LOS ANGELES DODGERS CLIPS
SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012
Dodgers.com
Kershaw not at his best, neither is offense
By Ken Gurnick / MLB.com | 5/26/2012 2:15 AM ET
LOS ANGELES -- With four regulars on the disabled list for the past week, the surprise is that the Dodgers haven't
struggled as much offensively as they did Friday night.
Clayton Kershaw allowed a two-run homer in the third inning to J.D. Martinez and it proved decisive in a 3-1 win by the
Astros, as the Dodgers loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning and all they got out of it was
one run on a walk by Jerry Hairston in his return from the disabled list.
The key at-bat followed Hairston's, as the Dodgers had James Loney coming up with one out and the bases loaded. But
when Houston manager Brad Mills (who used five pitchers that inning) brought on left-hander Fernando Abad, Dodgers
manager Don Mattingly pinch-hit for Loney, choosing instead rookie right-handed hitter Ivan De Jesus, who struck out.
Think about that picture. Loney, with a pair of 90-RBI seasons and in his free-agent year, yielding to the inexperienced
De Jesus because Loney is batting only .175 against left-handers.
"Out of the guys I had, he was the best hitter of the group," said Mattingly, who also had youngsters Jerry Sands and
Scott Van Slyke from which to choose. "Ivan for me, I needed a hit more than pop a bomb. He was swinging the bat good
in Arizona and I felt he was the best option. It didn't work out."
What that says about Loney's future with the club, one can only imagine, especially when Juan Rivera returns from the
disabled list in maybe a week and could become the primary first baseman with Bobby Abreu remaining in left field.
The Dodgers had at least two runners on base in four different innings and went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position,
which wasn't even as bad as Houston's 1-for-13. Lucas Harrell, claimed off waivers last year from the White Sox, went a
career-best 7 1/3 innings for the win.
"We got a run in the eighth and had them on the ropes," said Mattingly. "But two big outs and we don't get anything out
of that."
Kershaw (4-2) admittedly didn't have command he displayed in his last start, a shutout of the Cardinals that led to his
National League Player of the Week award. But he pitched well enough to win with a little more support. He was
charged with two earned runs in seven innings on five hits, all for extra bases. It was only Kershaw's second loss in his
last 16 home decisions.
"He didn't seem as sharp as usual," Mattingly said of Kershaw. "But it was typical Clayton, he battled and fought. He got
in predictable counts for the hitters. But he hung in the game and gave us a chance to win. We just weren't able to do a
whole lot. We didn't do enough to win."
Kershaw said his command wasn't what he'd hope for, although he seemed more disappointed in the pitches prior to
Martinez's home run.
"He hit a good pitch, actually," Kershaw said of the blast on a 2-1 fastball over the plate. "I shouldn't be behind in the
count there and I threw one too many of the same pitch. I did a good job, he hit it out and it cost us the game."
"He's tough, especially from the stretch with that slide step. He likes to use it a lot," Martinez said. "I was looking for a
fastball, trying to get a heater, because he loves to throw it. He left one middle-in, actually. It wasn't that bad of a pitch,
but I was just able to get to it."
The Dodgers came into this game with not only the best record in baseball but the best home record in baseball, while
the Astros were tied for the worst road record in baseball.
But the first inning was a two-error mess for the Dodgers' defense. Kershaw got ahead of leadoff hitter Jose Altuve, 0-2,
then served up a double. With one out, A.J. Ellis was charged with catcher's interference that gave Martinez first base.
Carlos Lee grounded to third baseman Hairston, who forced Martinez at first, but Elian Herrera made the pivot and
threw the ball away as Altuve scored the unearned run. That snapped Kershaw's scoreless-inning streak at 22.
"I let him down defensively in the first inning," said Ellis. "It was same as always, both sides of the plate mixing those offspeed pitches. He was great and he deserved a better outcome than what we gave him."
Sellers goes down with a back injury
By Ken Gurnick / MLB.com | 05/25/12 10:08 PM ET
LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers infielder Justin Sellers was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a bulging disk he
believes is the result of the highlight-reel catch he made diving into the stands at Dodger Stadium earlier this month.
Sellers has been playing in increasing pain and the injury was diagnosed through an MRI Thursday. Manager Don
Mattingly said the club is optimistic that anti-inflammatory medication and strengthening exercises will have Sellers able
to return in the minimum 15 days.
Sellers said he had a back condition in high school, but nothing like what locked up earlier this week. He said surgery is
not currently being considered.
"Back issues are no joke and you could be out a long time," he said. "We have to stay on top of it. Hopefully I'll get on a
good program and avoid surgery."
Sellers said he was really banged up in the days after his May 15 catch of the D-backs' Miguel Montero's foul pop-up, in
which he slammed into and sailed over the auxiliary scoreboard, landing on his back between two aisles of seats.
"It could be an aftershock of that play," he said. "Going into the stands took more of a toll on my body than I thought. I
started to feel a tingle down the right side."
Mattingly's career was curtailed by back problems.
"When the bulging disk hits the nerve, I've been through that and it gets in that area and it's hard to compete," he said.
"We feel if we get it calmed down it will be just a couple weeks. Once you get it off the nerve it feels normal."
To replace Sellers, utilityman Jerry Hairston was activated from the 15-day disabled list.
Hairston returns from DL to start Friday's game
LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers activated utilityman Jerry Hairston from the 15-day disabled list Friday, and he was
scheduled to play third base against the Astros. The club placed Justin Sellers on the 15-day DL as a corresponding move.
Hairston was placed on the disabled list on May 7 after straining his left hamstring legging out an infield hit in Chicago.
He played rehab games with Triple-A Albuquerque Wednesday and Thursday.
Sellers, who is suffering from a bulging disk in his back, was hitting .205 in 19 games with Los Angeles.
Kemp on the way back, followed by Rivera
LOS ANGELES -- Jerry Hairston returned from the disabled list Friday and Matt Kemp and Juan Rivera are only days away.
Hairston, out with a strained left hamstring, was activated to replace the injured Justin Sellers and started Friday night at
third base. Hairston played Wednesday and Thursday in Minor League rehab games for Triple-A Albuquerque.
Kemp and Rivera, also out with left hamstring injuries, will start rehab assignments Sunday with Albuquerque. Kemp will
play two games, then is expected to be activated Tuesday, the first day he is eligible to return. Rivera will also play those
two games for Albuquerque, but not be activated. Because he's been out five days longer than Kemp, manager Don
Mattingly said Rivera likely will play in some Class A games for Rancho Cucamonga until his hitting timing is back.
"It's to get him more baseball, not because of his leg," said Mattingly.
Third baseman Juan Uribe, on the DL with an arthritic left wrist, resumed light hitting Friday.
Hairston said he feels 100 percent.
"I went down to test it and it feels good," said Hairston. "I'm ready to play. All systems are go."
Estimate for Ellis' return now at least 2 months
LOS ANGELES -- The estimated recovery time of Dodgers second baseman Mark Ellis has been extended to two months
after an MRI revealed a medial collateral ligament sprain of the left knee.
Ellis already has had emergency surgery to relieve swelling in the left leg, which was injured last Friday in a takeout slide
by Cardinals infielder Tyler Greene. Dodgers trainer Sue Falsone said surgery is not currently considered for the ligament
sprain.
Falson said Ellis also has an accompanying blister capsule sprain and a bone contusion on the outside of the knee.
"He's not full weight bearing right now. He's on crutches. So it just depends on how many days it takes for him to get to
that full weight bearing," she said. "There are a lot of factors here, and it's not like this is a common, everyday baseball
injury that we see all the time. These are best estimates we can give based on tissue healing times. But every person is
different so we are going to see how it goes."
Falsone stressed that because all of Ellis' injuries are trauma related -- and he has a long wound from the surgery -healing time is uncertain.
"Right now we are letting everything heal up and let him recover from the trauma and begin some basic weight bearing
exercises and range of motion type of stuff and progress," she said, adding that the healing of the wound and the knee
sprain "both need healing time."
Guerrier shut down as elbow gets no better
LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers reliever Matt Guerrier has been shut down again in a renewed attempt to resolve inflammation
in his right elbow flexor tendon.
Guerrier, on the disabled list, underwent a platelet-rich plasma injection Thursday and will have another next week and
possibly another a week later. In the meantime, he will not throw a ball.
Trainer Sue Falsone said Guerrier has scarring in the tendon from repeated traumas and they've been unable to put
down the inflammation it causes. If this approach doesn't work, surgery is "the last option," she said.
Guerrier, disabled since April 19, had a similar injection three weeks ago, but resumed throwing after several days and
has experienced discomfort that heightened during a bullpen session Wednesday, after which the decision was made to
try a new course of action.
"Now I'm shut down completely, and we didn't do that last time," Guerrier said. "I'll have two injections and how I feel
will determine if I have a third and I'll start throwing after that, but I'll have zero pain when I come back. I was trying to
convince myself I could do it the other way."
Makeshift Dodgers lineup draws tough foe in Norris
By Clark Goble / MLB.com | 5/26/2012 1:40 AM ET
It wouldn't have been shocking if the Dodgers' offense sputtered for a while after all their recent injuries. But their
patchwork lineup has scored six or more runs in six of the last eight games.
The lineup was shut down by the Astros' Lucas Harrell on Friday, though, and faces another challenge on Saturday, when
the Astros' Bud Norris, possibly the hottest pitcher in the Majors, takes the mound.
Matt Kemp, Juan Rivera, Mark Ellis, Justin Sellers and Juan Uribe are all out. Kemp, the center fielder with a 1.173 OPS in
2012, is due back the soonest.
Other Dodgers are stepping up in their place. Adam Kennedy is batting .364 in his last eight games. Utility man Elian
Herrera is batting .384 in his last six games.
"All the injuries have come at once, but we've had guys filling in getting key hits for us," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly
said.
They'll have to muster some offense on Norris (5-1), who has a 0.35 ERA in the month of May, the lowest in baseball.
The last time Norris pitched in Dodger Stadium, he went seven scoreless innings but earned a no-decision.
The Astros are just 6-13 on the road and take on a team that's a remarkable 19-5 at home. Astros manager Brad Mills
was asked Friday if winning on the road was the last thing a young team with talent needs to learn.
"Is the road the last place? I can understand that question because that's kind of the way it looks right now," Mills said.
Dodgers: Billingsley gets the start
Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley has a chance for some revenge when he takes on the Astros on Saturday.
He allowed nine runs and five earned runs over 3 1/3 innings in a loss to the Astros on April 22 at Minute Maid Park. He
has lost all three career starts against Houston at Dodger Stadium. His ERA in those games is 10.80.
Billingsley went six innings in his last start against the Cardinals, giving up three earned runs on eight hits in a Dodgers
victory.
Astros: Schafer may still be out
Jordan Schafer missed Friday's game with swelling in his right big toe and he might miss Saturday's game, too.
Schafer took a foul ball off the toe earlier in the week. It broke part of the toenail and became infected.
Schafer is hitting .248 on the season and hit a grand slam off Billingsley on April 22. The center fielder was optimistic
about playing Saturday, but his manager wasn't so sure.
"It just looks really sore," Mills said. "It's red and swollen and it just looks bad. We want him to get well."
Worth noting
• The Dodgers are 7-0 on Saturdays this season.
• An Astros starter went at least five innings for the 38th time in a row on Friday, which gives them the longest streak in
the Majors this season. They had been tied at 37 games with the Padres.
ESPN.com
The story of 'You Were Lucky, Hershiser'
By Josh Suchon | Special to ESPN.com
“But the Bulldog in him came out when, after the Athletics were disposed of, he walked down the hallway to the
interview room in the Oakland Coliseum and an A's fan yelled, “You were lucky, Hershiser.” A couple of dozen steps
later, Hershiser blurted out, “Oh yeah – grab a bat.” He wasn't smiling.
-- Final paragraph of the article "A Case Of Orel Surgery" by Peter Gammons in the Oct. 31, 1988, edition of Sports
Illustrated.
• • •
Orel Hershiser was back in Los Angeles recently as the Dodgers honored him with a bobblehead, so it’s a good time to
retell a story from my childhood that makes me feel equal parts stupid and proud.
First, the background. I grew up in Pleasanton, Calif., a suburb 20 miles east of Oakland, and was a rabid fan of the
Oakland Athletics. I practically grew up at the Coliseum in those years.
My dad annually bought 20 games from a friend who had season tickets for all 81 games. The seats are amazing and I
don’t need a seating chart to list the location -- Section 123, Row 2, Seats 12 and 13 -- on the aisle, just to the left of the
A’s dugout.
Even when we didn’t have those choice seats, I’d go to games with my friends. We’d take the bus to the Hayward BART
station, ride it for three stops to the Coliseum and walk across that bridge. We’d leave right after school, arriving to get
autographs in the parking lot; wed chase down batting practice home runs, watch the game, and stay late for more
autographs. We’d buy bleacher seats and third-deck seats, and think of creative ways to annoy the ushers by sneaking
into seats that didn’t belong to us.
In 1987, I attended 41 games. In 1988, I attended 53 games. I know those numbers precisely. I’d save the ticket stubs
from each game and keep them in my wallet, chronologically. If somebody at school didn’t believe me, I’d show the
ticket stubs for proof. If there was a day game, we’d usually skip school to attend. (Sometimes our parents knew. Usually
they didn’t.)
When the ’88 playoffs rolled around, my dad and I shared “the good seats” with his friends. We ended up with Game 5
of the World Series.
For Game 3, I sneaked into the Coliseum, without a ticket. It was actually miserable not having a seat and walking
around the whole game looking for an empty seat. I barely saw Mark McGwire’s game-winning home run off Jay Howell.
I watched Game 4 at home, when the A’s fell behind three games to one, and was dreading the elimination game.
As usual, I took public transportation to the game with friends (who had seats elsewhere) and met my dad at “the good
seats.” I remember getting Bobby McFerrin’s autograph before the game; he wrote, “Don’t Worry Be Happy.” Still, I was
very worried and knew this night would end miserably for my beloved A’s.
Sometime around the seventh inning, when the end was inevitable, my dad was losing his patience. Can’t remember
exactly what he yelled, but it must have been awesome and totally inappropriate because I vividly recall Mary Hart
hearing it and turning around to see who would say such a thing.
In the ninth inning, my dad had seen enough. He wasn’t going to watch the Dodgers celebrate on “our” field. He was
leaving. I wanted to stay, just in case. I didn’t want to miss the greatest comeback ever. The conversation went
something like this:
Dad: “I’m leaving. If you want to stay, find your own way home.”
Me: “Fine. I will.”
Honestly, I didn’t really think he’d leave. But he did. This wasn’t poor parenting. Remember, I went to games without
adult supervision routinely. We were experts at taking public transportation. Plus, one of my friends worked in the
visitors clubhouse, and he had a car, so there was a ride home available.
Hershiser finished off the A's in the ninth inning. I watched the inning with red eyes. When I saw the Dodgers celebrating
on the field, tears filled my eyes and ran down my cheeks. I’d turned 15 years old a few months earlier.
Eventually, I’d wipe the tears off my face and wander around the stadium in a daze of sorts. Instinctively, I walked
toward the hallway that leads to the clubhouses and ran into my friend Corey Kell. His favorite player was Tony Phillips,
who struck out to end the game, and I remember Corey telling me that he gave “TP” a standing ovation for his likely last
at-bat with the A’s before free agency would take him away.
I remember thinking everything about life sucked at that moment. The A’s had lost the World Series to the Dodgers. I
was going to be ridiculed at school for all the boasting I’d done. I owed a ton of money to kids from bets that I made.
And oh yeah, I had to find my own way home.
Worst of all, baseball season was over. No more games to attend. No more school to cut. No more autographs to obtain.
No more BP home runs to chase. No more fun.
As these thoughts swirled in my head, I was just about to start crying again. Then I heard a commotion. Security guards
were clearing the way. Somebody was behind them.
It was Hershiser.
Before I even realized what was happening, I yelled out, “YOU WERE LUCKY, HERSHISER” as he walked by, trailed by
reporters as he was taken to the interview room.
• • •
I’m guessing it was about a week later when Corey Kell called me after school. The conversation went something like
this:
Corey: “You get the new Sports Illustrated in the mail today?”
Me: “Yeah.”
Corey: “Did you read it?”
Me: “Hell no. Why would I want to read about Hershiser beating us?”
Corey: “You should read the final paragraph on Page 37.”
There’s only one person on the planet who would know that I was the idiot who told Hershiser -- after 59 consecutive
scoreless innings, and after dismantling the Mets and A’s in the playoffs -- that he was lucky.
It was Corey Kell. It just so happened that Corey had a subscription to Sports Illustrated. And unlike me, he decided to
read the magazine. If it wasn’t for Corey, I’d have probably thrown the issue in the trash.
At least my name wasn’t used. But the only thing worse than knowing that my words were in the most famous sports
magazine in the world, saying something utterly stupid, was that Hershiser taunted me by saying, “grab a bat.”
I never heard the “grab a bat” line. We were walking in opposite directions and he was past me in a second. I’m sure
security tossed me out of the way as well.
• • •
Seven years later, in 1995, I was doing a summer internship at ESPN in Bristol, Conn. It was a Sunday afternoon and I was
in the cafeteria when I spotted Peter Gammons. We were the only two people in there. I was about to turn 22 years old.
If the place was full of people, I’d never have approached him.
But I had to tell him about his article and ask if he remembered some kid yelling that.
Gammons remembered it well. We spent the next 30 minutes talking about Hershiser, Kirk Gibson, that series, the 1989
World Series, the earthquake, and how Gammons will always remember Dave Stewart going down to the site of the
collapsed freeways to bring coffee and doughnuts to workers as they searched for bodies.
Six years later, in 2001, it was my second year as the San Francisco Giants beat writer for the Oakland Tribune. I was now
28. I’d told the story to a couple of my colleagues and they thought it was hilarious. One of them was Jeff Fletcher, who
worked at The Press Democrat in Santa Rosa at the time and sat next to me in the press box.
One day during batting practice, Fletcher told me that he was here. Who?
Hershiser.
The conversation went something like this:
Fletch: “You have to tell him the story, Soooosh.”
Josh: “Really? Do I really have to tell him?”
Fletch: “Yes.”
Josh: “OK.”
Hershiser was there as a TV analyst for ESPN. Bashfully, with my heart racing, I went over and introduced myself -- first,
as a reporter. Then I told him that I was the kid who told him he was lucky. Hershiser was more excited than I was to
hear this story.
His response was something like this: “No way! This is awesome! We need a bat! Who’s got a bat? We need a picture.
My wife would love this! We need a photo for my wife. This is awesome!”
Hershiser went on to say he regretted saying “grab a bat.” He was reminded of the famous Coke commercial in which
Mean Joe Greene threw a jersey to the kid. He wanted to throw something toward me. But it was too late. He was
whisked away, and I was gone.
Honestly, I thought it was a bunch of crap. But I appreciated Hershiser being so kind and saying something nice.
We never grabbed a bat. We never got the photo. I ended up writing the Sunday baseball column for the Trib about the
whole thing a few days later. If I was better at saving my own work, or my old newspaper’s website was worth a damn,
I’d link to the article.
In 2006, I was the A’s beat reporter at the Trib and Hershiser was one of the candidates to be their new manager. We
talked on the phone a few days before his job interview, and we both laughed at how hysterical it would be if he got the
job and one of the reporters covering him was the kid who called him lucky.
Deep down, we both knew Bob Geren was going to get the job – and he did. A few months later, I decided it was time to
switch careers. I left the newspaper business and became a minor league play-by-play announcer for the Modesto Nuts.
• • •
It’s strange how often life comes full circle.
A year after leaving the majors for the minors, I was back in the majors, this time as the reporter for the Dodgers Radio
Network and the co-host of “Post Game Dodger Talk” after every game on 790 KABC in Los Angeles.
Over and over, I ran into Hershiser at the ballpark the last four years.
Whenever possible, I don’t say hello. I just walk past him and say, “You were lucky, Hershiser,” without stopping. It
always makes us laugh. We’ll end up talking later, and invariably tell the story again to whoever is around us.
Unless he recently deleted me from the contacts in his cellphone, Hershiser has “You Were Lucky” listed under my name
as my company.
Among my life's bucket list items are these two things:
One, broadcast a game with Hershiser as my analyst.
Two, grab a bat and get that photo.
Lucas Harrell's big night on mound lifts Astros
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES -- Lucas Harrell isn't going to win any strikeout titles, the way Clayton Kershaw did last season. On Friday
night, though, the Houston Astros' rookie demonstrated how successful he can be by getting groundballs off that
tantalizing sinker of his.
Harrell took a shutout into the eighth inning in his duel with the Dodgers' reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, J.D.
Martinez homered and the Astros used four relievers in the eighth to get out of a bases-loaded jam and help secure a 31 victory over Los Angeles.
"Getting ahead in the count definitely worked to my advantage," Harrell said. "My sinker was working good, so I was
trying to get early contact and a lot of ground balls and it worked out for me. I'm not a big strikeout guy, so when I get a
lot of contact, I usually go deeper into the game. That was the goal, to get ahead in the count and then mix in the other
stuff."
Harrell (4-3) scattered five singles, walked three and did not strike out a batter during the longest of his 15 big league
starts. The 26-year-old right-hander, facing the Dodgers for the first time, allowed only two runners as far as second
base and got 17 of his outs on ground balls -- including all three outs on comebackers to the mound in the seventh
inning.
"He did his job. He's a sinkerballer and he kept the ball down for the most part. When you do that, you're going to get a
lot of groundballs," said Tony Gwynn Jr., who hit three grounders in four at-bats against Harrell in the leadoff spot.
Harrell departed after giving up a one-out single to Elian Herrera. Wesley Wright gave up a walk to Bobby Abreu and a
single to Andre Ethier before Wilton Lopez walked Jerry Hairston Jr. on four pitches to force in a run. But Ivan DeJesus
struck out against lefty Fernando Abad as a pinch-hitter for James Loney, and Fernando Rodriguez retired A.J. Ellis on a
fly ball.
"Our bullpen's been so good. So when they go out there, I have full confidence in all of them," Harrell said. "We got in a
little jam and they worked out of it."
Brett Myers pitched a scoreless ninth for his 12th save in 13 chances, nailing down the Astros' fourth straight victory.
Kershaw (4-2) was charged with three runs -- two earned -- and five hits over seven innings with six strikeouts on the
fourth anniversary of his major league debut. The 24-year-old left-hander, who shut out St. Louis on six hits last
Saturday, worked with runners on base in each of the first five innings and gave up five extra-base hits, equaling a career
worst. On April 24, 2010, he gave up four doubles and a triple in a six-inning no-decision at Washington.
Kershaw came in with a streak of 22 scoreless innings before the Astros ended it with an unearned run in the first. Jose
Altuve opened the game with one of Houston's four doubles and legged it home when second baseman Herrera made a
wild relay throw trying to complete a potential inning-ending double-play on Carlos Lee's grounder to third base.
Martinez made it 3-0 in the third with his fourth homer, following a double by Jed Lowrie.
"Martinez hit a good pitch. I shouldn't have been behind in the count, obviously," Kershaw said. "I guess I just threw one
too many of the same pitch. But he did a good job with it, hit it out and it cost us the game."
The Dodgers came in with a 19-4 record at Chavez Ravine, which matched their best home start in franchise history.
They also won 19 of their first 23 home games in 1980, when they beat the Astros in the final three games of the regular
season at home to force a one-game playoff -- which the Astros won.
Game notes
Dodgers CF Matt Kemp, sidelined since May 14 because of a left hamstring strain, is expected to begin a two-game
rehabilitation assignment with at Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday and is eligible to come off the disabled list on
Tuesday. ... Dodgers 2B Mark Ellis, whose MRI on his left knee was delayed because of an infection that could have cost
him his leg, has been diagnosed with a sprained MCL and a bone bruise. He is expected to miss six to eight weeks. ...
Hairston, who missed 16 games with a left hamstring strain, was activated from the 15-day disabled list before the
game. INF Justin Sellers was placed on the DL, retroactive to May 23, because of a bulging disc in his lower back. ...
Kershaw, who led the NL with 248 strikeouts last season, fanned Harrell in the second inning for his 800th in the big
leagues. ... Astros CF and leadoff hitter Jordan Schafer, who fouled a ball off the big toe on his right foot during their
interleague series against Texas, did not play because of residual swelling from by a broken nail that caused an infection.
... A victory by the Astros on Saturday night would put them back at the .500 mark for the first time since April 14, when
they were 4-4.
3 up, 3 down: Astros 3, Dodgers 1
By Tony Jackson | ESPNLosAngeles.com
LOS ANGELES -- On an evening when Clayton Kershaw was strangely human, the Los Angeles Dodgers were strangely no
match for rookie Houston Astros right-hander Lucas Harrell, who dominated them for seven-plus innings and stuck them
with a 3-1 loss to the Astros before 36,283 on Friday night at Dodger Stadium.
The loss was the second in a row for the Dodgers, putting them once again in danger of what would be their first threegame losing streak of the season if they are unable to bounce back against the Astros on Saturday night with Chad
Billingsley on the mound and tough right-hander Bud Norris scheduled for Houston.
The Dodgers went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position -- including an inning-ending, double-play grounder by James
Loney in the sixth -- and the only hit they did manage in those situations failed to drive in a run. The Dodgers (30-15)
maintained their 6 1/2-game lead in the National League West over the second-place San Francisco Giants.
The good
Still picking it. Dee Gordon hasn't allowed his offensive struggles to affect his defense. The promising Dodgers shortstop
made a heads-up play in the seventh inning, ranging far to his right to pick off a ground ball by Jose Altuve and, in a
single motion, fire a bullet to third baseman Jerry Hairston, who tagged Chris Snyder sliding in from second. Did it save a
run? No one will ever know, but Jed Lowrie then flied to center to end the inning.
Also picking it. Second baseman Elian Herrera sort of made up for a costly error earlier in the game by one-hopping a
low liner from Brian Bogusevic with runners on second and third, none out and the Dodgers infield playing in. After
looking J.D. Martinez back to third, Herrera threw to first for the out, the start of a daring escape by reliever Ronald
Belisario, who also benefited from a subsequent blown suicide squeeze by the Astros in which Jason Maxwell, the
hitter, apparently missed the sign, resulting in Martinez getting caught between third and home for the second out.
After walking Maxwell, Belisario snared a red-hot comebacker by Chris Johnson to end the inning and the threat.
Back in the saddle. After being activated from the 15-day disabled list earlier in the day, Hairston and his left hamstring
held up just fine, the veteran infielder going 1-for-3 at the plate plus a bases-loaded walk in the eighth inning to drive in
the Dodgers' only run.
The bad
Throwing it all away. A throwing error by Herrera on what should have been an inning-ending double play resulted in the
first Astros run and snapped Kershaw's 22-inning scoreless streak. Herrera took the throw from Hairston in plenty of
time, but his relay to first sailed wide of the bag and clanged off the netting fronting the Astros dugout. Loney ran it
down a made an off-balance, barehanded grab and throw to the plate but just missed cutting down Altuve, who crossed
the plate to give Houston a 1-0 lead.
Going deep. Kershaw had only himself to blame the next time the Astros struck, in the third, when he gave up back-toback, extra-base hits, first a one-out double by Jed Lowrie and then a two-run homer by Martinez to make it 3-0. Only a
leaping catch at the wall by Bobby Abreu saved Kershaw from giving up a third consecutive extra-base hit to Carlos Lee.
This after Kershaw failed to get a bunt down in a key situation in the bottom of the second, instead bunting into a force
at third for the second out of an inning that Tony Gwynn subsequently ended with a groundout to second.
Crickets. Facing the Dodgers for the first time in his brief major league career, Harrell flummoxed them at every turn.
When he wasn't deftly escaping jams -- the Dodgers went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position against him -- he was
pretty much dominating, holding the Dodgers hitless during a 14-batter stretch from the second inning through the sixth
and to one additional hit through the seventh. He was lifted after giving up a one-out single to Herrera in the eighth,
having allowed five hits over 7 1/3 dazzling innings -- albeit, strangely, without a single strikeout. Harrell recorded 17
groundball outs.
Sellers to DL
By Tony Jackson | ESPNLosAngeles.com
LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Justin Sellers was placed on the 15-day disabled list before Friday night's
game against the Houston Astros with a bulging disc in his back, an injury Sellers said he thinks was the result of a
spectacular catch of a foul pop on May 14 against the Arizona Diamondbacks in which he fell headlong into the front row
of the stands along the leftfield line.
The move was made retroactive to Wednesday because Sellers hasn't played since an eighth-inning pinch-hitting
appearance Tuesday night. To fill Sellers' roster spot, the Dodgers activated infielder Jerry Hairston from the 15-day
disabled list.
Sellers underwent an MRI exam on Thursday.
"(It) showed an old stress fracture ... and I have a new disc slip,'' he said. "We're going to take it a day at a time and
rehab it and see what happens, but back issues are tough. I have the best doctors and the best medical staff working on
me. Hopefully, I won't need surgery. ... A couple of days after (the catch), I started feeling some back pain. It kept getting
worse in Arizona, waking up in the middle of the night with a tingling in the right side of the my leg.''
Despite a .238 batting average, Sellers has been a key player for the Dodgers this season because of his versatility,
especially with so many other players having spent time on the DL. The Dodgers presently have seven players on the DL
who were expected to play key roles for the club this season, and Sellers becomes the eighth such player to spend time
there.
Hairston had been on the 15-day DL since May 11 with a left-hamstring strain.
Home is where the wins are
By Dan Braunstein | ESPN Stats & Information
Here is a statistical look at the Dodgers, focusing on games from May 18 to May 23. Baseball-Reference.com continues
to be an invaluable resource.
Dodgers, This Season
Home Away
W-L
19-4 11-10
ERA
2.29 4.27
BA
.293 .246
Series sweeps 5
0
HOME, SWEEP HOME
The Dodgers’ sweep of the Cardinals over the weekend was their fifth of the year, all at home. Last season, the Dodgers
had four series sweeps all season. The Dodgers are now 19-4 at home, and their ERA at Dodger Stadium is nearly two full
runs lower than it is on the road.
Clayton Kershaw’s shutout in the middle game of the series improved the Dodgers to 7-0 on Saturdays and lowered his
career ERA at Dodger Stadium to 2.39. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it’s the best home ERA among any active
pitcher with at least 50 starts.
The sweep of the Cardinals was the Dodgers’ second straight sweep against St. Louis, dating back to last season. It’s the
first time the Dodgers have swept consecutive series against the Cardinals since 1976.
ANOTHER WIN STREAK
Wednesday night’s loss in Arizona ended the Dodgers’ six-game winning streak, the team’s third streak of at least five
games this season. They’re the only team in baseball with three separate win streaks of at least five games. The 11-4 loss
was only the team’s second of the season by five or more runs; only the Rangers have as few five-run losses as the
Dodgers.
In the latest streak, the Dodgers scored at least six runs in all six games. They’re the only team this season with a sixgame winning streak in which they scored at least six runs in every game. The Dodgers hadn’t done it since 2006, when
they did it twice.
CALL IT A COMEBACK
The Dodgers overcame a 6-1 deficit entering the seventh inning in beating the Diamondbacks Tuesday night 8-7.
According to the Elias, it was only the second time in the last seven seasons that LA won a game in which it trailed by
five or more runs in the seventh inning or later. The other was at Cincinnati last season.
Dee Gordon’s acrobatic double play turn sealed the win. Had he not been able to complete it, the game would have
been tied, as the Diamondbacks trailed by one with a runner on third.
The Dodgers hadn’t won a game with a game-ending double play in such a situation since May 1, 1984, when Carlos Diaz
induced a Chili Davis double play to end a 3-2 Dodgers win over the Giants. Between then and Tuesday, every team
besides the Dodgers had pulled off at least one game-saving, game-ending double play.
Tuesday’s win was the Dodgers’ 30th of the season, and it took them only 43 games to get there. The Dodgers hadn’t
won 30 games so quickly since 1983, when they also started 30-13.
MORE BENCH HEROICS
The big hit in the win was Ivan De Jesus’s go-ahead double with the Dodgers down to their final out in the ninth. It was
the first go-ahead hit for the Dodgers when down to their final out in almost three years, dating back to a walk-off tworun double from Andre Ethier in a 4-3 win over the Phillies on June 5, 2009.
De Jesus drove in three runs off the bench Tuesday, and Scott Van Slyke drove in three with his pinch-hit, three-run goahead home run Sunday. Four Dodgers have driven in at least three runs in games they didn’t start, the most by any
team this season. The Dodgers hadn’t had four such games in a season since 2004. Last season, only the Cardinals had
four such games.
SITUATIONAL HITTING
The Dodgers trailed at some point in three of their five wins on the week. Because of their success this year, the Dodgers
haven’t been behind much, but when they have been, they’ve come through. As a team, the Dodgers are hitting .303
when trailing, the best such average in baseball.
One key for the Dodgers’ offense this year has been situational hitting. The Dodgers have been the best team in the
league in advancing runners from second with no out and scoring runners from third with less than two outs. Sixty-four
percent of the time, the Dodgers have advanced a runner from second with no out, and they’ve scored a runner from
third with less than two outs 61 percent of the time. Both numbers are best in baseball. The Dodgers are hitting .375
with a man on third and less than two outs.
ONE OUT AWAY
The Dodgers won Friday’s game against St. Louis despite Kenley Jansen surrendering a game-tying home run to Lance
Berkman with two outs in the ninth inning. It’s the second time this season he’s allowed a game-tying home run with
two outs in the ninth, as he gave one up to Chase Headley on April 13.
Jansen is the third Dodgers pitcher in the last 40 seasons to allow two game-tying home runs with two outs in the ninth
inning or later in the same season. He’s the first since Jeff Shaw in 2000. Like Jansen, the second of the two home runs
Shaw allowed was hit by Berkman.
After each of his home runs, Jansen still picked up the win after the Dodgers won with game-ending walks. Before this
season, the Dodgers hadn’t won a game with a walk-off walk since 2009, when they did it three times.
Friday’s game ended with a four-pitch walk to A.J. Ellis. Ellis has seen 20 3-0 pitches this season and has yet to swing. For
his career, he has zero swings on 36 3-0 counts.
Matt Kemp to start rehab stint
By Tony Jackson | ESPNLosAngeles.com
LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp will begin what is expected to be a two-game
rehabilitation stint at Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday.
Kemp is expected to be activated from the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday night when the Dodgers face the Milwaukee
Brewers.
Kemp was sidelined May 14 with a left-hamstring strain, at a point when he was hitting .359 with 12 home runs, 28 RBI
and a .446 on-base percentage.
Kemp will be joined at Albuquerque by outfielder Juan Rivera (left hamstring), who isn't eligible to be activated until
Thursday night against the Brewers. But with the Isotopes leaving for New Orleans after Monday's game, Rivera is
expected at that point to transfer the remainder of his rehab assignment to advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga.
Meanwhile, second baseman Mark Ellis finally underwent an MRI to determine the extent of the damage to his left knee
after leaving the hospital, where he had been treated for an infection that might have cost him his leg if he had waited
much longer to receive that treatment. He was found to have a sprain of the medial collateral ligament on the inside of
the knee and a bone bruise on the outside of it.
Trainer Sue Falsone said Ellis will miss at least eight weeks.
L.A. Times
Lightweight Dodgers lineup too heavy a burden for Clayton Kershaw
Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw is solid, allowing two earned runs and five hits in seven innings, but with half the regular
lineup on the DL, hitters can't get anything going in 3-1 loss to Houston.
By Baxter Holmes
May 25, 2012, 11:14 p.m.
Friday marked four years to the day that a sandy-haired Texan debuted at Dodger Stadium. It was a ballyhooed occasion
for a ballyhooed pitcher, and he shined with a brilliant performance that his team capped with a close win.
That victory prefigured many more for the Dodgers with Clayton Kershaw listed as their scheduled starter.
But, 125 starts and a National League Cy Young Award later, the left-handed ace left the mound Friday night after a
performance short of his reputation, which ultimately led to his team leaving the field with a loss, 3-1, to Houston.
"I didn't have as great of command as I would've liked, but overall I thought pitched OK," Kershaw said after his record
fell to 4-2 and his earned-run average rose slightly, to 1.97. "Just a couple mistakes here and there, but in a game like
that, it'll cost you."
"Clayton got behind in the count a little bit tonight," said Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly, who added that the Dodgers
didn't give him much help.
They had a chance in the eighth, when Jerry Hairston Jr., who had been activated from the disabled list earlier in the
day, came up with the bases loaded and one out.
Hairston walked to bring in a run, but Astros reliever Fernando Abad struck out Ivan De Jesus, and Fernando Rodriguez
got A.J. Ellis to fly out, ending the threat.
Kershaw gave up five hits and three runs (one unearned) in seven innings against a team that won the first of a threegame visit to Dodger Stadium, its last as part of the National League.
The Astros move to the American League next season, meaning they won't see as much of Kershaw, but they at least got
a parting shot in during one of their final matchups.
Houston starter Lucas Harrell (4-3) gave up one run and five hits in 71/3 innings. "He pounded the strike zone,"
Mattingly said. "He kind of attacked us all night."
No Dodgers team in franchise history had started 20-4 at home, and the 2012 edition, which at 30-15 still has the best
overall record in either league, fell one win short of that.
Houston, which improved to 6-13 on the road and 22-23 overall, scored in the first inning to snap Kershaw's career-high
22-inning scoreless streak.
Two innings later, Houston left fielder J.D. Martinez smacked a Kershaw fastball over the left-field wall with one runner
aboard.
Because the Dodgers have eight players on the disabled list, including Matt Kemp (hamstring) and fellow regulars Juan
Rivera (hamstring), Juan Uribe (wrist) and Mark Ellis (leg), their offense is lacking. It certainly was Friday, when they
managed only seven hits and left 10 on base.
For the Dodgers, the loss marked the start of a seven-game homestand and a 20-games-in-20-days stretch.
They began that marathon on the wrong foot.
Dodgers' Matt Kemp, Juan Rivera close to returning
The outfielders, both out with strained hamstrings, could be back with the Dodgers next week.
By Baxter Holmes
May 25, 2012, 8:46 p.m.
Matt Kemp and Juan Rivera sprinted and stretched on the field at Dodger Stadium on Friday. But this was before their
team faced Houston, a game both missed because of injuries.
However, it's possible that the outfielders, who have each been suffering from left hamstring strains, could return to the
Dodgers on Tuesday against Milwaukee.
"They both ran really well today," Dodgers trainer Sue Falsone said.
As part of their rehab assignment, Kemp and Rivera are expected to play for triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday and
Monday, Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly said, adding that Rivera's rehab assignment may be extended a day or two if
needed.
Kemp has been sidelined since May 14.
Rivera ruptured a hamstring tendon May 8 sliding into third base, but Mattingly said he has made progress, calling his
situation "a best-case scenario."
Sellers on DL
Infielder Justin Sellers sacrificed his body, as the cliche goes, to make a diving-into-the-stands foul catch in the ninth
inning of the Dodgers' 3-1 win May 14 vs. Arizona.
But that cliche became somewhat literal Friday when Sellers went on the 15-day disabled list with a bulging disc in his
lower back, an area where he said he had a preexisting condition dating to high school.
Infielder Jerry Hairston Jr. was recalled from the 15-day disabled list, where he had been since May 6 with a strained
hamstring, and he batted fifth and started at third base.
"You could really say that the aftershock of that play — going in and getting beat up in the stands — I guess put more of
a toll on my body than I expected," Sellers said, noting back pain and numbness in his right leg.
Falsone said Sellers had a stress fracture in his back in high school, which created some weakness in that area and was
exacerbated because of his acrobatic catch. Falsone said she thinks Sellers should be recovered in about 15 days.
An MRI Thursday revealed the injury to Sellers, who has batted .205 in 19 games.
Short hops
Second baseman Mark Ellis has a sprained left medial collateral ligament and a bone contusion on the outside of his left
knee, Falsone said. Those injuries are in addition to the emergency left leg surgery Ellis, who was released from the
hospital Thursday, underwent after being injured last Friday against St. Louis when Tyler Greene slid into him at second
base. Falsone said she thinks it will take eight weeks for Ellis to resume baseball activities.... Falsone said right-handed
pitcher Matt Guerrier (right elbow tendinitis) has been shut down and that she doesn't expect him back for a few
weeks.… Juan Uribe (sore wrist) was taking ground balls during the Dodgers recent three games in Arizona and is
scheduled to begin light hitting on Friday.
For a change of pace, Dodgers go quietly in 3-1 loss to Astros
Clayton Kershaw suffers a rare home loss, giving up four doubles and a two-run home run to J.D. Martinez to fall to 4-2
on the season.
By Steve Dilbeck
May 25, 2012, 10:29 p.m.
No big hit this time. No kid hero or even a lights-out pitching performance by Clayton Kershaw.
Just a loss, a rather routine one at that, the Dodgers falling, 3-1, to the Astros and right-hander Lucas Harrell on Friday
night before an announced crowd of 36,283 at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers went very quietly against Harrell, a 26-year-old in his first full season as a starter. They managed only five
hits -- all singles -- against him and mostly grounded out a lot. Of their 22 outs against Harrell, only three were recorded
in the outfield.
Kershaw suffered a rare home loss, but then he was not exactly at his Cy Young-best. He allowed the three runs in seven
innings, surrendering only five hits, but all were of the extra-base variety. He gave up four doubles, a two-run homer to
J.D. Martinez and had several balls caught near the warning track.
Kershaw fell to 4-2 on the season. He walked three and struck out six. He had won 14 of his previous 15 decisions at
Dodger Stadium.
He saw his 22-inning scoreless streak end in the first on an unearned run. Jose Altuve led off with the first of his two
doubles. Martinez was awarded first when his swing clipped A.J. Ellis’ glove for catcher’s interference.
Carlos Lee then hit a double-play ball to third baseman Jerry Hairston Jr., just off the disabled list. But second baseman
Elian Herrera threw the relay past James Loney for an error as Altuve scored.
There was nothing sketchy about the Astros’ next two runs. Jed Lowrie doubled off the center-field wall and Martinez
followed with his fourth home run. Lee then flied out at the left-field fence.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, never could figure out Harrell (4-3). He managed to go 7 1/3 innings without striking out a
single batter; he walked three.
Harrell left the game after giving a one-out single to Herrera in the eighth. Left-hander Wesley Wright was brought in to
face left-handed hitters Bobby Abreu and Andre Ethier, who promptly walked and singled, respectively, to load the
bases.
That started a revolving door on the Houston bullpen. Wilton Lopez came in to face Hairston and walked him on four
pitches to force in a run. Fernando Abad came on to strike out Ivan De Jesus. And then Fernando Rodriguez got Ellis to
fly out to end the inning.
For those counting at home, that’s five Houston pitchers in a single inning.
The Dodgers’ biggest threat of the night, and they squeezed out one run.
For the surprising Astros, it marked their fourth consecutive victory and left them just one game under .500 (22-23).
Dodgers activate Jerry Hairston Jr.; Justin Sellers goes on DL
By Steve Dilbeck
May 25, 2012, 6:00 p.m.
Pure, good-health news will have to wait another day.
The Dodgers will have to take what they get for now, and on Friday that meant getting a healthy Jerry Hairston Jr. off the
disabled list.
Unfortunately, to add him back to the 25-man roster the Dodgers placed infielder Justin Sellers on the 15-day disabled
list because of a bulging disk in his lower back.
Hairston was immediately placed in the lineup at third base against the Astros, batting fifth behind Andre Ethier.
Sellers said he apparently had a pre-existing back condition that was aggravated when he went diving into the stands
chasing down a foul ball Saturday against the Cardinals.
"You could really say that the aftershock of that play -- going in and getting beat up in the stands -- I guess put more of a
toll on my body than I expected, because probably a couple days after that I started feeling some light back symptoms,”
Sellers said. “And then I gradually got worse."
Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly, who had his own back issues as a player, was confident Sellers could return after his
stint on the DL.
“He was having leg pain and foot pain,” Mattingly said. “I’ve been through that. When it gets to that area, you just can’t
do anything. It’s hard to really compete. The nerve has to calm down.”
Hairston has been out since May 6 when he strained his hamstring running out an infield hit in Chicago.
In other health news:
-- Mark Ellis is home from the hospital and recovering from his emergency leg surgery. Ellis also has a sprained medial
collateral ligament and bone bruise in his knee.
“It sounds like there’s been a number of different little things,” Mattingly said. “I’m still hearing six to eight weeks. That’s
pretty much stayed the same.”
-- Juan Uribe (sore wrist) was taking ground balls during the three games in Phoenix and is scheduled to begin light
hitting on Friday.
-- Matt Guerrier (right elbow tendinitis) is not improving and trainer Sue Falsone doesn't expect him to return until after
the All-Star break.
“We’re back to PRP (platelet rich plasma) injections and slow-down time, then we’ll see where we’re at,” Mattingly said.
“He’s been frustrated through this process since it first happened. At first it was supposed to be a couple of weeks and
he’d be ready to go.”
-- Matt Kemp and Juan Rivera, both coming back from hamstring injuries, worked out in the field before Friday’s game
and will begin a rehab assignment Sunday with triple-A Albuquerque.
Kemp is expected to return Tuesday when he’s eligible to come off the DL, but Mattingly said Rivera -- already eligible -could stay with the Isotopes an additional period because he’s been out longer. Rivera ruptured his hamstring May 8
sliding into third base, but has made rapid progress.
“His is really a best-case scenario,” Mattingly said.
Matt Kemp, Juan Rivera prepare for return as Dodger kids hold on
By Steve Dilbeck
May 25, 2012, 10:59 a.m.
How long can the Dodgers survive with the kiddie brigade?
Since Matt Kemp went on the 15-day disabled list, they have barely missed a beat, going 7-3. Twice they’ve started
lineups with only one regular. Every minor leaguer called up has had his moment.
Still, it’s not reasonable to expect the young bucks to keep this up indefinitely, which means the news that both Kemp
and Juan Rivera – apparently well ahead of schedule – could return by Tuesday is nothing but welcome.
Kemp and Rivera are scheduled to test their sore hamstrings in rehab appearances for triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday
and Monday. The Isotopes, naturally, are promoting their games in Albuquerque.
Kemp is eligible to return Tuesday, and Rivera – whose ruptured hamstring was the more severe injury, is already
eligible.
Jerry Hairston Jr., also on the DL with a sore hamstring, is eligible to be activated Friday.
So the regulars should start returning over the next few days, with their loss not as severe as anticipated.
Daily News
DODGERS NOTEBOOK: Hairston returns, Sellers out
By J.P. Hoornstra, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/25/2012 10:40:16 PM PDT
Updated: 05/25/2012 11:21:41 PM PDT
When Guggenheim Baseball Management took ownership of the Dodgers, there was talk of upgrading the home
clubhouse but no specific mention of installing a revolving door.
But there it stands, in plain sight,stands, the lockers on one side and the disabled list on the other.
By the time utilityman Jerry Hairston Jr.'s hamstring strain was fully healed Thursday, an MRI revealed that infielder
Justin Sellers had a slipped disc and a stress fracture in his lower back. The two traded places Friday, Sellers going on the
DL and Hairston into the starting lineup for the first time since his last major-league game May 6.
Dodgers head athletic trainer Sue Falsone said Sellers' injury isn't serious, making him probable to return once his 15-day
stint has ended.
However, Sellers said, "if it doesn't get better, we might have to remove part of the disc."
Falsone said the technical term for Sellers' fracture is spondylolysis - a common injury among athletes in high school,
which is when the 26-year-old believes he sustained the injury. It was exacerbated when he went head-over-heels into
the stands catching a foul ball May 14, causing the slipped disc.
Sellers is hitting .205 with three doubles and a home run in a reserve role this season. He spent a week at Triple-A
Albuquerque earlier this month.
Hairston returns to an infield decimated by injuries. Second baseman Mark Ellis has a sprained medial collateral ligament
as well as a contusion on the outside of his left knee. Falsone said it will take eight weeks for "everything to heal." That
projects to July 20, about a week after the All-Star break, but there's no guarantee that Ellis would be able to play
immediately.
Third baseman Juan Uribe is in Glendale, Ariz., and only recently began swinging a bat in his recovery from a sprained
left wrist.
Though lacking bodies, the Dodgers' infield does not lack for hits.
Shortstop Dee Gordon is beginning to heat up after being demoted to eighth in the order (a 3-for-8 streak entering play
Friday), while veteran Adam Kennedy has recovered from a horrible start to hit .326 in May. Ivan De Jesus is 3 for 9 in
limited action.
"I was playing quite a bit (at the time of the injury). I don't know if (my role) will change or not," Hairston said. "I was on
three or four, then maybe an off day, so on and so forth. I'm always ready to play no matter what."
In two rehab games for Albuquerque, Hairston went 0 for 6 while playing left field, second base and third base.
Kemp, Rivera to rehab
Outfielders Matt Kemp and Juan Rivera, both on the disabled list with strained hamstrings, ran at close to full speed on
the field prior to Friday's game. Both are set to join the Isotopes on rehabilitation assignments this weekend.
While Kemp is expected to return to the Dodgers as soon as he's eligible Tuesday, Rivera "will probably be a lot more
comfortable with more at-bats," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said.
"It's probably going to be depending more on him," Mattingly added.
"They're feeling like the leg's ready. Juan's (return is) going to be dictated more by baseball."
Rivera has been on the disabled list since May 9.
Also ...
The Astros' starter today, Bud Norris, has a major league-leading 0.35 earned-run average in May and is tied for first
with four wins. - Ryozo Kato, the president of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), the top league in Japan, attended the
game. Kato is the former Ambassador of Japan to the U.S. (2001-08) and became the president of NPB in 2008. - Chad
Billingsley has a small demon to exorcise against the Astros today: He was on the mound for the Dodgers' worst loss of
this season, April 22 in Houston. The right-hander allowed nine runs (five earned) in 33 innings as the Dodgers lost 12-0
that day.
HOUSTON 3, DODGERS 1: Kershaw's effort goes for naught
By J.P. Hoornstra, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/25/2012 10:44:06 PM PDT
Updated: 05/25/2012 11:22:55 PM PDT
The Dodgers have received plenty of compliments this season while compiling the best record in Major League Baseball.
Some are slightly backhanded, like how they keep winning in spite of the lackluster look of their lineup.
Fortunately in baseball there's a stat to explain everything. For the Dodgers - decimated by injuries to their hitters,
bolstered by anonymous heroes - here it is: Before Friday's game against the Houston Astros, they were hitting .275 with
runners in scoring position. Overall, they were batting .270.
Their on-base average jumps from .341 to .371 with runners on second and third, and suddenly there's some context for
the recent game-winning RBIs by Scott Van Slyke and Ivan De Jesus. For the 2012 Dodgers, clutch hitting is contagious.
That, and strong starting pitching, has been enough on most nights this season. Friday was an exception.
The Dodgers lost to the Houston Astros 3-1 before an announced crowd of 36,283 at Dodger Stadium.
Clayton Kershaw's pitching line was deceptively good: Seven innings pitched, five hits, three runs, two earned runs,
three walks, six strikeouts. On the surface, it was a perfectly appropriate start to commemorate the fourth anniversary
of his major-league debut.
All five Astros hits, however, went for extra bases. Four were doubles; the other was a third-inning home run by J.D.
Martinez that gave Houston a 3-0 lead.
And while Houston had a sometimes easy ride against Kershaw (4-2), the Dodgers were the opposite of clutch against
Astros starter Lucas Harrell (4-3).
In his first career start against the Dodgers, the 26-year-old righty allowed five hits, all singles, before leaving in the
seventh inning with the score still 3-0. Harrell had no problem with cleanup hitter Andre Ethier (0 for 3), who typically
demolishes right-handers and collects RBIs with ease.
Most significantly, the Dodgers' secret strength failed them. They went 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position before
Wesley Wright, a one-time Dodger prospect, relieved Harrell in the eighth inning.
Wright offered a glimmer of momentary hope, issuing a walk to Bobby Abreu and a single to Ethier that loaded the
bases for Jerry Hairston Jr. Astros manager Brad Mills summoned right-hander Wilton Lopez from the bullpen, but he
walked Hairston on four pitches for the Dodgers' first and only run of the game.
Left-hander Fernando Abad became the fourth Houston hurler of the inning; Mattingly countered by replacing lefthanded hitter James Loney with a right-handed pinch-hitter in De Jesus.
The strategy didn't work. De Jesus struck out on five pitches. The next batter, A.J. Ellis, lofted a fly ball to center field that
Justin Maxwell caught to end the inning.
It was the game in a nutshell: De Jesus was the clutch hero Tuesday in Arizona; Ellis drew a bases-loaded walk to beat
the Cardinals the Friday before. Both were powerless Friday as the Dodgers finished 1 for 8 with runners in scoring
position.
The Astros scored first on an unearned run in the first inning. With Jose Altuve on second and on first Martinez, Carlos
Lee hit a potential double-play ball to Hairston at third base.
Hairston's throw to second baseman Elian Herrera arrived in time to retire Martinez, but Herrera's relay throw was
plenty wide of first base. Loney retrieved the ball near the Astro dugout, but could not throw home in time for Ellis to
tag out Altuve, who scored from second base.
Martinez's home run, his fourth of the season, was the sixth against Kershaw in 10 starts this season. The left-hander
allowed 15 home runs in 33 starts this season.
The Dodgers dodged a bullet in the eighth inning when Maxwell appeared to miss a suicide squeeze sign and Martinez
was caught in a rundown between third base and home plate.
True Blue LA
Dodgers 5/25/12 Minor League Report - Loons Soar on Superhero Night
by Brandon Lennox on May 26, 2012 8:30 AM PDT in Los Angeles Dodgers Minor League Report
Minor League Player of the Day – Blake Johnson - 2 IP, 0 Hits, 0 Runs, 2 K's, 1 for 1, game winning hit. Blake Johnson
was one of the rare relief pitchers to win a game both with his arm and his bat as he recorded the victory on Friday with
2 innings of hitless ball, and also drove in the game winning run at the plate. The Dodgers former 2nd round pick has had
an up and down season so far, but hopefully this will get him back on the right track.
AAA – The Isotopes connected on 3 homers on Friday, but that wasn't enough as Albuquerque lost to the RedHawks
(Astros) 10 to 4. After some recent success, starter Stephen Fife slipped back into his old ways and had another rough
outing as he allowed 7 runs on 8 hits over 4.2 frames. A couple of relievers got through the middle frames with limited
damage, but Josh Wall gave up a 2-run homer in the 9th to cap the opposition scoring. At the plate Luis Cruz continued
his recent hot streak with 3 more hits, including his 4th homer of the season. Trent Oeltjen and Jeff Baisley had the
other two bombs and both also had multi-hit games.
AA – Reliever Blake Johnson was not only the winning pitcher in this 14 inning game, but he also had the game winning
walk-off hit in the Lookouts 5 - 4 victory over the Suns (Marlins). Johnson came in from the bullpen in the 13th inning
and went on the throw 2 hitless inning, then in the bottom of the 14th he came up with the bases loaded. Chattanooga
didn't have any other options at this point in the game so they led Blake hit, and he rewarded his team with a walk-off
single into center field. Going back to the beginning of this game, Chris Withrow was the starting pitcher and had an up
and down game, allowing just 4 hits over 5 frames while striking out 8 but also walking 5. Once he left game his relievers
were outstanding, and when you include Johnson's effort the bullpen finished the game with 9 innings of shutout ball
and just 3 hits allowed. 16 different Lookout players got at least one official at bat in this game, including Ethan Martin
and Aaron Miller who were used as pinch hitters. Speaking of hitting pitchers Withrow went 2 for 2, while Pedro Baez
and Blake Smith both went 2 for 6 with a homer. Jake Lemmerman had 2 hits including a double, while Rafael Ynoa had
the only triple of the evening.
HiA – Not much to write about in this game as the Quakes were weathered by the Storm (Padres) 13 to 2. Starter Greg
Wilborn got rocked for 5 runs in just 2.1 innings, and his bullpen didn't have success either as Ryan Acosta and Jordan
Roberts both allowed 4 runs of their own. Steve Smith was the only pitcher who escaped the game unscathed as he
hurled a pair of perfect innings. On offense Jonathan Garcia increased his batting average to .271 with a single and a
double, and he also stole his first base of the season. Chris O'Brien and C.J. Retherford both had doubles of their own
for the only other extra base hits of the game.
LoA – Pedro Guerrero played hero on Superhero Night in Midland on Friday as the Loons defeated the Hot Rods (Rays)
9 to 6. Guerrero tripled in the 2nd inning then crushed a grand slam in the 3rd frame to give him homers in back to back
days. Joe Winker chipped in with a pair of doubles to give him a lead leading 18 two-baggers for the season, and James
Baldwin went 1 for 3 with a walk and stole 3 bases in this game. On the mound Ryan O'Sullivan recorded the win
despite giving up 5 runs (4 earned) over 6 frames while averaging a strikeout per inning. Matt Shelton and Michael
Thomas followed with 2 innings of 1-hit ball, then Yimi Garcia got back on track with his 7th save of the season.
Coming up – Nathan Eovaldi throws for the Lookouts on Saturday, while Garrett Gould and John Ely will start for the
Quakes and Isotopes, respectively. The Loons starter is TBD, but it looks like it will be Gustavo Gomez.
Minor League Transactions – AA: Matt Wallach was added back to the Lookout roster
Eighth Inning Decision Looms Large, But Dodgers Unable To Solve Harrell All Night
by Eric Stephen on May 25, 2012 11:21 PM PDT in Dodgers Postgame Reaction
The key moment of Friday night's 3-1 Dodgers loss to the Houston Astros came in the bottom of the eighth inning, when
the Dodgers were threatening against the Houston bullpen after being unable to solve the Lucas Harrell puzzle all
evening.
The Dodgers had the bases loaded with one out, down two runs, and the Astros brought in southpaw Fernando Abad to
pitch with James Loney due up. Loney, hitting just .175/.214/.225 (7-for-40) against lefties this year and .213/.254/.300
in 369 plate appearances against lefties over the last three seasons, was pulled for a pinch hitter.
Outside of right-handed hitting Matt Treanor, who as the backup catcher is rarely used as a pinch hitter, manager Don
Mattingly had a trio of right-handed choices on his bench: Scott Van Slyke, he of the pinch-hit three-run home run on
Sunday; Jerry Sands he of the pinch-hit double during the five-run rally Tuesday in Arizona; or Ivan De Jesus, he of the
pinch-hit sacrifice fly Tuesday as well as the game-winning two-run double.
Mattingly went with De Jesus, the one of the three with the least power, though a home run wasn't what Mattingly was
looking for in that spot.
"Out of all the guys we had there, [De Jesus] is the best hitter of all of them. But obviously Scotty can be a little
dangerous," Mattingly said after the game. "I needed more of a hit there, and not necessarily to pop the ball, though
that would be nice. Ivan's been swinging the bat pretty good and I felt like he was our best option, and it didn't work
out."
De Jesus struck out, and A.J. Ellis flew out to end the rally, the Dodgers fell. But as that was really the Dodgers' best
scoring threat of the night, the larger problem was not being able to do anything off Harrell, who induced 16 groundouts
on the night.
"He pounded the strike zone, he got ahead in the count. He attacked us all night long," Mattingly said of Harrell. "He did
a good job."
Harrell was supported by an Astros offense that had five extra-base hits off Clayton Kershaw, who took his second loss
of the season.
"I didn't have as great of command as I would have liked," Kershaw said. "Overall I thought I pitched okay, with just a
couple mistakes here and there. In a game like that, it will cost you."
Mattingly agreed, adding, "He didn't seem as sharp as usual, but typical Clayton he just kept battling and fighting and
kept us in the game."
The Astros scored an unearned run in the first helped by a throwing error from Elian Herrera, then added two more on a
home run by J.D. Martinez in the third inning. It was an at-bat Kershaw regretted.
"Martinez hit a good pitch actually. I shouldn't have been behind in the count obviously," Kershaw said. "I probably
threw one too many of the same pitches and he did a good job with it, and it cost us the game. My job is to put up
zeroes every inning."
Up Next
The Dodgers look to snap their fifth two-game losing streak of the season on Saturday night, at "Bark in the Park Night"
at Dodger Stadium. Chad Billingsley takes the hill for the Dodgers, facing Bud Norris for Houston.
No Swings & Misses For Dodgers Against Harrell, No Win Either
by Eric Stephen on May 25, 2012 10:13 PM PDT in Dodgers Game Recaps
The Dodgers didn't swing and miss once all night against Lucas Harrell. The problem though was they didn't do much of
anything when they made contact off the Houston Astros' starting pitcher, who pitched the Astros to a 3-1 win over the
Dodgers Friday night in the opener of a three-game series at Dodger Stadium.
Harrell allowed five singles and three walks in his 7 1/3 innings, and induced 16 groundouts on the night. The only run
Harrell allowed was one he bequeathed to his relievers, leaving with one out and one on in the bottom of the eighth.
A walk, a single, and a walk to the first three batters post-Harrell gave the Dodgers a run, and a bases loaded situation
with one out, down two runs. When left-hander Fernando Abad was summoned from the bullpen to face James Loney.
But Don Mattingly countered with a right-handed pinch hitter to face Abad, but he didn't use Scott Van Slyke or Jerry
Sands. Mattingly tabbed Ivan De Jesus, who delivered the two-run game-winning double on Tuesday in Arizona.
De Jesus didn't have a similar result on Friday, as he struck out. A.J. Ellis followed by flying out o center and the rally was
dead. The Dodgers had two hits and two walks in the eighth inning, but the Astros used five pitchers to get three outs,
allowing just one run.
Clayton Kershaw was greeted by Jose Altuve with a leadoff double in the first inning, then one out later J.D. Martinez
reached base on catcher's interference, the first such call on the Dodgers since Russell Martin was called for CI on May
29, 2008 against then-Met Claudio Vargas. Carlos Lee followed with what appeared to be an inning-ending double play,
but Elian Herrera threw wild toward the Astros dugout and just like that Kershaw's scoreless streak was done at 22
innings.
In the third inning, Jed Lowrie hit one off the Hyundai sign in left center field for a double, narrowly missing a home run.
Martinez followed with a ball to left that didn't miss being a home run, giving the Astros a 3-0 lead. Lee followed with
another hit that was nearly a home run, but Bobby Abreu made a leaping catch at the wall in left field.
Kershaw allowed four doubles for the third time in his career, and the first time since April 24, 2010 against the
Washington Nationals. With the home run by Martinez, Kershaw allowed five extra-base hits for the second time in his
career, with the other game also that game two years ago against Washington.
Harrell came into the game with the fourth lowest strikeout rate in the National League (12.5% of his plate
appearances), and that number went down Friday night. Harrell didn't strikeout a single batter, becoming the first
starter to beat the Dodgers without a strikeout since Kyle Kendrick of the Philadelphia Phillies did it on August 31, 2010.
Kendrick, it should be noted, beat the Dodgers twice without a strikeout, joining Vern Law as the only pitchers to turn
the trick twice against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Notes
 The loss snapped a nine-game winning streak by the Dodgers against right-handed starting pitchers.
 Jerry Hairston Jr. played first base in the eighth inning, just his second career game at the position. Hairston
played 6 1/3 innings at first base for the Chicago Cubs on May 20, 2006.
 Bobby Abreu had three walks and a single on the night, and is hitting .327/.435/.462 in 19 games as a
Dodger.
 Elian Herrera went 2-for-4 with a run scored on Friday, and has at least one hit in all seven games he has
started this season.
 Dee Gordon went 1-for-4 Friday, and is 4-for-12 in three games since returning from his benching.
 Christopher Jackson of the Albuquerque Examiner caught up with Dodgers prospect Alex Castellanos, who
has returned to the Isotopes but hasn't yet been cleared to play with his left hamstring injury.
 There has still never been a Dodgers team start their season 20-4 at home.
Tonight's Particulars
Home Runs: J.D. Martinez (4)
WP - Lucas Harrell (4-3): 7 1/3 IP, 5 hits, 1 run, 3 walks, 0 strikeouts
LP - Clayton Kershaw (4-2): 7 IP, 5 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 3 walks, 6 strikeouts
Sv - Brett Myers (12): 1 IP, 1 hit, 2 strikeouts
Back Injury Sidelines Justin Sellers
by Eric Stephen on May 25, 2012 6:33 PM PDT in Dodgers Pregame Notes
While the Dodgers activated one player off the disabled list on Friday in Jerry Hairston Jr., they lost another one to the
infirmary. Justin Sellers becomes the 12th Dodgers player to be placed on the disabled list this season, as he was placed
on the 15-day disabled list with a bulging disc in his lower back.
The injury to Sellers stems from a running catch he made in the ninth inning on May 14 in the ninth inning against the
Arizona Diamondbacks, which culminated in Sellers diving into the stands.
"The aftershock of that play, going in and getting beaten up in the stands, put more of a toll on my body than I
expected," Sellers said. "A couple days after that I started feeling some light back symptoms, then it gradually got worse
in Arizona, including a tingling in the right side of my leg."
Dodgers manager Don Mattingly had his career cut short by back problems and can relate to Sellers.
"What I'm hearing is bulging disc, touching on that nerve in there, giving him some leg pain and foot pain. I've been
through that. When it gets into that area you just can't do anything," Mattingly said. "You can handle soreness and
stiffness, but when you start getting into that leg and foot it's hard to compete."
Sellers said he has had a hard time in the last week or so getting comfortable either standing or sitting, and has even
gotten up in the middle of the night trying to ease the discomfort. Still, Mattingly doesn't see this as a long term injury
for Sellers.
"If they can get it calmed down, he'll be okay and it will be just a few weeks," Mattingly said.
Sellers was placed on the disabled list retroactive to Wednesday, as he missed the series finale in Arizona. The earliest
date Sellers could return from the DL is June 7, when the Dodgers play the finale of a four-game series in Philadelphia
against the Phillies.
As for the catch against the Diamondbacks that at the very least exacerbated his back problems, Sellers has no regrets.
"That's the type of player I am," Sellers said. "I'm going to sell out every day."
Other Injury Notes
 Jerry Hairston Jr. on his minor league rehab assignment in Albuquerque while on the disabled list with a
strained left hamstring: "I let it go a few times. That's why I went down there, to test it. It feels good,"
Hairston said. "The main thing is to try to get comfortable in the batters box and find the rhythm. But I'm
ready to go. All systems are go."
 Both Matt Kemp and Juan Rivera will play in minor league rehab games Sunday and Monday in
Albuquerque, then Kemp will be activated on Tuesday. Rivera, who hasn't played since May 8, will likely
play a game or two with Class A Rancho Cucamonga after that before he gets activated.
"He's been out a little longer than Matt. He'd probably be a little more comfortable if we could get him
some more at-bats and get him more baseball ready," Mattingly said of Rivera.
Rivera, who has a ruptured hamstring tendon, has healed faster than expected. "At first we were thinking it
would be a while, then it didn't go well it would have been surgery. From our standpoint this is the best
case scenario," Mattingly said.
 Matt Guerrier has been shut down from his rehab after elbow pain and the reliever, who hasn't pitched
since April 19, is likely out until after the All-Star break. "I know Matt is frustrated. When this first
happened, we felt like this would be a couple of weeks then we'd be ready to roll," Mattingly said.
 Juan Uribe took ground balls in Arizona and as he continues to progress from a left wrist injury did "light"
work with the bat today.
 Mark Ellis, now that the swelling has subsided in his lower left leg, had his knee looked at as well. He has a
sprained left MCL and bone contusion outside the left knee, per Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times. It is
unclear just how long Ellis will be out, especially if his knee requires surgery, but that decision hasn't yet
been made.
"I think Doc and Mark and everyone has to get together and make decisions on where they want to go,"
Mattingly said. "It sounds like there have been a number of different little things. I'm still hearing 6-8
weeks."
Starting lineups
Astros
Dodgers
2B Altuve
CF Gwynn
SS Lowrie
2B Herrera
LF Martinez
LF Abreu
1B Lee
RF Ethier
RF Downs
3B Hairston
CF Maxwell
1B Loney
3B Johnson
C
C
Snyder
SS Gordon
P
Harrell
P
Ellis
Kershaw
Game Time: 7:10 p.m.
TV: Prime Ticket
MLB Gameday
Dodgers Activate Jerry Hairston From Disabled List
by Eric Stephen on May 25, 2012 3:39 PM PDT in Los Angeles Dodgers Roster
The Dodgers activated Jerry Hairston Jr. from the disabled list on Friday, giving them one of their five regular or semiregular players back that has been lost to the DL in May. To make room for Hairston, infielder Justin Sellers was placed
on the 15-day disabled list with a bulging disc in his lower back.
Hairston, who hit .315/.403/.463 in 19 games this season, injured his left hamstring while running to first base at Wrigley
Field in Chicago on May 6. He sat out the next three games but it was ultimately decided to place Hairston on the
disabled list on May 11, retroactive to May 7. He missed a total of 16 games, but the Dodgers went 12-4 without
Hairston.
Hairston has played all over this season but given the presence of Bobby Abreu in left field Hairston would have likely
played a lot of third base had he stayed healthy. Since Hairston left the game in Chicago on May 6, Dodgers third
basemen hit .226/.300/.355 with one home run and seven RBI in nearly 17 games.
Hairston has started eight games at third base for the Dodgers this season, five games in left field, and two games at
second base.
Hairston played in an intrasquad game at Camelback Ranch on Monday, then played in a pair of minor league rehab
games with Triple A Albuquerque on Wednesday and Thursday. Hairston was 0-for-6 in the two games, playing left field
Wednesday, then second and third base on Thursday.
Both Matt Kemp and Juan Rivera will play in rehab games in Albuquerque on Sunday and Monday. The plan for Kemp is
to be activated Tuesday, the first day he is eligible. Rivera's left hamstring injury was much more severe in that he
ruptured a tendon, but he has apparently made great strides in his recovery. Rivera was placed on the disabled list on
May 9.
Does Clayton Kershaw Bring Out The Best In Opposing Starters?
by Eric Stephen on May 25, 2012 1:00 PM PDT in Dodgers Game Previews
Clayton Kershaw gets the start for the Dodgers on Friday night as they open a seven-game homestand with a threegame series against the Houston Astros.
Kershaw is 4-1 with a 1.90 ERA so far this season, and has an active streak of 22 consecutive scoreless innings. He has
needed to be that good, because his opposing starter has generally been pretty good, with a 3.09 ERA. Seven of nine
opposing starters against Kershaw this season have had a quality start, with only both Edison Volquez starts against
Kershaw not lasting at least six innings with three or fewer earned runs.
Against every other Dodgers starter this season, opposing starters have thrown quality starts in 17 of 35 games (48.6%).
Since the beginning of last year, Kershaw has brought out the best in opposing starters, compared to the rest of the
staff.
Opposing Starters Against Dodgers, 2011-2012
Vs. Dodgers Starter
G
W-L IP/start
Kershaw
42
7-24
Everyone else
163 60-59
QS
BB/9
K/9
ERA
WHIP
6.31
30 (71.4%) 3.12
6.08
3.57
1.298
5.88
84 (51.5%) 2.73
6.52
4.02
1.322
So it seems that opposing starters against Kershaw have gone longer than they have against other Dodgers starters, with
an ERA nearly a half a run better. But still, the Dodgers are 30-12 in starts by Kershaw since the beginning of 2011, and
82-81 against everyone else.
Since the beginning of last season, pitchers throwing a quality start in all of MLB had 1,767 wins and 624 losses, a .739
winning percentage. But in quality starts against Kershaw since 2011, pitchers are 7-15 (.318).
Kershaw struck out nine in seven scoreless innings in Houston on April 21. In two career starts against the Astros at
Dodger Stadium Kershaw has allowed one run in 15 innings in a pair of wins.
Lucas Harrell is seeking his fourth win of the season but has just two quality starts in nine outings this season. We'll see if
he can join the crowd of pitchers with a solid outing against Kershaw. Harrell has never faced the Dodgers in his career.
Harrell has allowed at least one unearned run in each of his last five starts.
Game Time: 7:10 p.m.
TV: Prime Ticket
MLB Gameday
Dodgers Making History At Home
by Eric Stephen on May 25, 2012 10:30 AM PDT in Dodgers History & Records
Even with the loss on Wednesday in Arizona, the Dodgers return home with the best record in baseball at 30-14. We are
reaching the point that the Dodgers are more than a team off to a hot start, but rather simply a good team.
The Dodgers are 55-26 in their last 81 games, the best record in baseball during that span (since last August 20) by five
games over the Texas Rangers.
The Dodgers are 92-70 in their last 162 games, the fourth best record in the National League during that span (since last
May 18), behind Philadelphia (100-67), Arizona (96-70), and Milwaukee (94-70).
Part of the great Dodger turnaround has been a crazy run of wins at home. Entering play last July 7, the Dodgers were
just 19-27 at home, in danger of finishing with just the seventh losing home record in Dodger Stadium history. Clayton
Kershaw got the start that night for the Dodgers, and as you may have expected the Dodgers won, one of three straight
shutout wins for the Dodgers.
The Dodgers kept rolling at home for the rest of the season, winning 23 of their final 35 home games to finish at 42-39 at
Dodger Stadium. That has carried over into this season and then some, as one season after the Dodgers opened 19-27 at
home they are 19-4 at Dodger Stadium this year. That's 42-16 (.724) at home in their last 58 home games.
The Dodgers have been world beaters at home this season, outscoring their opponents by exactly two runs per game at
Dodger Stadium. At 19-4, the Dodgers are tied with the 1980 squad for the best home start in franchise history. No
Dodgers team has ever been 20-4 at home.
Year
After 23 Home Games
After 24 Home Games
Home Record
2012
19-4
TBD
TBD
1980
19-4
19-5
55-27 (.671)
1974
18-5
19-5
52-29 (.642)
1947
18-5
19-5
52-25 (.675)
1942
18-5
18-6
57-22 (.722)
The 1980 club began 19-3 at Dodger Stadium but lost their next two home games. The 1980 Dodgers lost a one-game
playoff for the National League West to the Houston Astros, falling in the finale at Dodger Stadium after a final-weekend
home sweep to force the extra game. The 55 home wins by the 1980 club are the most in franchise history since the
Dodgers moved to Los Angeles in 1958.
The 1974 Dodgers opened their season with a three-game home series against the San Diego Padres, and swept them
with scores of 8-0, 8-0, and 9-2. They were off and running with a 16-3 start at Dodger Stadium, but losing two of three
games to Atlanta in May dropped them to 17-5 at home. The Dodgers then won their next seven home games, including
a three-game sweep of the Big Red Machine to open 24-5, the best five-loss start at home in franchise history.
The 1947 club was 14-5 at Ebbets Field, but won their next five at home on their way to the National League pennant.
The 1942 Dodgers began 18-5 at home on their way to 104 wins, the second most in franchise history, behind the 105win 1953 club. But they watched the World Series at home thanks to the St. Louis Cardinals winning 106 games.
The Dodgers welcome the Houston Astros for three games, followed by the Milwaukee Brewers for four games for a
seven-game homestand to end the month. If they can continue their home success, May will be quite a month.
LAist
Are the Dodgers Starting to Fall Back Down to Earth?
By Jimmy Bramlett in News on May 25, 2012 11:04 PM
Perhaps this is Icarus falling to the ground. After an 11-4 hiccup Wednesday night in Arizona against the Diamondbacks,
the Dodgers flailed against the Houston Astros losing 3-1 to start a seven-game homestand against the NL Central.
Yet again it looked like the Dodgers would get yet another key base hit to pull out a victory from the proverbial jaws in
the eighth inning. After being unable to scratching anything for the first seven innings, the Dodgers had the bases loaded
with one out and one run already in. Ivan De Jesus as a pinch hitter struck out, and A.J. Ellis flew out to center to end the
rally.
"We weren't able to do a whole lot," Manager Don Mattingly said. "We got it going a little bit late. We got a couple of
chances. Just didn't have enough to win tonight."
At some point after playing with house money for weeks, this had to happen for the Dodgers. They have been fielding
what could be described more accurately as a Triple-A lineup for the last several weeks. Take Friday night's lineup for
example:
1. Tony Gwynn, Jr. - CF
2. Elian Herrera - 2B
3. Bobby Abreu - LF
4. Andre Ethier - RF
5. Jerry Hairston, Jr. - 3B
6. James Loney - 1B
7. A.J. Ellis - C
8. Dee Gordon - SS
9. Clayton Kershaw - P
To think that this lineup wasn't even the worst one Don Mattingly had trotted out. However this one had a hard time
figuring out Astro's starter Lucas Harrell getting only five hits against the 26-year old making his 15th start of his career
and 27th overall appearance.
The Dodgers got a runner on second base three times in the game:
1st inning — Andre Ethier flew out to center and Jerry Hairston grounded to third.
2nd inning — Clayton Kershaw grounded back to the box and Tony Gwynn grounded to second.
6th inning — James Loney grounded into a double play (4-6-3).
Harrell's night was done after giving up a one-out single to Elian Herrera in the eighth inning. After Wesley Wright
walked Bobby Abreu and Andre Ethier singled, the focus was on Hairston making his first appearance since pulling his
hamstring in Chicago on May 6. Having hit a single in the sixth inning going 1-for-3 up to that point.
It figured that the only run that would score for the Dodgers would be one where the bat never left the shoulder. At
least that was better than the indignity of a six-pitch seventh inning for the Dodgers.
Not helping out the cause was Kershaw having less than his normal superlative outing.
"I didn't think I had my command," Kershaw said. "But overall I thought I did okay."
After pitching a six-hit shutout on Saturday against the St. Louis Cardinals, Kershaw gave up four doubles in the first five
innings. The third double hit by Jed Lowrie in the third inning had the dubious distinction of being followed up with a J.D.
Martinez home run giving the Astros the 3-0 lead.
"He hit a good pitch," Kershaw conceded. "I shouldn't have been behind the count, obviously, but I threw one too many
of the same pitches. But he did a good job with it to hit it out. Cost us a game."
Perhaps this sort of night was to be expected after the first inning of errors, rarities and madness. After Jose Altuve led
off the game with a line-drive double, Lowrie struck out. Nothing out of the ordinary, right? Martinez apparently fouled
the first pitch he saw, but home-plate umpire Tim Welke said catcher A.J. Ellis got in the way awarding Martinez first
base, the Dodgers' first since 2008 and first at Dodger Stadium since 1993.
Carlos Lee grounded into what appeared to be a 5-4-3 around-the-horn double play, but second baseman Elian Herrera
threw the ball to the base of the fence of the Astros' dugout. Altuve slid home safely under Ellis' tag for the unearned
run.
Something lingering from Sunday's eclipse during the last Dodger home game?
Just to pile on, while Hairston was back in the lineup and Matt Kemp and Juan Rivera looking to make their way back
next week, another setback hit the Dodgers. Justin Sellers was placed on the disabled list with a bulging disk in his lower
back. While Seller had back problems as a teenage athlete, he told reporters before the game that this bout was
triggered by that diving play into the seats on May 14 against the Diamondbacks.
"A couple of days after that, I felt light back symptoms," Sellers said. "I had tingling down the right side of my leg."
Sellers even feels the pain while trying to sleep saying that the most comfortable position is on his side with pillows
between his legs. While there have been grumblings about surgery being an option, nothing has been decided yet.
"Back issues are no joke. I just have to stay confident. Hopefully I don't need surgery."
NBC Los Angeles
Dodgers to Add a Second Dog Day
Wanted to show at the stadium with your pup? Get the latest.
By Alysia Gray Painter
| Thursday, May 24, 2012 | Updated 10:55 AM PDT
A disappointed fan is a sad sight to behold, especially when they’ve gotten geared up in their favorite tee and they show
up at their team’s field fully expecting to enter an event.
But a sad dog? Please. We can’t even think about it. The droopy eyes. The droopy tail. We’ll stop right there.
With that in mind, if you were hoping to make the very popular Natural Balance Bark in the Park at Dodger Stadium on
Saturday, May 26, and you don’t yet have tickets, hold that leash; the day is now sold out.
Droopy tails all around.
There’s a silver lining, or a Dodger Blue lining, if you prefer, to this particular story, though; the team and Natural
Balance have added a second date: Saturday, Sept. 1. Yep, that’s the Saturday before Labor Day, so it makes a nice and
easy to remember bookend to the Memorial Day Saturday Bark in the Park.
If you don’t know about the big day, but you love baseball and barkers, here’s a rough – or ruff – outline: People show at
Elysian Park with their favorite four-footer. There’s a rally and there are contests and there are goodie bags and there’s
the centerpiece, on-field Pup Parade. Oh, and a game to boot: The Dodgers face the Astros on May 26 and the
Diamondbacks on Saturday, Sept. 1.
Woof woof. Translation? Get on that September ticket, stat.
CBS Local
Astros Stun Kershaw, Dodgers 3-1
LOS ANGELES (CBS) – The Houston Astros used five pitchers in the eighth inning and it paid off as Houston stunned
Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 before a paid attendance of 36,283 on Friday night at Dodger
Stadium.
The Astros took a 3-0 lead in the third after JD Martinez homered off Kershaw, scoring Jed Lowrie.
From there Kershaw cruised, pitching seven innings, allowing three runs, two earned, raising his ERA to 1.97.
Meanwhile, Lucas Harrell had the longest outing of his career, pitching 7.1 innings, allowing one run and picking up his
fourth win of the season.
The Dodgers mounted a rally in the eighth inning, but Ivan De Jesus struck out after pinch-hitting for James Loney and AJ
Ellis lined out to center field with the bases loaded, stranding the tying run at second base.
Brett Myers pitched a scoreless ninth for his 12th save of the season.
ESPN Deportes
Dodgers no se amilanan por las lesions
Por Noel Piñeiro Planas
ESPNDeportesLosAngeles.com
LOS ÁNGELES -- Si usted todavía es una de esas personas que se pregunta si los actuales Dodgers de Los Angeles son tan
buenos como lo dice su récord, quizás debería echar un vistazo a su lista de jugadores lesionados y a la cantidad de
partidos que han perdido estos peloteros para profundizar en la búsqueda de una respuesta.
La misma es encabezada por el jardinero central y líder jonronero del equipo, Matt Kemp, quien el viernes cumplió su
undécimo día fuera de la alineación de los Dodgers debido a un apretón en el tendón de la corva izquierda. Le siguen el
jardinero derecho, primera base y tradicionalmente quinto bate del equipo, Juan Rivera, con 15 días fuera por la misma
lesión de Kemp; el tercera base Juan Uribe, fuera 11 días por una lesión en la muñeca izquierda; el jugador de utilidad
Jerry Hairston Jr., quien estuvo fuera de juego por 16 días debido a la misma lastimadura de Kemp y Rivera; el segunda
base Mark Ellis, fuera hace seis días por una doble lesión de trauma en su rodilla izquierda; y el relevista Matt Guerrier,
separado hace 33 días del juego por problemas de tendinitis en su codo derecho.
En total, ese grupo acumula un total de 89 días fuera por lesión. Y la contabilidad no toma en consideración que el
lanzador Ted Lilly perdió ocho juegos al inicio de la temporada debido a un apretón en el cuello.
Increíblemente, los Dodgers no se han visto mal pese a todas esas lesiones. Y ello ni aún cuando por lo menos en dos
ocasiones en el año han tenido que iniciar una alineación con tan solo uno de sus jugadores regulares en el día inaugural
de la campaña apuntado en la misma. A pesar de todos esos infortunios, los Dodgers entraron al juego del viernes ante
los Astros de Houston con la mejor marca de todo el béisbol en 30-15. Su récord local de 19-4 camino al partido del
viernes tenía a la novena buscando establecer con un posible 20-4 su mejor arrancada local en la historia de la
franquicia, cosa que no lograron al caer derrotados ante los Houston Astros por 3-1.
El año pasado, una acumulación de lesiones de ese tipo hubiera empujado al equipo casi a la eliminación. De hecho, así
lo hizo antes que con mejor salud lograran un poderoso final de temporada que les ayudó a poder terminar la campaña
con un récord de tres triunfos por arriba del promedio de .500.
Pero eso fue el año pasado. Este año todo es diferente.
"Creo que lo que hemos podido hacer para mantenernos en la pelea es que nuestro pitcheo ha estado saludable y muy
estable en su trabajo", dijo Mattingly.
"Y lo otro es que no importa a quien haya tenido que poner haya afuera, todos han hecho el trabajo. Nos hemos
mantenido estable con la defensa. Y aunque perdimos a jugadores como Matt y Juan, los demás jugadores como que
han elevado su nivel. Hemos tenido grandes actuaciones en el clutch", agregó recordando entre otras el jonrón decisivo
que conectó la pasada semana Scott Van Slyke y el doble remolcador de dos anotaciones decisivas que proveyó Iván de
Jesús Jr.
Como dirían por ahí, ciertamente los Dodgers se han crecido muy bien ante la prueba. Como equipo entraron al juego
del viernes con el segundo mejor promedio ofensivo a nivel colectivo de la Liga Nacional con .270. Presentaban también
el segundo mejor pitcheo iniciador con ERA de 3.23. Y su fildeo es el octavo mejor con .983.
En una estadística más avanzada, por su parte, el pitcheo iniciador de los Dodgers es el segundo mejor de la liga con un
ERA de 3.06 al tiempo que han sido responsables de 20 victorias y solo ocho derrotas. Por su parte, el relevo anda por la
séptima mejor posición de 16 novenas de la Liga Nacional con efectividad de 3.60 aunque su marca de 10-6 es la
segunda mejor de la liga en términos de victorias y la duodécima en el análisis de las derrotas.
Para Mattingly el éxito es producto del esfuerzo y la preparación de cada pelotero. Pero él éxito en medio de tantas
bajas es muestra que su novena es algo especial este año. Y para varios integrantes del equipo eso no tiene del todo que
ver con la paz que se respira por la estabilización de la situación administrativa. Aunque eso también ayuda.
"Este año solo se está hablando de béisbol aquí. El año pasado constantemente las preguntas giraban en torno a si el
pobre rendimiento tenía algo que ver con las distracciones que generaban los problemas administrativos", indicó uno de
los empleados de Dodgers en conversación con ESPNDeportesLosAngeles.com.
Y de lo que se habla constantemente es de victorias, sólidas demonstraciones y valerosas actuaciones.
Aún habiéndose perdido 10 partidos, Kemp sigue entre los líderes ofensivos de la Liga Nacional con el cuarto mejor
promedio de bateo en .359, la segunda mayor cantidad de jonrones con 12 y la 13ra de carreras remolcadas con 28.
Andre Ethier, por su parte, entró al juego del viernes bateando .321 con nueve jonrones y el liderato de carreras
remolcadas de la liga con 40. Mientras, el más reciente nuevo integrante de los Dodgers, Bobby Abreu, ha retornado con
éxito a la Liga Nacional tras casi seis años en la Liga Americana. El pelotero que ha cubierto la baja de su compatriota
venezolano Juan Rivera en el bosque izquierdo entró al juego del viernes bateando .314 con cinco dobletes, un jonrón y
seis RBI en 18 partidos jugados con los blancos y azules de Los Angeles.
En cuanto al pitcheo, el zurdo Kershaw entró al juego del viernes con una racha de 22 entradas corridas sin permitir
carreras limpias pero permitió dos esa noche y cargó con la derrota de su equipo ante los Astros para poner su marca de
la campaña en 4-2 y ERA de 1.97. Tan impresionantes como él también han lanzado Chris Capuano (6-1, 2.25) y Ted Lilly
(5-1, 3.14). Y los otros dos miembros de la rotación de abridores también lo han hecho de forma satisfactoria con Chad
Billingsley amasando 2-3 con 3.91 y Aaron Harang con 3-2 y 4.36.
De otra parte, el relevo de los Dodgers ha contado con un muy efectivo Ronald Bellisario, quien en nueve juegos y 8.2
entradas lanzadas no ha permitido carreras y solo ha tolerado cinco hits de 31 hombres enfrentados. Igual también ha
rebotado bastante bien Javy Guerra, quien luego de perder su rol como taponero ha permitido solo una carrera en sus
más recientes nueve juegos y nueve entradas lanzadas.
"La realidad es que hemos logrado contribuciones de muchas jugadores tanto a nivel ofensivo como defensivo y eso nos
ha dado mucha confianza y estamos tratando de mantenernos agarrados a ella", dijo Mattingly.
Ahora quizás lo único que falta es que quienes todavía no confían en los Dodgers comiencen a hacerlo. Ya la arrancada
no parece suerte.
Justin Sellers, a la lista de lesionados
Por Noel Piñeiro Planas
ESPNDeportesLosAngeles.com
LOS ÁNGELES -- Otra baja más para Los Angeles Dodgers.
La novena que actualmente tiene en la lista de lesionados a peloteros del calibre de Matt Kemp, Juan Rivera, Mark Ellis y
Juan Uribe, entre otros, este viernes tuvo que agregar a esa lista al 'infielder' Justin Sellers por 15 días a consecuencia del
efecto que una vieja hernia discal le ha producido sobre unos nervios y que le producen un dolor sobre su pierna
derecha.
La condición que actualmente padece, sin embargo, no es producto de la hernia discal.
La misma surge por el efecto que tuvo sobre esa área en la espina dorsal baja de un impacto que recibió al caer en las
gradas el pasado 14 de mayo cuando hizo una espectacular atrapada en la novena entrada. Al parecer el golpe le
produjo una inflamación que es la que le está ocasionado presión a unos nervios que corren hacia la pierna.
"Creo que el impacto de aquella jugada me forzó un poco de presión al área. Y me ocasiona una molestia en la pierna
derecha. Me afecta incluso la forma en la que puedo dormir. A veces por las noches me tengo que levantar y meterme a
la bañera para echarme agua caliente que me alivie la molestia. Y en general cuando estoy de pie siento la pierna como
adormecida", dijo Sellers, quien fue activado por los Dodgers el pasado 11 de mayo para reemplazar al jugador de
utilidad Jerry Hairston Jr., quien irónicamente fue activado a la alineación de los Dodgers el viernes para cubrir el hueco
dejado vacío por Sellers.
Hairston Jr. había ido a la lista de lesionados debido a una tensión en el tendón de la corva izquierda. El viernes dijo que
ya se siente recuperado de dicha lesión, aunque admitió que le tomará un poco encontrar el ritmo de juego ya que sólo
vio acción en tres partidos de 'rehabilitación' en liga menor, ya que tuvo que acelerar su retorno por la baja de Sellers.
La preparadora física de los Dodgers, Sue Falsone, abundó de la lesión de Sellers que la misma podría ser superada en 15
días con tratamiento intensivo de anti inflamatorios, estiramientos, y terapias. Ella no considera que la condición vaya a
requerir cirugía. Precisó que la genuina lesión del disco de Sellers es lo que se considera un "área de debilidad" que ha
sanado a su forma antes.
"Tenemos que bajar la inflamación y solo fortalecer los músculos a su alrededor", dijo Falsone.
Para el dirigente Don Mattingly, la experiencia de años en el béisbol le hacen también sentirse confiado que Sellers no
requerirá de una operación quirúrgica para resolver el problema.
"Llevo mucho tiempo en esto y creo que cuando se resuelva lo que le está ejerciendo la presión al nervio , todo estará
bien", dijo Mattingly.
Falsone explicó que Sellers, al igual que le sucede a múltiples atletas, padece de una pequeña hernia en el disco
simplemente por los impactos que ha recibido el área desde su juventud. El pelotero, sin embargo, nunca había sentido
esos referidos dolores hasta ahora.
De otra parte, Falsone señaló que las condiciones de otros atletas en la lista de lesionados están evolucionando hacia la
recuperación esperada. Matt Kemp y Juan Rivera están pendientes a jugar dos juegos de rehabilitación en Triple A este
domingo y lunes con miras a una pronta reactivación.
Mientras, Mark Ellis abandonó el hospital el jueves luego de tener que recibir una intervención quirúrgica de emergencia
el sábado para aliviar una presión en el área de su rodilla derecha que estaba afectando la circulación y pudo haber
puesto en peligro toda su pierna.
El jugador que fue colocado en la lista de lesionados luego de recibir un impacto directo en la rodilla del corredor Tyler
Greene de los St. Louis Cardinals, al momento tiene un pequeño desgarre en el ligamento medial colateral de su rodilla
derecha y una conmoción en el hueso de la cúpula de la rodilla.
"Por el momento hay que dejar que ambas áreas sanen naturalmente. No hay nada que se pueda hacer ahora mismo
con una operación. Ambas son lesiones de trauma y el perfil es que estará en el proceso de sanidad por ocho semanas",
dijo Falsone, destacando que Ellis está caminando con muletas debido a la lesión de la rodilla.
Por último Falsone también habló de las lesiones de Juan Uribe y Matt Guerrier.
Sobre Uribe dijo que la condición de su muñeca izquierda ha ido también mejorando y en gran parte auxiliada por las
inyecciones de cortisona que recibió como tratamiento. Ya Uribe ha comenzado a poner la muñeca a prueba fildeando
rolas en el campo. Pronto comenzará también a probarla en gestión de bateo.
En cuanto a Guerrier, su caso es más complicado. Éste está siendo tratado por tendiniosis en su codo derecho. La
entrenadora explicó que una tendiniosis es un paso más agravado de una tendinitis. El mismo muestra que áreas de sus
tendones que han sufrido en el pasado pequeñas debilidades y desgarres están mostrando cambios. Por el momento,
sin embargo, la condición no se perfila en necesidad de una cirugía.
"Seguimos monitoreando la inflamación y viendo como progresa. Por ahora lo tenemos en descanso. Y estoy optimista
que vuelva a lanzar esta temporada. Una operación no está siendo considerada por ahora.
Realmente eso sería una última opción", dijo Falsone.
Pese a todas esas lesiones, los Dodgers no ha cedido terreno. Sin Kemp en la alineación estos han seguido dominando el
béisbol.
Guerra no baja sus armas desde la loma
por Noel Piñeiro Planas
LOS ANGELES -- El éxito en cualquier campo de la vida muchas veces tiene que ver más con la actitud que el esfuerzo. Si
no lo cree así, Javy Guerra podría ser una personal que le ayude a comprender eso.
Y es que el texano de descendencia mexicana recibió a principios de este mes la noticia que ya no sería más el cerrador
de Los Angeles Dodgers luego de fallar en tres ocasiones en cerrar juegos que su equipo estaba ganando pero no
permitió que ese degradación afectara sus emociones.
"Sabía que me estaba yendo mal de momento y me tenían que quitar. Pero no me frustré por eso. Más que nada estaba
frustrado cuando estaba lanzando así. Y creo que estaba lanzando un poco negativo (en ánimo) pero ya se me quitó",
dijo Guerra.
Cuando Guerra fue removido como taponero, éste había fallado en salvar dos de tres juegos y vio su ERA subir de un
0.00 que tuvo durante sus primeros seis juegos del año a 5.84 en los ocho partidos siguientes.
El cambio, sin embargo, al parecer le ayudó a reagrupar pensamientos y efectividad. Así en mayo Guerra ha acumulado
marca de 1-0 y 0.90 de ERA. Su rol ahora es de lanzar entre la sexta, séptima u octava entrada. Y él no ha permitido que
el descenso de rol lo descorazone.
"Cuando me llaman salgo a tratar de hacer mi trabajo. A sacar outs. Ese es mi trabajo. Y mientras estemos ganando todo
está de maravilla", dijo Guerra.
El dirigente de los Dodgers, Don Mattingly elogió esa actitud. Y lo hizo lamentando que Guerra pasara por una pequeña
racha en que no le fue bien.
"Javy ha estado lanzando muy bien. Fue una pena que cuando pasó por esa pequeña racha que permitió una carrera en
ciertos juegos que le previnieron salvar ciertos juegos fue corrida. Obviamente por él estar en el rol de taponero pues
eso tuvo más impacto. Pero si hubiera tenido esos juegos como lanzandor de cualquier otra entrada que no hubiera sido
la novena nadie hubiera considerado que no estaba siendo efectivo", dijo Mattingly.
En lo que va del año, entrando al juego del viernes, Guerra posee récord de 2-3 con 3.54 de ERA.
Nada como estar en casa
por Dan Braunsein / ESPN Stats & Info
He aquí un vistazo estadístico a los Dodgers, enfocado en partidos del 18 al 23 de mayo. BaseballReference.com
continúa siendo un recurso valioso.
HOGAR, LIMPIO HOGAR
La limpia de los Dodgers ante los Cardenales este fin de semana fue su quinta del año, todas en casa. La pasada
temporada, los Dodgers tuvieron cinco barridas en toda la temporada. Los Dodgers tienen marca de 19-4 en casa, y su
efectividad en Dodger Stadium es casi dos carreras menos que en la carretera.
La blanqueada de Clayton Kershaw en el partido del medio de la serie mejoró la marca de los Dodgers los sábados a 7-0
y bajó su efectividad de por vida en Dodger Stadium a 2.39. De acuerdo a Elias Sports Bureau, es la mejor efectividad en
casa de cualquier lanzador actuvi con al menos 50 aperturas.
La barrida de los Cardenales por parte de los Dodgers fue la segunda corrida ante San Luis, incluyendo la temporada
pasada. Es la primera vez que los Dodgers limpian series consecutivas ante los Cardenales desde el 1976.
OTRA RACHA GANADORA
Dodgers, Esta Temporada
Casa Carretera
G-P
19-4 11-10
ERA
2.29 4.27
Prom.
.293 .246
Limpias Series 5
0
La derrota el miércoles por la noche en Arizona terminó la racha ganadora de seis partidos de los Dodgers, la tercera de
al menos cinco partidos esta temporada. Son el único equipo en el béisbol con tres rachas ganadoras separadas de al
menos cinco partidos. La derrota 11-4 fue solamente la segunda del equipo en la temporada por cinco o más carreras.
Sólo los Vigilantes tienen tan pocas derrotas por cinco carreras como los Dodgers.
En su más reciente racha, los Dodgers anotaron al menos seis carreras en todos los seis partidos. Son el único equipo
esta temporada con una racha ganadora de seis partidos en donde al menos han anotado seis carreras en cada juego.
Los Dodgers no lo habían hecho desde el 2006, cuando lo hicieron en dos ocasiones.
LLÁMELO REMONTE
Los Dodgers se sobrepusieron a una desventaja de 6-1 en el séptimo episodio al derrotar a los Diamondbacks el martes
8-7. De acuerdo a Elias, fue sólo la segunda ocasión en las últimas siete temporadas en que LA ganó un partido el cual
perdía por cinco o más carreras en el séptimo episodio o más tarde. El otro fue Cincinnati la pasada temporada.
La doble matanza acrobática de Dee Gordon selló la victoria. Si no la hubiese completado, el partido se habría empatado
ya que los Diamondbacks perdían por una carrera con corredor en tercera base.
Los Dodgers no habían ganado un partido con una doble matanza para terminar el partido en una situación similar
desde el 1 de mayo de 1984, cuando Carlos Díaz obligó a Chili Davis a una doble matanza para terminar una victoria de
los Dodgers 3-2 sobre los Gigantes. Desde aquel tiempo al presente y el artes, cada equipo menos los Dodgers había
hecho al menos una doble matanza salvadora para terminar el partido.
La victoria del martes fue la número 30 de los Dodgers en la temporada, y sólo les tomó 43 partidos llegar allí. Los
Dodgers no habían ganado 30 partidos tan rápido desde el 1983, cuando también comenzaron 30-13.
MÁS HEROISMO DE LA BANCA
El hit de oro en la victoria fue el doble impulsador de Ivan De Jesus en el último out de los Dodgers en la novena. Fue el
primer hit salvador para los Dodgers cuando sólo restaba un out en casi tres años, siendo el último un doble de Andre
Ethier que dejó en el terreno a los Filies 4-3 el 5 de junio de 2009.
De Jesús remolcó tres carreras viniendo de la banca el martes, y Scott Van Slyke remolcó tres más con su cuadrangular el
domingo como emergente. Cuatro Dodgers han remolcado al menos tres carreras en partidos que no fueron titulares, el
mayor número en esta temporada. Los Dodgers no habían tenido cuatro de esos partidos en una temporada desde el
2004. La pasada temporada, los Cardenales tuvieron sólo cuatro partidos así.
BATEO DE SITUACIÓN
Los Dodgers han estado atrás en algún puntos en tres de sus cinco victorias en la semana. Debido a su éxito este año, los
Dodgers no han estado atrás en muchas ocasiones, pero cuando ha ocurrido, han producido. Como equipo, los Dodgers
promedian .303 cuando están atrás, el mejor promedio en esa situación en el béisbol.
Una clave para la ofensiva de los Dodgers este año ha sido el bateo en situaciones. Los Dodgers han sido el mejor equipo
en la liga en avanzar corredores de segunda base sin outs y anotar corredores desde tercera con menos de dos outs. El
64 por ciento de las ocasiones, los Dodgers han avanzado corredor desde segunda sin outs, y han anotado corredor
desde tercera base con menos de dos outs el 61 por ciento de las oportunidades. Ambos números son los mejores en el
béisbol. Los Dodgers promedian .375 con hombre en tercera y menos de dos outs.
Univision
MLB: Astros 3, Dodgers 1; Harrell se lleva el triunfo
The Associated Press | Fecha: 05/26/2012
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lucas Harrell sostuvo la blanqueada hasta la octava entrada, J.D. Martínez pegó jonrón y los Astros
de Houston utilizaron cuatro relevistas para superar un bache con bases llenas en el penúltimo capítulo y ganar el
viernes por 3-1 a los Dodgers de Los Angeles.
Harrel (4-3) aceptó cinco sencillos, dio tres bases por bolas y no ponchó a bateador alguno en la que fue su apertura más
prolongada de las 15 que ha disputado en las Grandes Ligas.
El lanzador derecho, de 26 años, que enfrentó a los Dodgers por primera vez, permitió que dos corredores sólo llegaran
hasta la intermedia y consiguió 17 outs de roletazos, incluidos tres que salieron hacia él mismo en el séptimo episodio.
Harrell dejó el montículo después de que el dominicano Elián Herrera le conectara un sencillo cuando iba un out.
Wesley Wright dio una base por bolas al venezolano Bobby Abreu y recibió sencillo de Andre Ethier, después el
nicaragüense Wilton López dio pasaporte a Jerry Hairston Jr. con cuatro lanzamientos que forzaron una carrera.
Sin embargo, el puertorriqueño Iván De Jesús, que sustituyó a James Loney, como bateador emergente recibió ponchete
del zurdo dominicano Fernando Abad en tanto que Fernando Rodríguez retiró a A.J. Ellis, quien pegó un elevado y fue
puesto out.
Brett Myers trabajó la novena entrada sin recibir anotación y logró su 12mo. salvamento en 13 oportunidades y amarró
la cuarta victoria consecutiva de los Astros.
En el cuarto aniversario de su estreno en las Grandes Ligas, Clayton Kershaw (4-2) recibió tres carreras, dos de ellas
limpias, y cinco imparables en siete entradas, en las que ponchó a seis rivales.
Por Houston, el venezolano José Altuve de 5-2, una anotada.
Por Los Angeles, los dominicanos Elián Herrera, de 5-2, una anotada, y Toni Abreu de 1-1. El puertorriqueño De Jesús, de
1-0.
Houston 102 000 000_3 7 0
Los Angeles 000 000 010_1 7 2
Harrell, W.Wright (8), W.López (8), Abad (8), Fe.Rodríguez (8), Myers (9) y C.Snyder; Kershaw, Belisario (8), Lindblom (9)
y A.Ellis. G_Harrell 4-3. P_Kershaw 4-2. Sv_Myers (12). Jrs_Houston, J.D.Martínez (4).
Univision 1020 KTNQ
Dodgers listos para fin de semana del Memorial Day
Fecha: 25/05/2012
por Alex Radzichovsky, Univision Radio | Fecha: 05/25/2012
Por el Zar de los Deportes: Alex Russo
LOS ÁNGELES, California - La escuadra angelina volvió el miércoles por la noche de la gira de tres juegos en Arizona,
ganando dos de ellos y el jueves descansaron en sus propias casas preparándose para su quinta estancia de la
temporada que será de siete juegos en el Chávez Ravine, comenzando el viernes con tres juegos contra los Astros de
Houston y el lunes Memorial Day abrirán una serie de cuatro juegos contra los Cerveceros de Milwaukee.
Los Dodgers portan una foja de 30-14 con un porcentaje de victorias de .682 y sus posibilidades de llegar a la
postemporada es del 89,4 %, que es la mejor marca en las Grandes Ligas. En sus últimos diez juegos los azules han
ganado siete de ellos y su record como locales de 19-4 es el mejor de la Gran Carpa. Como visitantes los azules han
ganado 11 encuentros y han perdido diez, la ofensiva angelina ha anotado 201 carreras y su defensiva cedió 157 carreras
para una diferencia de +44.
El primer juego de la serie contra los Astros se jugará el viernes comenzando a las 7:10 pm. Antes del juego se tocarán
las canciones del famoso grupo de Beach Boys, mientras que el duelo de lanzadores está pactado entre el joven astro
tejano zurdo de los locales Clayton Kershaw (4-1, 1,90) y por los visitantes saldrá al montículo el derecho Lucas Harrell
(3-3, 4,09). Después del encuentro los fanáticos están invitados a presenciar los fuegos artificiales al compás de la
música de los Beach Boys.
El segundo juego de la serie se realizará el sábado con un comienzo de 7:10 pm. El duelo de lanzadores será entre dos
derechos, para los azules lanzará Chad Billingsley (2-3, 3,91) y para Houston saldrá al montículo Bud Norris 95-1, 3,14).
Antes del juego comenzando a las 5:30 pm los fanáticos están invitados de desfilar dentro del campo de juego con sus
perritos, es el único día de la temporada que pueden entrar al estadio con su mascota. El precio de la entrada por cada
mascota será $26 dólares.
El tercero y último juego de la serie con Houston está programado para el domingo comenzando a la 1:10 pm. Antes del
juego están invitados a la celebración Viva Los Dodgers, que es una celebración a la cultura Latina en Los Ángeles, donde
habrá música, juegos para niños, estará el ex campeón de boxeo Víctor “Vicious” Ortiz, quien peleará el próximo 23 de
junio en el Stapple Center contra Josesito Lopez, firmando autógrafos. También estará el ex jugador de los Dodgers Al
‘Bull” Ferrara y muchas sorpresas más. El duelo de lanzadores está pactado entre el zurdo de los Astros J.A. Happ (3-3,
4.96) y el zurdo de los azules Chris Capuano (6-1, 2,50)
El lunes día feriado los Dodgers comenzarán la serie de cuatro juegos contra los Cerveceros y el juego comenzará a la
5:10 pm y los famosos perros calientes (Hot Dogs) de los Dodgers costarán solamente un dólar. Todavía no se dio a
conocer el duelo de lanzadores.
Todos los juegos de la temporada regular de los Dodgers se pueden escuchar por la KTNQ 1020 AM Univision Radio, con
las voces del doble Salón de la Fama y la voz oficial de los azules por 54 temporadas, el ecuatoriano, Jaime Jarrín y la voz
romántica de Pepe Yñiguez, en su decimaquinta temporada con el equipo y con los expertos comentarios, del ídolo
zurdo mexicano Fernando Valenzuela en su décimo año.