hand.</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>Dodgers</b></font></td>
<td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#c41e3a" width="125"><font color="#fffff"><b>Cardinals</b></font></td>
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<td>2B</td>
<td>Gordon (L)</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>Carpenter (L)</td>
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<td>Ramirez</td>
<td>CF</td>
<td>Bourjos</td>
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<td>1B</td>
<td>Gonzalez (L)</td>
<td>LF</td>
<td>Holliday</td>
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<td>LF</td>
<td>Kemp<br>
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<td>SS</td>
<td>Peralta</td>
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<td>RF</td>
<td>Ethier (L)<br>
</td>
<td>1B</td>
<td>Adams (L)<br>
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<td>CF</td>
<td>Van Slyke<br>
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<td>RF</td>
<td>Craig<br>
</td>
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<td>3B</td>
<td>Uribe</td>
<td>2B</td>
<td>Ellis<br>
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<td>C</td>
<td>Ellis</td>
<td>C</td>
<td>Cruz</td>
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<td>P</td>
<td>Kershaw (L)</td>
<td>P</td>
<td>Martinez</td>
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<span><b>Location</b>: Busch Stadium<br><b>Time</b>: 5:05 p.m. PT<br> <b>TV</b>: ESPN<br></span>
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<p>Puig was hit in his left hand by a tailing fastball from <span>Joe Kelly</span> in the third inning of Saturday's 4-2 loss to St. Louis, but he stayed in the game for five more innings in the field, and popped out in his next at-bat. Don Mattingly sent <span>Matt Kemp</span> to the plate to pinch hit for Puig in the eighth inning, but Puig struck out.</p>
<p>Postgame X-rays on Puig's hand on Saturday were negative.</p>
<p>It has been a rough period offensively for the Dodgers, who have scored 12 runs in their last seven games and are averaging just 3.64 runs per game in July.</p>
<p>Puig is hitting .294/.368/.529 this month, and along with <span>Hanley Ramirez</span> (.296/.424/.407) is one of just two Dodgers with even 10 plate appearances in July with an OPS of at least .800.</p>
<p><span>Andre Ethier</span>, hitting .250/.385/.375 with seven walks in 39 plate appearances in July, starts in right field on Sunday night for the Dodgers, with <span>Scott Van Slyke</span> - hitting .273/.294/.485 with a team-high two home runs in July - is in center field.</p>
<p>Old friend <span>Mark Ellis</span> starts at second base for the Cardinals, his first start of the weekend series as the Cardinals stack their lineup with right-handed batters against <span>Clayton Kershaw</span>.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/7/20/5919677/yasiel-puig-sits-hand-dodgers-cardinals-lineupsEric Stephen2014-07-20T12:17:13-07:002014-07-20T12:17:13-07:00Kershaw, Dodgers try to salvage one in St. Louis
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<figcaption>Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> enter Sunday night in desperate need of a win, and they send to the mound the person most equipped to help them salvage the final game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> at Busch Stadium. <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> seeks his ninth straight win, though will need to do so at Busch Stadium, where St. Louis has been inhospitable hosts.</p>
<p>Kershaw has lost four straight starts in St. Louis, including Games 2 and 6 of the 2013 NLCS. Counting the playoffs Kershaw is 2-5 with a 4.21 ERA in eight career starts at Busch Stadium, with 42 strikeouts and 19 walks in 47 innings.</p>
<p>But this season Kershaw is in the midst of the best stretch of his career. He is 8-0 in his last eight starts, with five runs and six walks allowed, to go along with 80 strikeouts in 61 innings. It includes 13 strikeouts in seven scoreless innings on June 29 against the Cardinals, though his two walks against St. Louis were Kershaw's most in any one of his last nine starts.</p>
<p>The last Dodgers pitcher to win nine consecutive starts was Burt Hooton, who won 10 straight starts from <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?t=p&id=hootobu01&year=1975#149-158-sum">Aug. 4 to Sept. 15, 1975</a>.</p>
<p>Can Kershaw hold the Cardinals down enough so the two runs scored in each of the first two Dodgers games in St. Louis might hold up?</p>
<p><span>Scott Van Slyke</span> leads the Dodgers in home runs in July, with two. The team has six home runs in 14 games in July, and none in the last six games, a stretch of 223 plate appearances without a long ball.</p>
<h5>Game info</h5>
<p>Time: 5:05 p.m. PT</p>
<p>TV: ESPN</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/7/20/5920753/clayton-kershaw-salvage-modeEric Stephen2014-07-17T14:57:05-07:002014-07-17T14:57:05-07:00Dodgers miss Wainwright in Cardinals series
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<figcaption>Elsa</figcaption>
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> open up their post-All-Star break schedule with a nine-game road trip, beginning with the always tough trip to St. Louis to face the defending National League pennant winning <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a>. The Dodgers will miss Cardinals ace <span>Adam Wainwright</span>, <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/LangoschMLB/status/489854541320310784">per Jennifer Langosch of MLB.com</a>, giving him extra rest after the All-Star break.</p>
<p>The Dodgers beat the Cardinals in three of four games in Los Angeles, limiting St. Louis to just four runs in four game. On paper, the pitching matchups favor the Dodgers to win this series in St. Louis as well, but as we all know games aren't played on paper. Here are the scheduled starting pitchers this weekend.</p>
<h5>Friday, 5:15 p.m. PT (SportsNet LA)</h5>
<p><span>Dan Haren</span> hopes for a second straight year with a second-half rebound, beginning Friday night in St. Louis, on six days rest. In nine starts on five or more days rest this season, Haren has a 4.08 ERA (compared to 4.37 on four days rest) with 40 strikeouts and 14 walks in 53 innings. <span>Lance Lynn</span> got bulldozed by the Dodgers in Los Angeles on June 28 to the tune of seven runs in two innings, but has allowed just two runs in 13⅓ innings in his two starts since.</p>
<h5>Saturday, 1:05 p.m. PT (SportsNet LA, Fox Sports 1)</h5>
<p><span>Zack Greinke</span> has 30 strikeouts and two walks in his last four starts, and has gone 11 straight starts with no more than two walks in a start, with 12 total walks and 72 strikeouts during that span. <span>Joe Kelly</span> missed nearly three months with a hamstring injury and in his first start back on July 11 allowed six runs in three innings at Milwaukee, a game the Cardinals came back to win 7-6 despite the early 6-0 deficit.</p>
<p>This game will not be blacked out on Fox Sports 1 in Los Angeles. It will be available on both SportsNet LA and Fox Sports 1.</p>
<h5>Sunday, 5:05 p.m. PT (ESPN)</h5>
<h5></h5>
<p><span>Clayton Kershaw</span> comes off his worst start in a month, when he allowed a run in nine innings with 11 strikeouts against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a> on July 10. Kershaw has won his last eight starts, with five total runs and six walks allowed in that span in 61 innings, with 80 strikeouts. <span>Carlos Martinez</span> since rejoining the Cardinals rotation in June has 29 strikeouts with just two home runs allowed in 28⅓ innings, with 14 walks and a 4.13 ERA in those six starts.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/7/17/5913735/dodgers-cardinals-starting-pitchers-no-adam-wainwrightEric Stephen