True Blue LA - Jackie Robinson Day: Dodgers 5, Mariners 2Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2015-04-15T22:09:34-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/82159302015-04-15T22:09:34-07:002015-04-15T22:09:34-07:00Dodgers complete sweep of Mariners
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<p>LOS ANGELES -- The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a> continued to get production from up and down their roster, with <span>Andre Ethier</span> and <span>Scott Van Slyke</span> pacing a face start en route to a 5-2 victory and a three-game sweep of the <a href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Mariners</a> at Dodger Stadium.</p>
<p>The Dodgers have won four straight games.</p>
<p>With a <span>Carl Crawford</span> held out of the lineup with a sore ankle, Van Slyke started in left field, his first start against a right-handed pitcher this season. He hit a two-run double off <span>Taijuan Walker</span>, part of a three-run first inning that saw the Dodgers jump out to a rare early lead.</p>
<p>The club that was outscored 10-1 in the first inning through the first eight games of the season was up 3-0 after one on Wednesday, then 5-0 after three innings, and never looked back.</p>
<p>Ethier scored one of those runs in the first, then scored again in the third, part of a 2-for-3 night for Ethier that made him 6-for-12 over his last four games. He has reached base eight times in his last 14 plate appearances.</p>
<h4>Joc impact</h4>
<p>Ethier and Van Slyke weren't the only Dodgers outfielders productive on Wednesday. Center fielder <span>Joc Pederson</span> was 1-for-1 with three walks on the night, but his biggest impact came with a pair of defensive highlights.</p>
<p>Pederson laid out to rob <span>Mike Zunino</span> of extra bases to end the second inning with this nifty diving catch:</p>
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<p>Mr. Steal Your Hit, <a href="https://twitter.com/yungjoc650">@yungjoc650</a>. <a href="http://t.co/IbMhlyi3Mx">http://t.co/IbMhlyi3Mx</a> <a href="http://t.co/DQapOZATwQ">pic.twitter.com/DQapOZATwQ</a></p>
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/588538604319682562">April 16, 2015</a>
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<p>Then, in a series that saw the Dodgers send runner after runner home to test the poor Seattle outfield arms, Pederson terrorized Zunino again, this time <a href="http://m.mlb.com/video/v75694583/?query=pederson" target="_blank">throwing him out at the plate</a>:</p>
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<p>Mr. Steal Your Run, <a href="https://twitter.com/yungjoc650">@yungjoc650</a>. <a href="http://t.co/a6BRGeGvJs">pic.twitter.com/a6BRGeGvJs</a></p>
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/588556577864450048">April 16, 2015</a>
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<p>"Joc's a solid defender. It talks about the importance of what we think he's capable of doing out there and kind of on an everyday basis," manager Don Mattingly said. "Not so much having to make the spectacular play, but just the bread and butter, getting good jumps, running good routes, and being a solid defender for us."</p>
<h4>Staying hot</h4>
<p>Two of the hottest hitters in baseball in the first two weeks of the season have been <span>Adrian Gonzalez</span> and <span>Nelson Cruz</span>, and both continued to leave their mark on Wednesday. Gonzalez was 2-for-5 with an RBI single in the second inning, extending his hitting streak to 11 games, dating back to 2014. He added a double in the sixth inning, which produced this neat factoid perfect for April 15.</p>
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<p>Adrián González has reached base safely at least 2x in each of 1st 9 games in 2015 Last Dodger to do that: Jackie Robinson, 1952 (ELIAS)</p>
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/588557161434898432">April 16, 2015</a>
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<p>On the season, Gonzalez is hitting .528/.595/1.111 and with 19 hits set a Dodgers franchise record for most in the first nine games of a season, surpassing Zack Wheat (1923, 1925), Tommy Griffith (1919), Reggie Smith (1980) and Eric Karros (1995), all of whom had 18 hits through nine games.</p>
<p>Cruz hit his major-league-leading sixth home run of the season, a solo shot in the fourth inning that broke his tie with Gonzalez. It was the fourth home run of the three-game series for Cruz, who has homered in each of his last five games.</p>
<p>In the series, Cruz was 5-for-10 with four home runs, five runs scored, five RBI and three walks.</p>
<h4>Pitching</h4>
<p><span>Brett Anderson</span> induced seven ground balls in his first 10 batters faced, and through five innings allowed only one run, but ran into some trouble in the sixth. After a fielding error at first by Gonzalez, Anderson allowed a single and a walk to load the bases with nobody out.</p>
<p>That left <span>Paco Rodriguez</span> in a precarious position, though he escaped with only one run scoring, thanks in large part to <span>Robinson Cano</span> having a brain fart and trying to jog home, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2015/4/16/8426003/robinson-cano-bases-loaded-brain-fart" target="_blank">thinking the bases were loaded</a>. Oops.</p>
<p>"It was kind of a brain fart, I guess," Anderson said of Cano's gaffe.</p>
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<p>To Cano: is that the dumbest thing you've ever done? Cano: I would say yes.</p>
— Bob Dutton (@TNT_Mariners) <a href="https://twitter.com/TNT_Mariners/status/588580679853551617">April 16, 2015</a>
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<p>Rodriguez, <span>Chris Hatcher</span>, <span>Pedro Baez</span> and <span>J.P. Howell</span> combined to pitch the final four innings without allowing a run. That culminated a strong three-game series for the Dodgers bullpen, which combined for 12 innings, allowing only one run on five hits, with four walks and 19 strikeouts.</p>
<h4>Up next</h4>
<p>The Dodgers are off on Thursday, but resume their homestand with a three-game weekend series against the <a href="https://www.purplerow.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Rockies</a>. In the Friday night opener at Dodger Stadium, <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> will make his third start of the season, facing <span>Kyle Kendrick</span> for Colorado.</p>
<h4>Wednesday particulars</h4>
<p><b>Home run</b>: <span>Nelson Cruz</span> (6)</p>
<p><b>WP - <span class="sbn-auto-link">Brett Anderson</span> (1-0)</b>: 5+ IP, 6 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), 1 walk, 3 strikeouts</p>
<p><b>LP - Taijuan Walker (0-2)</b>: 4 IP, 6 hits, 5 runs, 4 walks, 3 strikeouts</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2015/4/15/8425863/dodgers-outfield-sweep-marinersEric Stephen2015-04-15T18:45:30-07:002015-04-15T18:45:30-07:00Frias recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City
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<p>LOS ANGELES -- The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a> recalled swing man <span>Carlos Frias</span> from Triple-A Oklahoma City before their series finale against the <a href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Mariners</a> on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium.</p>
<p>Frias takes the active roster spot vacated by <span>David Huff</span>, who was <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2015/4/15/8423467/ryan-dennick-waivers-dodgers-reds-david-huff-dfa" target="_blank">designated for assignment earlier on Wednesday</a>. Huff went just four innings in a spot start on Tuesday night against the Mariners, a game the Dodgers came from behind to win 6-5. He was followed on the mound by <span>Juan Nicasio</span>, who threw 46 pitches in two innings.</p>
<p>"Part of that plan was knowing we were using Juan last night. Obviously we need enough to cover the game tonight and have enough protection for the rest of our guys," manager Don Mattingly said before Wednesday's game. "Carlos has been starting, he's built up to start. He has a lot of pitches in him, this would have been his day. He's going to be ready to go."</p>
<p>Frias was originally scheduled to start for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday night against Nashville, but <span>Freddy Garcia</span> started in his stead.</p>
<p>Mattingly was vague as to what role Frias would have beyond Wednesday night, or if more roster moves were coming.</p>
<p>"There could have been actually more [transactions], depending on how things went last night," Mattingly said. "Each game presents its own set of problems."</p>
<p>Frias, 25, made one start for Triple-A Oklahoma City, allowing three runs on eight hits in 5⅓ innings on Friday night, with five strikeouts and no walks.</p>
<p>The Dodgers are currently carrying 12 pitchers, including eight relievers, and 13 position players.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2015/4/15/8424937/carlos-frias-recalled-triple-aEric Stephen2015-04-15T15:28:36-07:002015-04-15T15:28:36-07:00Grandal batting 2nd, Puig sits
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<figcaption>Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>LOS ANGELES -- <span>Yasiel Puig</span> will sit for a second straight game with left hamstring tightness, missing the final game of the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a>' series against the <a href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Mariners</a> at Dodger Stadium.</p>
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<h4>Starting Lineups<br>
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<td width="125" bgcolor="#005c5c" align="center" colspan="2"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Mariners</b></font></td>
<td width="125" bgcolor="#1e90ff" align="center" colspan="2"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Dodgers</b></font></td>
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<td>LF</td>
<td>Weeks <br>
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<td>SS</td>
<td>Rollins (S)<br>
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<td>CF</td>
<td>Jackson</td>
<td>C</td>
<td>Grandal (S)<br>
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<td>2B</td>
<td>Cano (L)</td>
<td>1B</td>
<td>Gonzalez (L)</td>
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<td>RF</td>
<td>Cruz</td>
<td>2B</td>
<td>Kendrick</td>
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<td>3B</td>
<td>Seager (L)</td>
<td>RF</td>
<td>Ethier (L)</td>
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<td>1B</td>
<td>Morrison (L)<br>
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<td>LF</td>
<td>Van Slyke<br>
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<td>C</td>
<td>Zunino</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>Uribe<br>
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<td>SS</td>
<td>Miller (L)</td>
<td>CF</td>
<td>Pederson (L)</td>
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<td>P</td>
<td>Walker</td>
<td>P</td>
<td>Anderson (L)<br>
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<span><b>Location</b>: Dodger Stadium<br> <b>Time</b>: 7:10 p.m. PT<br> <b>TV</b>: SportsNet LA, ESPN2<br></span>
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<p>Sitting Puig on Wednesday gives him the potential for three days off while missing just two games, coupled with Thursday's off day. We won't know whether Puig will be available to pinch hit no matter what manager Don Mattingly says before Wednesday's game.</p>
<p><span>Andre Ethier</span> starts in place of Puig, his fourth start in the last five games. Ethier homered on Wednesday and is 4-for-9 with a home run, triple and double in the last four games.</p>
<p>The Dodgers are also giving <span>Scott Van Slyke</span> a start against a right-handed pitcher, Mariners starter <span>Taijuan Walker</span>. Mattingly talked Tuesday about getting regular at-bats for his reserves and that Van Slyke has suffered since the Dodgers will have faced just one left-handed starter in the first two weeks of the season.</p>
<p>No Puig and no <span>Carl Crawford</span> means a new person batting second, and Wednesday night that falls to catcher <span>Yasmani Grandal</span>, he of the career .350 on-base percentage, including .355 against right-handed pitchers.</p>
<p>This is Grandal's first career start batting second.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2015/4/15/8424263/yasiel-puig-out-dodgers-mariners-lineups-yasmani-grandalEric Stephen2015-04-15T15:01:47-07:002015-04-15T15:01:47-07:00Dodgers claim Dennick from Reds, DFA Huff
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<figcaption>Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>LOS ANGELES -- The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a> on Wednesday claimed left-handed pitcher <span>Ryan Dennick</span> from the <a href="https://www.redreporter.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Reds</a>, and optioned him to Double-A Tulsa. To make room on the 40-man roster, <span>David Huff</span> was designated for assignment one day after allowing four runs in four innings in a spot start against the <a href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Mariners</a>.</p>
<p>Dennick, 28, was drafted by the Royals in the 22nd round in 2009, and selected by the Reds in the 2012 Rule 5 Draft. The left-hander allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits in 2⅔ innings in two games for Triple-A Louisville so far this season, with five strikeouts and no walks. Cincinnati designated Dennick for assignment on Monday.</p>
<p>Dennick made his major league debut for the Reds last September, allowing seven runs (six earned) on seven hits in 4⅔ innings, with four walks and three strikeouts.</p>
<p>Dennick had all three option years remaining entering 2015, one of which is in use now.</p>
<p>The Dodgers have 10 days to figure out what to do with Huff. If he clears waivers he can be outrighted to Triple-A, but as someone with three years of service time can refuse any outright assignment to the minors.</p>
<p>With Dennick in the minors and Huff now off the roster, the Dodgers still have an open spot on the active roster, likely for a reliever. Though that hasn't yet been announced by the team.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2015/4/15/8423467/ryan-dennick-waivers-dodgers-reds-david-huff-dfaEric Stephen2015-04-15T11:12:39-07:002015-04-15T11:12:39-07:00The time Jackie Robinson played SS
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<p>LOS ANGELES -- Wednesday is Jackie Robinson Day, one of the very best days of the year, and now back at Dodger Stadium after a rare April 15 road game last year for the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a>.</p>
<p>Today marks the 68th anniversary of Robinson's major league debut. He played first base and batted second in that game, and played first base all season. Robinson is mostly known as a second baseman, his primary position for his prime years of 1948-1952, but he also moved around quite a bit, seeing significant time in left field and third base as well.</p>
<p>But Robinson also played shortstop in one major league game, on <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BRO/BRO195309220.shtml" target="_blank">September 22, 1953 against the Pirates</a>. This was arguably the best Dodgers team of all time, finishing 105-49 though falling short in <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/world-series" class="sbn-auto-link">the World Series</a> again to the <a href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Yankees</a>. The Dodgers had already clinched the pennant 10 days before and this was Game 151 in a 154-game slate.</p>
<p>The club's regular shortstop was Pee Wee Reese, a Hall of Famer himself, was given a day off and Robinson, who hit .329/.425/.502 that year, batted cleanup and played his only game at shortstop.</p>
<p>In the game, Robinson walked all four times at the plate. Dating back to 1914, <a href="http://bbref.com/pi/shareit/Aklqk" target="_blank">only twice has a Dodgers shortstop walked four times in a game</a>, and both came in 1953. Reese did so earlier in the year, on April 19, also against Pittsburgh.</p>
<p>Cal Hogue, who issued all four walks to Robinson, issued one of the four walks to Reese five months earlier.</p>
<p>Robinson played shortstop with the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues in 1945 before signing with the Dodgers, though in his one minor league season in Montreal in 1946 he played second base. That club's shortstop was Al Campanis, future general manager of the Dodgers for two decades.</p>
<p>In a <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2206&dat=19460131&id=XIwyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GecFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6323,5824431&hl=en" target="_blank">January 31, 1946 article in the Miami News</a>, Dodgers manager Leo Durocher talked about the possibility of Robinson as a shortstop:</p>
<p>"I went on and explained to [the players] that Pee Wee Reese is a pretty fair country shortstop - so if Robinson is a better ball player than Reese then the job is his," explained Durocher. "Of course I never saw Robinson play. I don't know what he's like. They tell me he's a nice boy and understands what's before him. He expects a riding. He'll have to be a helluva player to overcome a lot of things. But then - well, he expects that."</p>
<p>I'm not sure it's possible to expect or even prepare for exactly what Robinson endured to play in the majors. But the game is forever better because he did, and for that we are forever indebted to him.</p>
<h4>Wednesday night</h4>
<p>Everyone in baseball will wear Robinson's number 42 on Wednesday, but the celebration packs a little more punch in Los Angeles. And to add to it this year, the series finale against the <a href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Mariners</a> is also the 2015 Civil Rights Game.</p>
<p>Rachel Robinson will be a part of the first pitch ceremony, and will be joined by Sandy Koufax, Don Newcombe, Roy Campanella's daughter Joni Campanella, plus scholars from the Jackie Robinson foundation. Also involved in the pregame ceremony will be Frank Robinson and Magic Johnson.</p>
<p>In addition to the SportsNet LA telecast, ESPN2 will cover Wednesday night's game, and the ESPN2 broadcast will not be blacked out. Jon Sciambi, Rick Sutcliffe and <span>Doug Glanville</span> will be on the call, with Glanville delivering an essay on Robinson at some point during the telecast.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2015/4/15/8421125/jackie-robinson-dodgers-shortstopEric Stephen2015-04-13T13:07:01-07:002015-04-13T13:07:01-07:00Dodgers-Mariners pitching matchups
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<figcaption>Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>LOS ANGELES -- The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a> play their first interleague series of 2015 starting Monday night, welcoming the <a href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Seattle Mariners</a> to town for three games to open a six-game homestand at Dodger Stadium. Here is a look at the pitching matchups and schedule for the series:</p>
<h4>Monday, 7:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA)</h4>
<p><span>Brandon McCarthy</span> makes his second start as a Dodger on Monday, after a debut that had its good parts (nine strikeouts in just five innings) and not-so-good parts (two home runs, three doubles allowed). In the past 20 years, McCarthy was just the <a href="http://bbref.com/pi/shareit/aD3Ua" target="_blank">fourth Dodgers pitcher to allow five or more extra-base hits while striking out at least nine</a>, joining <span>Clayton Kershaw</span>, <span>Hiroki Kuroda</span> and <span>Hideo Nomo</span>. <span>James Paxton</span> starts for the Mariners, the first left-handed starting pitcher to face the Dodgers this season, though I always confuse him with James Pullman.</p>
<h4>Tuesday, 7:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA, MLB Network)</h4>
<p>We don't yet know who will start for the Dodgers, but the leader in the clubhouse is <span>Scott Baker</span>, with <span>Joe Wieland</span> a few strokes behind. <span>Hisashi Iwakuma</span> was 3-0 in three interleague starts in 2014, allowing three total runs to National League opponents in 21 innings, with 24 strikeouts and no walks.</p>
<p>The MLB Network broadcast will be blacked out in the Dodgers broadcast markets.</p>
<h4>Wednesday, 7:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA, ESPN2)</h4>
<p><span>Brett Anderson</span> overcame a <span>Paul Goldschmidt</span> three-run home run in his first start to last six innings, retiring 11 of his final 12 batters faced. He starts the series finale against Seattle. Between non-roster invitee outfielder <span>Matt Carson</span> and Wednesday Seattle starter <span>Taijuan Walker</span>, Dodgers fans will have been treated to a third of the Yucaipa High School grads to have played in the major leagues. Walker, 22, allowed nine runs on Friday against Oakland in his first start of the year.</p>
<p>The ESPN2 broadcast of Wednesday's 2015 Civil Rights Game is a full national broadcast, meaning it will not be blacked out in Dodgers broadcast markets.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2015/4/13/8406017/dodgers-mariners-schedule-time-starting-pitchersEric Stephen2015-03-16T12:43:20-07:002015-03-16T12:43:20-07:00Dodgers to host Civil Rights Game on Robinson Day
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<figcaption>Stephen Dunn/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The game will be televised by ESPN2, with no local blackouts.</p> <p>GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a> and <a href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Mariners</a> will take part in Major League Baseball's annual Civil Rights Game this season, and for the first time the event will coincide with Jackie Robinson Day on April 15.</p>
<p>The Dodgers will host the Mariners on Wednesday night, April 15 at 7:10 p.m. PT, and in addition to the local SportsNet LA broadcast the game will be televised nationally by ESPN2, with no local blackouts. It is the 68th anniversary of Robinson's major league debut.</p>
<p>"It is truly an ideal pairing to have the franchise of Jackie Robinson and the city of Los Angeles join our National Pastime in recognizing leaders of the past and present who have done so much for the benefit of our country," said MLB commissioner Rob Manfred. "Together with the Dodgers, Major League Baseball will proudly celebrate the civil rights movement, the courageous people like Jackie who contributed to it, and its many lessons that continue to resonate today."</p>
<p>The Civil Rights Game began in 2007 as an in-season exhibition game in Memphis, but shifted to regular season contests in 2009. The Dodgers have taken part in one prior Civil Rights Game, when they battled the <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Braves</a> in Atlanta in 2012.</p>
<p>The game was designed to "pay tribute to the spirit of the civil rights movement and to honor those who embodied the struggle for equal rights for all Americans."</p>
<p>The Dodgers played at home for nine consecutive Jackie Robinson Days (2005-2013) before traveling to San Francisco to face the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Giants</a> last April 15.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2015/3/16/8220547/dodgers-mariners-civil-rights-game-jackie-robinson-day-april-15-dodger-stadiumEric Stephen