True Blue LA - July 29: Dodgers 10, Athletics 7Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2015-07-30T00:17:57-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/88828842015-07-30T00:17:57-07:002015-07-30T00:17:57-07:00Rollins starting to heat up
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<figcaption>Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>LOS ANGELES -- In a case of fortuitous timing, <span>Jimmy Rollins</span> moved back into the leadoff spot on Wednesday, just as he continued his hot streak. Rollins tripled and doubled in the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>' 10-7 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Athletics</a>.</p>
<p>It was the 113th triple of Rollins' career, and his second this season. In his last seven games, Rollins has three home runs, two doubles and a triple. Before that, he had six extra-base hits in his previous <i>33 games</i>.</p>
<p>"I've just been able to I guess do what I've always been able to do, which is stay on the ball, pulling balls and be able to hit up the middle," Rollins said. "Early on it was the other way, the other way, the other way, because I was coming around a lot of balls, and being able to pull the ball wasn't consistent."</p>
<p>Rollins' triple to lead off the third inning came batting left-handed, and was hit down the right field. His double in the eighth came batting right-handed, and was hit to left. Both extra-base hits were pulled, as were all three of his home runs at Citi Field against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> last weekend.</p>
<p>"It's all the work we've done, me, [hitting coach Mark McGwire] and [assistant hitting coach John Valentin], that I no longer have to think about those things, that they start to feel natural after a while with repetition after repetition," Rollins explained. "You stop thinking about it and just let it happen. Hopefully you get results, hopefully you get hits, but the first part of that is just trying to put together good at-bats, trying to get pitches that you can handle."</p>
<p>It has been a disappointing year at the plate for Rollins, hitting .213/.270/.361 even after his recent hot streak. But he hasn't let it affect his defense or his work ethic, both of which have been praised by manager Don Mattingly.</p>
<p>"Jimmy's just a guy that's going to keep playing, kind of the opposite of <span>Joc [Pederson]</span>. He's not going to panic with his swing or change what he's doing. He's going to stay with the program," Mattingly said. "He's been doing this long enough to know the ebbs and flows of the game, and he's not going to fight it. He's going to keep going out there and not be concerned about what happened a month ago."</p>
<p>Nearly one month ago, at the end of June, Rollins was at .208/.262/.326 on the season, but in July he is hitting .233/.300/.493.</p>
<p>"There weren't down times in any mental matter. There was a down average, not getting on base, not getting hits, all those things to help your team win I wasn't able to do them. But as they say, steady as they go," Rollins said. "You have to keep something consistent just to have something to stand on. Trying to have a good approach, work counts, hopefully getting hits but if not hopefully you've seen five or six pitches and you took good swings that would translate to hits later, but it just wasn't happening.</p>
<p>"It never changed my mindset of what my job was to do on both sides of the ball. Fortunately I'm starting to get those hits now."</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2015/7/30/9072229/jimmy-rollins-extra-base-hits-dodgersEric Stephen2015-07-29T22:36:07-07:002015-07-29T22:36:07-07:00Dodgers score often late, beat A's
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<figcaption>Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Dodgers scored seven runs in the seventh and eighth innings combined.</p> <p>LOS ANGELES -- The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Athletics</a> rallied for four runs in the top of the seventh inning, but then the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> rallied for five in the bottom of the inning, securing a 10-7 win over the A's for a series split on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium.</p>
<p>For the fifth time this season the Dodgers snapped a three-game losing streak, and remain a half-game ahead of San Francisco in first place in the National League West.</p>
<p>Oakland's rally in the seventh consisted of four singles, a walk, a double steal that saw <span>Alex Guerrero</span> react like someone who hadn't started at third base since May 24, and one error. That was enough to plate four runs including three charged to <span>J.P. Howell</span>, who last allowed a run on May 29.</p>
<p>The Dodgers rally started with one on and two outs, <span>Howie Kendrick</span> walked to bring up <span>Adrian Gonzalez</span> as the potential tying run. Gonzalez almost realized those expectations with a drive to deep center field, but settled for a double off the wall to bring the Dodgers within 6-4.</p>
<p><span>Yasmani Grandal</span> then rocketed two balls foul, one down each line, before dribbling a ball up the third baseline that happened to stop in fair territory on the dirt roughly 50 feet from home plate. The infield single made it 6-5.</p>
<p><span>Kiké Hernandez</span> then followed with a pinch-hit double to score Gonzalez and Grandal, giving the Dodgers the lead again.</p>
<p>"We had a lot of big at-bats really," manager Don Mattingly said. "We just kind of kept going, and got us back in it."</p>
<p><span>Yasiel Puig</span>, who homered in the fourth inning on his bobblehead night, a two-run shot on a night his mom threw out a first pitch at Dodger Stadium, hit a line drive single to left field to score Hernandez, giving the Dodgers a two-run advantage.</p>
<p>"I'm going to talk to the Dodgers to get more bobblehead nights and have my mom throw out the first pitch more often," Puig joked after the game.</p>
<p>Any secret to Puig's success?</p>
<p>"I stopped playing soccer video games," Puig said. "I've found that when I play baseball video games, I do better."</p>
<p>Howie Kendrick added a two-run single in the eighth inning to widen the Dodgers' lead. <span>Jimmy Rollins</span> doubled in the inning after tripling earlier. Rollins in his last seven games is 8-for-23 (.348) with six extra-base hits.</p>
<p><span>Pedro Baez</span> recorded the final two outs of the top of the seventh inning to earn the win.</p>
<p><span>Drew Pomeranz</span> allowed hits to all three batters he faced - Gonzalez, Grandal and Hernandez - to suffer the loss in relief.</p>
<p><span>Joel Peralta</span> pitched a perfect eighth inning for his first clean frame since June 30, then <span>Kenley Jansen</span> pitched the ninth to close out the win. It wasn't a save situation, but it was Jansen's first appearance since Friday and his second appearance in the last seven days.</p>
<p>Jansen allowed a home run, crushed to center by <span>Brett Lawrie</span>, who was 4-for-5 and also had two doubles for Oakland.</p>
<p>The Dodgers are off Thursday.</p>
<h4>Up next</h4>
<p>The non-waiver trade deadline is Friday at 1 p.m. PT. Then the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a> are in town for three games.</p>
<h4>Wednesday particulars</h4>
<p><b>Home runs</b>: Yasiel Puig (7); Brett Lawrie (9)</p>
<p><b>WP - Pedro Baez (3-2)</b>: ⅔ IP, 1 hit</p>
<p><b>LP - Drew Pomeranz (4-4)</b>: 0 IP, 3 hits, 3 runs</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2015/7/29/9072013/dodgers-rally-athletics-recapEric Stephen2015-07-29T18:01:49-07:002015-07-29T18:01:49-07:00Kershaw pushed to Friday with sore hip
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<figcaption>Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>LOS ANGELES -- <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> ace <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> was scratched from his start on Wednesday with a sore hip, and is scheduled instead to start Friday against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a>.</p>
<p><span>Mike Bolsinger</span> starts Wednesday night against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Athletics</a>.</p>
<p>Kershaw didn't want to discuss whether the soreness was related to the hip impingement that sidelined him briefly in 2012, causing a couple starts to be pushed back.</p>
<p>"It's a little sore right now," Kershaw said multiple times, not delving much deeper into his current state.</p>
<p>Manager Don Mattingly said Kershaw didn't feel anything in his last start, on Thursday in New York, a three-hit shutout of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a>. But Kershaw felt soreness in his hip during his bullpen session, and the soreness remained on Tuesday.</p>
<p>"I thought he would really be ready to roll tonight, but yesterday he wasn't that great," Mattingly said. "At that point, we have [Bolsinger] ready, the off day coming. We just want to take advantage of the off day.</p>
<p>"Yesterday he was still a little tender. Once I saw his face coming in, I knew. We had already thought about this."</p>
<p>The Dodgers were off Monday, and they have off days again on Thursday and next Monday. The current plan is for Kershaw to start on Friday against the Angels, with <span>Zack Greinke</span> starting Saturday on five days rest.</p>
<p>If Kershaw is healthy, that is.</p>
<p>"If he's not 100 percent Friday, we won't start him," Mattingly said.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2015/7/29/9071363/clayton-kershaw-hip-friday-start-dodgers-angelsEric Stephen2015-07-29T15:37:58-07:002015-07-29T15:37:58-07:00Bolsinger starts, Guerrero at 3B, Joc bats 7th
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<figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>LOS ANGELES -- The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> made it official, with <span>Mike Bolsinger</span> getting the start on Wednesday night against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Athletics</a>, and <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> pushed to Friday against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a>.</p>
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<h4>Starting Lineups<br>
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<table class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" align="center" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2">
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<td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#003831" width="125"><font color="#ffd800"><b>Athletics</b></font></td>
<td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#1e90ff" width="125"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Dodgers</b></font></td>
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<td>SS</td>
<td>Rollins (S)<br>
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<td>2B</td>
<td>Kendrick</td>
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<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>1B</td>
<td>Gonzalez (L)</td>
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<td></td>
<td>coming</td>
<td>C</td>
<td>Grandal (S)</td>
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<td></td>
<td>soon</td>
<td>LF</td>
<td>Ethier (L)</td>
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<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>RF</td>
<td>Puig</td>
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<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>CF</td>
<td>Pederson (L)</td>
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<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>Guerrero</td>
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<td>P</td>
<td>Chavez</td>
<td>P</td>
<td>Bolsinger</td>
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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<br></span>
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<p>The Dodgers also shuffled the lineup a bit. <span>Joc Pederson</span>, in the throws of a July swoon, was moved down to seventh in the order, with <span>Jimmy Rollins</span> taking over at leadoff.</p>
<p>Pederson has a .239 on-base percentage this month, and was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts on Tuesday night. Manager Don Mattingly hinted after the game that moving Pederson out of the leadoff spot was an option.</p>
<p>"We've been talking about it a little bit," Mattingly said.</p>
<p>In addition, with <span>Justin Turner</span> still out, <span>Alex Guerrero</span> gets the super rare start at third base.</p>
<p>It is the first start at third base for Guerrero since May 24, three days before the <span>Juan Uribe</span> trade. He has played 1⅓ defensive innings at the hot corner in the 58 games since, before Wednesday night.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2015/7/29/9069837/mike-bolsinger-clayton-kershaw-joc-pederson-jimmy-rollins-alex-guerrero-dodgers-lineupEric Stephen2015-07-29T11:57:37-07:002015-07-29T11:57:37-07:00Dodgers try to snap 3-game skid
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<figcaption>Howie Kendrick had two of the Dodgers' three hits on Tuesday night. | Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>LOS ANGELES -- The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> will battle the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Athletics</a> on Wednesday night, the final game of a two-game set and the final game before Friday afternoon's non-waiver trade deadline.</p>
<p>The Dodgers were shutout on Tuesday by <span>Sonny Gray</span>, the eighth time the club has been held scoreless in a game this season.</p>
<p>The Dodgers have scored 10, seven, five and five runs in games immediately after getting shutout this season, but that is counterbalanced by getting shutout three straight games in San Francisco from May 19-21, followed immediately by a two-run outing the next night in San Diego.</p>
<p>At three games, the Dodgers matched their longest losing streak of the year. The club has lost three straight games five times this season, but have yet to see that skid get stretched to four.</p>
<p>In the previous four games after the Dodgers have lost three consecutive times in 2015, the club has won all four games, outscoring opponents a combined 8-1 in those games.</p>
<p>Assuming <span>Mike Bolsinger</span> gets the call for the Dodgers, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2015/7/29/9067497/clayton-kershaw-possibly-scratched-dodgers">if Clayton Kershaw is scratched</a>, he will be pitching on six days rest, much like <span>Zack Greinke</span> on Sunday and <span>Brett Anderson</span> on Tuesday. Bolsinger is coming off seven strong innings in a win last week in Atlanta, and over his last five starts is 1-1 with a 2.42 ERA with 20 strikeouts and six walks in 26 innings.</p>
<p><span>Jesse Chavez</span> gets the call for the Athletics. The right-hander has allowed exactly four runs in three of his four July starts, with a nine-strikeout performance over six scoreless innings mixed in. He's 2-6 with a 4.53 ERA on the road this season, compared to 3-4, 2.33 in Oakland. His strikeout (19.3 percent vs. 22.0 percent) and walk (7.4 percent vs. 5.1 percent) rates have both been worse on the road as well.</p>
<p>The Dodgers are 7-5 all-time against the A's in regular season games at Dodger Stadium. This is Oakland's first trip to Los Angeles since 2009. The Dodgers will make a trip to Oakland for two games in three weeks, on Aug. 18-19.</p>
<h4>Game info</h4>
<p>Time: 7:10 p.m. PT</p>
<p>TV: SportsNet LA</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2015/7/29/9068285/dodgers-athletics-preview-losing-streakEric Stephen2015-07-29T09:41:37-07:002015-07-29T09:41:37-07:00Kershaw a possible Wednesday scratch
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<figcaption>Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> conclude their series against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Athletics</a> on Wednesday night, but might not have <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> on the mound. The team may scratch their ace because of a sore hip or glute muscle <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/626417266784137217">per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/139472696/kershaw-will-possibly-be-scratched-from-start">Ken Gurnick of MLB.com</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/THEREAL_DV/status/626425601449037824">David Vassegh of 570 AM</a>.</p>
<p>Kershaw last pitched on Thursday in New York, striking out 11 in a 3-0 shutout win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a>. It was the second shutout in three starts for Kershaw, who has an active scoreless streak of 29 consecutive innings.</p>
<p>Kershaw in his last three starts has 38 strikeouts, no walks and has allowed no runs in 26 innings. He has 45 strikeouts since his last walk, and leads the majors with 185 strikeouts.</p>
<p>The Dodgers were already in wait-and-see made for the weekend, wanting to possibly give <span>Zack Greinke</span> an extra day of rest rather than have him pitch Friday against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a>.</p>
<p>If Kershaw is scratched, <span>Mike Bolsinger</span> is the likely candidate to pitch Wednesday. He last pitched last Wednesday in Atlanta, going seven strong innings for a win.</p>
<p>The deal for <span>Mat Latos</span> hasn't yet been announced, but he last pitched on Sunday, giving the Dodgers plenty of weekend options. But it sounds like Kershaw, Greinke and Latos in some order could pitch against the Angels, but of course there are still over 51 hours before the non-waiver trade deadline so the Dodgers might add even yet another pitcher by then.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2015/7/29/9067497/clayton-kershaw-possibly-scratched-dodgersEric Stephen2015-07-28T09:00:07-07:002015-07-28T09:00:07-07:00Dodgers-Athletics pitching matchups
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<figcaption>Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>LOS ANGELES -- It's interleague play week for the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a> back home at Dodger Stadium, hosting the <a href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Athletics</a> for two games to start the week. Here is a look at the pitching matchup and schedule for the two games in Los Angeles.</p>
<h4>Tuesday, 7:10 p.m. PT (SportsNet LA, MLB Network)</h4>
<p>Sadly, <a href="https://twitter.com/JonHeymancvs/status/625854974136856576" target="_blank">a fake Jon Heyman / drug store Twitter account</a> wasn't accurate in <span>Sonny Gray</span> getting traded to the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cubs</a>, so the Dodgers will have to face the young ace in the series opener. Gray's 3.10 ERA in July makes this his worst month of the season. He has allowed two or fewer runs in 14 of his 20 starts this season, and is averaging 6.83 innings per start. The 25-year-old is second in the American League with a 2.30 ERA, second to former teammate and already-traded <span>Scott Kazmir</span>, and slightly ahead of possibly-traded <span>David Price</span>, who is set to pitch for the <a href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tigers</a> on Tuesday.</p>
<p><span>Brett Anderson</span> makes his first start in a week for the Dodgers, on a rested and hopefully rested Achilles. His 20th start of the season will be his most since his rookie year of 2009, and he needs to last at least two innings for his most innings pitched in a season since then as well.</p>
<h4>Wednesday, 7:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA)</h4>
<p>Now that Zack Greinke's scoreless streak is over at 45⅔ innings, <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> takes center stage with his active streak of 29 straight scoreless frames. It's the second-longest streak of his career, behind only his 41-inning streak in 2014. Kershaw has lasted at least eight innings in each of his last three starts. The only streak longer by a Dodgers pitcher in the last 13 seasons was by Kershaw last year, when he had seven straight.</p>
<p>The last time Kershaw pitched against the A's, <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2015/3/20/8267579/clayton-kershaw-line-drive-face-jaw-dodgers" target="_blank">he took a line drive off his face</a> that required dental surgery.</p>
<p><span>Drew Pomeranz</span> was pitching in relief for Oakland, but with Kazmir traded a spot opened up for him. The left-hander began the year as a starter, with a 4.40 ERA in eight starts, with 32 strikeouts and 16 walks in 43 innings.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2015/7/28/9057137/dodgers-athletics-schedule-pitching-matchupsEric Stephen