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Dodgers' bats wake up

lrllreab — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:16:54 +0000

SAN DIEGO, May 17 (UPI) — Aaron Harang pitched seven shutout innings Thursday and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat San Diego 8-1.

Harang (3-2) limited the Padres to four hits while striking out six and walking none for the Dodgers, who split a two-game series with the Padres.

A.J. Ellis had two hits, two RBI and one run scored for the Dodgers, who got two hits, one RBI and two runs from both Andre Ethier and Bobby Abreu.

Adam Kennedy scored twice for Los Angeles, which had lost two straight after winning five in a row.

Edinson Volquez (2-3) took the loss, allowing five runs — three earned — on seven hits and three walks over five innings. Volquez struck out six.

San Diego lost for the third time in five games.

Gotta run!.

Dodgers Vs. Padres Final Score: Aaron Harang…

qumarquesmayn — Fri, 18 May 2012 11:04:22 +0000

Read More: Bobby Abreu (LF – LOS), Ted Lilly (P – LOS), Tony Gwynn Jr. (LF – LOS), Andre Ethier (RF – LOS), A.J. Ellis (C – LOS), Lance Lynn (P – STL), San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Dodgers at San Diego Padres, May 17, 2012 7:05 PM PDT

Aaron Harang pitched seven scoreless innings and was backed by a 12-hit offensive attack as the Los Angeles Dodgers snapped a two-game losing streak with an 8-1 victory over the San Diego Padres on Thursday night at Petco Park in the finale of a brief two-game series.

Harang allowed just four hits in his seven innings to pick up his third win of the season. Harang walked none and struck out six, and in his last two starts has allowed just one run in 15 innings. Harang even picked up an RBI single at the plate in the seventh inning, snapping an 0-for-42 skid that dated back to last season.

Bobby Abreu tripled, doubled, and scored two runs for the Dodgers, who are 7-2 against the Padres this season. Andre Ethier had two hits and scored two runs himself, and both A.J. Ellis and Tony Gwynn Jr. had two hits and a walk in the win.

The Dodgers improved to 9-9 on the road this season. Friday night they return home, where they are 16-4, to open a three-game weekend series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Ted Lilly starts the opener Friday for the Dodgers, facing Lance Lynn for St. Louis.

For more Dodgers news and notes, be sure to read True Blue LA.

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Dodgers-Padres Preview

cyracystef — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:01:20 +0000

After spending a few seasons as teammates, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Aaron Harang and San Diego Padres’ Edinson Volquez have settled in nicely to their new surroundings.

With Harang trying to build on a couple of impressive outings and Volquez looking to win a third consecutive start for the first time in four years, the NL-worst Padres aim for a season-high third straight victory and two-game sweep of the major league-leading Dodgers on Thursday night.

Harang (2-2, 4.46 ERA) and Volquez (2-2, 2.79), who played together in Cincinnati from 2008-10, have been welcome additions to their new teams.

Harang went 14-7 with San Diego last season before signing a two-year deal with Los Angeles (24-13), and he seems to be on track following a bit of a rough start. The right-hander improved to 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA in two outings this month after yielding a run and four hits over a season-high eight innings in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Colorado.

“I felt good. I felt like I was locating the ball well and I was able to keep them off-balance,” he said. “The defense was there to back me up, and these guys battled out there to the last inning and got us the victory.”

While Harang went 3-0 with a 2.60 ERA over his first four starts against the Padres, he’s gone 0-5 with a 5.84 ERA in his last seven.

Harang opened 2012 with two outings versus San Diego, during which he went 0-1 with a 5.91 ERA. He did, however, strike out a career best-tying 13 during a 9-8 victory April 13.

Acquired from the Reds during the offseason, Volquez is 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA over his last four outings – all Padres wins. The right-hander threw six innings of one-run ball Saturday to earn his second victory in as many starts, 2-1 at Philadelphia.

“Everything was working tonight,” Volquez, who hasn’t won three consecutive starts since May 7-18, 2008, told MLB’s official website.

Volquez is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in two starts against the Dodgers this season, allowing nine hits, nine walks and striking out nine over 10 innings.

The Padres (14-24) are coming off just their fourth victory in 20 meetings with the Dodgers, 4-2 on Wednesday. Clayton Richard threw seven strong innings and Chase Headley went 2 for 3 with a home run and three RBIs.

Three of Headley’s five homers and 11 of his 20 RBIs this season have come against the Dodgers, and he’s 6 for 18 in the last six meetings.

Continuing to play without injured slugger Matt Kemp, Los Angeles went 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position Wednesday and collected just five hits – its third-lowest total of the year.

“We’re not good enough to come down here and get (five) hits and think we’re going to win a game,” manager Don Mattingly said. “I don’t care what kind of record we’ve got, what kind of record they’ve got, you come in here and get (five) hits and don’t give yourself a chance to score, you’re not going to win.”

San Diego hasn’t won three in a row since sweeping Colorado on the road Sept. 19-21.

Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news.

MLB: Arizona 5, Los Angeles Dodgers 1

uebluecanada — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:20:24 +0000

Wade Miley held the Dodgers to one run over 6 2/3 innings in Arizona’s 5-1 win over Los Angeles Tuesday.

LOS ANGELES, May 16 (UPI) — Wade Miley held the Dodgers to one run over 6 2/3 innings in Arizona’s 5-1 win over Los Angeles Tuesday.

Miley (4-1) scattered eight hits and struck out five in the win, which ended the Diamondbacks’ three-game losing streak.

Miguel Montero and Jason Kubel both had two hits, an RBI and a run scored for Arizona.

Mark Ellis homered for the Dodgers, who had a five-game winning streak come to an end.

Chad Billingsley (2-3) took the loss, giving up four runs on eight hits over four-plus innings. Billingsley allowed a run in the second inning and then surrendered three in the fifth on RBI singles by Justin Upton, Montero and Kubel.

Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news.

Arizona Diamondbacks offense comes alive in win…

doandorajerr — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:03:59 +0000

by Nick Piecoro – May. 15, 2012 10:53 PM
The Republic | azcentral.com

LOS ANGELES – Shortstop Willie Bloomquist walked through the dugout as Kirk Gibson was talking to reporters Tuesday afternoon, and the Diamondbacks manager mentioned how much Bloomquist’s mentality reminds him of his own. Like Gibson when he played, Bloomquist is hard on himself.

Photos from the game | Box score | Twitter

“I can relate to him,” he said. “It’s almost comical that I’m the guy to tell him (to relax).”

But on Tuesday night it looked like the Diamondbacks finally did relax. For weeks, their lineup has been filled with hitters trying to make up for a bad month and a half with one big swing. But, on this night, at least, they seemed to realize that less is more.

In salvaging a split of this two-game series with a 5-1 win over the Dodgers, the Diamondbacks collected 13 hits. Only one went for extra bases.

They looked more measured, more composed in their approach at the plate. There were fewer out-of-control swings, fewer at-bats given away to over-aggressiveness.

The Diamondbacks have been saying for weeks that their offense will get back on track eventually. They’ve been saying it could be one little thing that might get them going.

Given the onslaught of singles, perhaps several little things will do the trick.

“They had a great approach,” Gibson said. “The guys have been loose here even though we’ve been going through tough times. They were loose all game today, and they got rewarded with some results. It feels good to win a game.”

With the win — just the Diamondbacks’ third in their past 13 games — they climbed to within 81/2 games of the Dodgers in the National League West.

Left-hander Wade Miley not only gave up one run in 62/3 innings, he also was involved in two different innings in which the Diamondbacks scored.

In the second, he reached base on a wild pitch after striking out to keep the inning alive. The Diamondbacks wound up scoring on a bases-loaded walk. He also singled to start the Diamondbacks’ three-run fifth.

The fifth belongs on an Internet dating site — it was nothing but singles.

After Miley’s single, Gerardo Parra lined a base hit into center. Bloomquist singled to left, loading the bases. Justin Upton hit a sharp grounder to the hole at short, an infield single that scored a run.

Miguel Montero and Jason Kubel followed with hits — the fifth and sixth consecutive singles to open the inning — giving the Diamondbacks a 4-0 lead.

“We executed a lot better,” Bloomquist said. “The big thing was getting the bases loaded and making things happen.

“It was certainly a step in the right direction. We had quite a few hits and were threatening virtually every inning to score. Not trying to look at the negative, but we left a lot of guys on base. The positive is we got a lot of guys on base.”

Miley made the lead stand. He gave up just one extra-base hit — a solo home run to Mark Ellis in the sixth — and scattered the other seven hits he allowed, getting a pair of double-play balls in the process.

He might not have made the Opening Day roster if not for an injury to reliever Takashi Saito, but he’s been important for the Diamondbacks as a starter and reliever. In five starts since moving into the rotation, Miley has a 2.35 ERA.

View from the press box

Wade Miley threw well Tuesday night, but his contributions at the plate might have been just as important. He not only started the fifth-inning rally with a single, but he also alertly hustled to first base on a third strike that got away from Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis. One batter later, the Diamondbacks drew a bases-loaded walk to score a run. “That’s just a little thing that probably won’t show up in the box score, but that’s what kept that inning going,” teammate Willie Bloomquist said.

Rewind

Walking home: The Diamondbacks broke out in the fifth inning thanks to six consecutive singles, but they needed a couple of breaks to take a 1-0 lead in the second inning.

With runners on first and second and two out, Dodgers right-hander Chad Billingsley got pitcher Wade Miley to strike out on a breaking ball in the dirt. Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis tried to block it, but the ball rolled away and Miley reached first on the wild pitch.

Gerardo Parra followed by drawing a five-pitch walk to force home a run.

Good indication: Closer J.J. Putz hasn’t had great location at times this season, and his velocity has dipped from previous years. Entering the game, he was averaging 91.8mph on his fastball, according to Pitch-f/x data. That’s a tick slower than his average last year (93 mph) and down more than 2mph from 2010 (94mph).

But he was throwing harder in the ninth inning Tuesday night, hitting 95mph several times, according to Pitch-f/x. The Dodger Stadium gun had him at 96mph.

Putz gave up a hit in working a scoreless inning.

Strike machine: A big component of Miley’s success Tuesday was his ability to throw strikes.

Of his 101 pitches, 72 were strikes. He walked just one batter in 62/3 innings.

“That’s how he’s been pitching all year,” manager Kirk Gibson said. “He’s got great tempo. You can tell (catcher Miguel Montero) and Wade are on the same page. He gets the sign and immediately starts into his wind-up.”

Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news.

5 Milestones in Brooklyn Dodgers History

lesslerjess — Wed, 16 May 2012 03:47:00 +0000

The Los Angeles Dodgers are a team with great history, and part of that history happened 3,000 miles to the east in Brooklyn, New York. It’s been many decades since the Dodgers left Brooklyn for Los Angeles after the 1957 season. However, there are still aging die-hard fans who remember the thrill of watching “Dem Bums”, and the sorrow they felt when the team went west. These milestones are from among those memories.

Back-to-Back Pennant Wins In Different Leagues

It hadn’t been done before and will likely never happen again. It was very early in Major League Baseball history when the Brooklyn Dodgers won both American and National League Championships. They won in their last year in the American Association in 1889. They moved to the National League in 1890, and won the pennant there in 1890.

Brooklyn’s Best Seasons Ever

In the decade before they moved to Los Angeles, the Brooklyn Dodgers had their best years. They took National League Pennants in 1941, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1955 and 1956. The downside was that they were beaten in the so-called Subway Series six of the seven games by the hated New York Yankees.

The Brooklyn Dodgers Moment of Historic Glory

Once more against the New York Yankees, the Dodgers entered the 1955 World Series with few expectations. To start, they had disappointing losses in game one and two.

The fans perked up when Duke Snider hit two home runs and Dodgers actually surged ahead by miraculously winning the next three games. The Yankees won game six, evening the series for game seven. It was a duel between Dodger pitcher Podres and Yankee Byrnes. Brooklyn managed to eke out a 2-0 victory for the only Series title in their history.

Jackie Robinson Breaks The Color Line

Until 1947, no African-American athletes were permitted in the Major Leagues by a kind of unwritten rule adhered to by the owners. Many great baseball stars had to play out their careers of meager pay and obscurity in the then-called Negro Leagues.

When Dodgers’ owner Branch Rickey brought Robinson to Ebbets Field, no one knew how the fans would react. As Robinson walked out for the first time to a chorus of typical Brooklyn boos, the moment was tense. Then, Kentucky-born Dodger shortstop Pee Wee Reese put his arm around the rookie’s shoulder, and the jeers turned to cheers.

Exit Brooklyn, Enter Los Angeles

The decision to move the team to the West Coast after the 1957 season ended the Brooklyn era. Ebbets Field stood empty for several years, and was torn down in 1960. The Ebbets Field Apartments were then built on the site. Across the street is the Jackie Robinson Intermediate School.

Freddy Sherman grew up in Philadelphia, which didn’t make being a Los Angeles Dodgers fan easy. He has lived in Los Angeles for twenty years, now able to follow the Dodgers openly and attends games frequently. You can follow him on Twitter -@thefredsherman.

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Los Angeles Dodgers promote former Great Lakes…

hieshidrola — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:24:01 +0000

LOS ANGELES — Former Great Lakes Loons Jerry Sands and Elian Herrera were promoted Monday, earning spots on the Los Angeles Dodgers major league team.

Herrera, a utility player, is the 14th Great Lakes Loon to reach the Major Leagues. Herrera saw spot duty with the Loons in 2007 and 2009, playing a total of 13 games.

Herrera, 27, is in his 10th minor league season. Herrera, who was hitting .358 in Triple A, who was promoted to replace Juan Uribe, who was placed on the disabled list.

Sands replaces Dodgers star Matt Kemp, who was put on the disabled list with a strained hamstring. Sands, who received two separate promotions to the Dodgers in 2011, was hitting .257 with a team-high 28 RBIs and seven homers.

In 2011, Sands hit .253 in 198 at-bats for the Dodgers, hitting four homers and driving in 26 runs.

Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news.

MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers 3, Arizona 1

tzbaltzellmill — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:57:10 +0000

LOS ANGELES, May 15 (UPI) — Clayton Kershaw hurled seven shutout innings and Andre Ethier homered Monday in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 3-1 victory over Arizona.

Kershaw (3-1), the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, stifled the Diamondbacks on four hits and three walks while striking out six.

The left-handed ace won for the 13th time in 14 home starts for the National League West-leading Dodgers, who notched their fifth straight triumph.

Josh Lindblom tossed a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen picked up his fourth save as Los Angeles took the first of a two-game series against the D-Backs.

Ethier’s solo blast in the sixth put the Dodgers ahead 2-0 while Mark Ellis and Adam Kennedy added RBI in the win.

Arizona starter Ian Kennedy (3-3) was saddled with the loss after yielding three runs (two earned) on six hits over six frames.

Aaron Hill homered for the skidding Diamondbacks, who lost for the eighth time in nine games.

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Dodgers Vs. Giants Final Score: Tony Gwynn Jr….

gdrogdenremo — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:28:35 +0000

Read More: Jerry Hairston Jr. (SS – LOS), Jamey Wright (P – LOS), Tony Gwynn Jr. (LF – LOS), Chad Billingsley (P – LOS), Tim Lincecum (P – SFG), A.J. Ellis (C – LOS), Scott Van Slyke (RF – LOS), San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers, May 9, 2012 7:10 PM PDT

The Los Angeles Dodgers rallied for four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning off Tim Lincecum to help defeat the San Francisco Giants 6-2 at Dodger Stadium Wednesday night in the final game of a three-game series between the two rivals. The key blow for the Dodgers was a bases-loaded triple by Tony Gwynn Jr. that turned a one-run deficit into a two-run Dodgers advantage.

Chad Billingsley had allowed two runs in four innings to that point, but was wild with four walks and had thrown 85 pitches. Manager Don Mattingly decided to pull his starter in favor of Gwynn, a move that paid off handsomely for the Dodgers.

“At that point, he’s at 85 pitches, it’s a 2-1 game. We’ve got a chance to score a run. At most he’s got one more inning,” Mattingly said.

Jamey Wright pitched two perfect innings, striking out three, for his second win of the season, and was able to bridge the gap to the back end of the Dodgers bullpen.

“We were able to grab that momentum there, and Jamey Wright came in and shut the door. His two innings were huge,” Mattingly said.

Scott Van Slyke, making his major league debut, picked up a pinch hit RBI single in the sixth inning to score A.J. Ellis, becoming the first Dodger in 51 years to pick up a pinch-hit RBI in his first major league at-bat.

“I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I’d be,” Van Slyke said. “Stepping into the box I wanted to get that first swing out of the way to calm my nerves.”

MRI results for Jerry Hairston Jr. showed a strained left hamstring that might land the utility man on the disabled list. The Dodgers will discuss what to do with Hairston on their off day Thursday, before the Colorado Rockies come to town on Friday. Hairston, who suffered the injury Sunday in Chicago, has missed the last three games.

“I’m holding out hope, but I want to be smart,” Hairston said after the game. “If it’s going to take 10 days to heal or 14-15 days, you’d rather take that especially this time of the year, than running the risk of blowing it out and missing two months.”

For more news and notes about the Dodgers, be sure to read True Blue LA.

That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

Dodgers defeat Lincecum, Giants

lesslerjess — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:18:49 +0000

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers beat Tim Lincecum again on Wednesday night.

But the 6-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium was nothing like their four victories against him last season, when Clayton Kershaw repeatedly edged the two-time Cy Young Award winner in a series of stirring pitchers’ duels.

Lincecum’s fourth-inning implosion allowed the Dodgers to overcome an uninspired start by Chad Billingsley and claim their second victory in the three-game series.

Pinch-hitter Tony Gwynn Jr. capped a four-run fourth inning with a bases-clearing triple and Scott Van Slyke drove in a run in his first major league at-bat, as the Dodgers improved to 20-11, including 12-3 at home.

Meanwhile, the Giants remained a mess. Closer Brian Wilson is out for the season, recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery. With Pablo Sandoval and Freddy Sanchez on the disabled list, the Giants fielded a lineup consisting exclusively of 20-somethings. They fell five games back of the Dodgers in the National League West.

Lincecum’s early-season problems persisted, as the diminutive right-hander raised his earned-run average to 5.89 by surrendering four runs in five innings. His record dropped to 2-3.

His fastball was more lively than it has been this season, as it sat between 90-93 mph. Entering Wednesday, his average fastball velocity was 89.8 mph, according to FanGraphs.com. His fastballs averaged 94.0 mph in 2008, his first full season in the majors.

The Giants don’t know why Lincecum isn’t throwing as hard as he used to, manager Bruce Bochy said.

But, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said, “The effectiveness doesn’t look any different to me.”

The Giants lost four of the five games Lincecum started against the Dodgers last season, but Lincecum’s ERA in those games was 1.83.

“It wasn’t like we were just knocking him around the field,” Mattingly said. “We weren’t scoring. He was a big hit away from winning those, too.”

Not Wednesday — and this was despite Billingsley pitching only four innings.

Billingsley threw 51 pitches in the first two innings. He threw 34 more over the next two before being removed for Gwynn.

Billingsley was charged with seven hits but limited the damage to two runs, a deficit his team was able to overcome in the fourth inning.

Andre Ethier started the charge with a double to right. He scored on a single by Juan Uribe.

That’s all for today.

MLB: LA Dodgers 6, San Francisco 2

lrllreab — Thu, 10 May 2012 12:01:54 +0000

LOS ANGELES, May 10 (UPI) — Tony Gwynn Jr. delivered a pinch-hit three-run triple Wednesday to help the Los Angeles Dodgers beat San Francisco 6-2.

The Giants were ahead 2-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth when Andre Ethier doubled off of San Francisco starter Tim Lincecum (2-3) and then took third on a single by Bobby Abreu. Ethier scored on a single by Juan Uribe, and Abreu and Uribe advanced on a wild pitch.

After James Loney struck out, A.J. Ellis drew a walk and Gwynn, pinch-hitting for Dodgers’ starter Chad Billingsley, drove an 0-2 pitch to right, putting LA up 4-2.

Billingsley went four innings for the Dodgers, allowing two runs on seven hits with four walks and five strikeouts. Jamey Wright (2-2) got the win, pitching two perfect innings in relief while striking out three.

Dodgers pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts.

In addition to the RBI single, Uribe had a double and scored twice for LA, which took two of three from the Giants.

Lincecum allowed four runs on eight hits with eight strikeouts and two walks over five innings for San Francisco, which lost for the ninth time in 15 games.

Lincecum drove in a run with a second-inning single.

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Gwynn's key triple helps Dodgers defeat Giants

meswomennorth — Thu, 10 May 2012 11:35:56 +0000

CBSSports.com wire reports
May 10, 2012

LOS ANGELES — Tony Gwynn Jr. had just gotten into the batting cage and was starting to take swings when he heard his name called as a pinch-hitter.

He worked the count against Tim Lincecum before roping a go-ahead three-run triple one inning after San Francisco’s Nate Schierholtz ran into a critical out that helped kill a Giants rally and the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers went on to a 6-2 victory Wednesday night.

“I was sucking wind over there,” Gwynn said about his sprint around the bases with little warm-up. “He left a couple balls up and he was missing with his spots a little bit.”

The Dodgers have won six of their past seven series at home heading into a day off Thursday before Colorado arrives for a weekend series.

Jamey Wright (2-2) pitched two perfect innings and struck out two for the victory.

“That’s a key right there,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. “His two innings were huge.”

Lincecum (2-3) gave up four runs and eight hits in five innings. He struck out eight, including NL home run leader Matt Kemp three times, and walked two in losing for the first time since April 16 against Philadelphia.

The right-hander extended his winless streak against the Dodgers to 0-4 dating to last season. The two-time NL Cy Young winner has been especially hard-hit in the first inning, but he got out of that having allowed only two hits.

“You got to force him to get the ball up,” Mattingly said. “He gets so many outs down in the strike zone.”

Kemp, who came in batting .500 in his 11 previous home games against the Giants, went 0 for 5.

The Dodgers struck for four runs in the fourth to take a 4-2 lead. Lincecum gave up a leadoff double to Andre Ethier and Bobby Abreu followed with a single. Juan Uribe drove in Ethier with a single to third that Joaquin Arias, who fell down before he could get off the throw to first. A.J. Ellis walked one out later and Gwynn cleared the bases with a drive into deep right field while batting for Chad Billingsley.

“It was nice getting through those first three, but dealing with that fourth wasn’t easy,” Lincecum said. “I didn’t put us in an easy spot. I just tried to pitch a little more aggressively and took my bullpen a little more seriously before the game as if it’s another inning.”

Buster Posey’s RBI single in the third extended the Giants’ lead to 2-0. Brandon Belt reached on a fielder’s choice grounder and Schierholtz singled him to second. Arias had a single to center, and Kemp charged the ball, throwing to second baseman Adam Kennedy for the tag on Schierholtz, who had rounded the bag and was tagged out before Belt could cross the plate.

“I read the ball in the gap and I thought I had a chance possibly to go to third, but I took one step too many and tried to get back, but he made a perfect throw,” Schierholtz said. “I was overaggressive, but that’s how I play the game. We’ve worked on going from first to third. It was just a lack of judgment on my part.”

The Dodgers recalled outfielder-first baseman Scott Van Slyke from Triple-A Albuquerque and he arrived minutes before the game began. The son of former major leaguer Andy Van Slyke got his first major league hit with a pinch-hit RBI single in his first major league at-bat in the sixth.

“My first at-bat I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I’d be,” he said. “As soon as I swung at the pitch, it was just another baseball game.”

Pitcher Aaron Harang walked past Van Slyke after the game and stuffed a towel full of shaving cream in his face.

“That burns,” Van Slyke said as he tried to remove the goop from his eyes.

“Got him!” Kemp shouted as he emerged from the shower. “That burns, huh?”

Lincecum drove in the Giants’ first run with a single to shortstop in the second.

Billingsley lasted only four innings for the Dodgers, allowing two runs and seven hits while striking out five and walking four. He slammed his glove down in the dugout after being yanked.

“I was mad at myself and I wanted to stay in the game,” he said. “I sort of beat myself up. Everything felt good, but my fastball command was kind of off. I fell behind the hitters and I wasn’t being aggressive when I should have been.”

Notes

The Giants lost their first rubber game of the season, while the Dodgers won their first.
Dodgers OF Alfredo Silverio, who was seriously hurt in an offseason car accident, had Tommy John surgery on his right throwing elbow and is out for the season.
Dodgers OF-1B Juan Rivera was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Wednesday with what the team called a significant strained left hamstring. Manager Don Mattingly said Rivera would be out longer than two weeks.
Dodgers INF Jerry Hairston had a MRI on his strained left hamstring after missing his third consecutive game. He said he would be evaluated either Thursday or Friday.
Giants OF Angel Pagan was held out of the starting lineup although he felt well enough to play. He had a cramp in his left hamstring while beating out an infield single Tuesday. Gregor Blanco replaced him.

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Los Angeles Dodgers' May Promotions: Fan's…

apcheaploboutin — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:15:00 +0000

Although I would really like to see the Los Angeles Dodgers offer a few free home games, as a gesture to the fans to make up for the two years of unpleasantness we’ve suffered under the reign of former owner Frank McCourt, the team hasn’t yet taken my suggestion.

The Dodgers do offer some cool promotions and giveaways for the fans. Here’s a look at what’s on the Dodgers promotional calendar for May:

May 11, May 18 and May 25 – Fireworks

After this (and every) Friday night game, fans at Dodger Stadium will be treated to a fireworks show.

May 13 – Mother’s Day Tote Bag

What better way to spend Mother’s Day than at Dodger Stadium with mom. Bring her and she’ll get a free tote bag, sponsored by Murad Skincare.

May 15 – Orel Hershiser Bobblehead

In this Tuesday night game against the Diamondbacks, fans will get an Orel Hershiser bobblehead, the second Dodgers’ bobblehead of the season. The team will release ten bobbleheads this season, all featuring Dodger greats. The Orel Hershiser bobblehead is sponsored by Coca-Cola.

May 19 – Dodger Stadium 50th Anniversary FanFest

The Dodgers FanFest presented by State Farm is a big event and has fun activities for the whole family, like a baseball carnival. The event will be held at Dodger Stadium Lot 6 and starts at noon. Dodger players, past and present will be on-hand for autographs along with rides and baseball-related games of skill.

May 20 – Kids Power Necklace

Fans attending this game against the Cardinals will get a power necklace, in this promotion sponsored by Wetzel’s Pretzels.

May 26 – Natural Balance Bark in the Park

This is one of the coolest events the Dodgers have all season. Dodger fans can bring their dogs to the game, and the team has a special dog section in the stands, complete with dog food and water. Then, after the game, canine Dodger fans (and their owners) get to walk around on the field.

May 27 – Kids Run the Bases

This is another great promotion, I think anything that gets you on the field at Dodger Stadium is a good thing. Kids under 14 can sign up to be able to run the bases on the field at Dodger Stadium after the game.

May 28 – $1 Dodger Dogs

For fans who love Dodger Dogs, this promotion sponsored by Dodger Dog maker Farmer John will feature them for $1. The game is against the Brewers.

May 29 – Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Bill Russell, Ron Cey group Bobblehead

Fans attending this game against the Brewers will get Bobblehead #3: “The Infield,” sponsored by State Farm. This bobblehead features four of the greatest Dodgers ever, Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Bill Russell and Ron Cey.

More from this contributor:

3 Great Dodgers Hall of Famers: Fan’s Look

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Los Angeles Dodgers rout San Francisco Giants 9-1

rmpermanlevi — Tue, 08 May 2012 10:27:18 +0000

LOS ANGELES — Throughout a dreadful defensive stretch early in the season, manager Bruce Bochy maintained the Giants would get better in the field.

They instead have gotten worse, and it continues to cost them.

The Los Angeles Dodgers took advantage of two key defensive mistakes to break open a close game and pull away for a 9-1 victory at Dodger Stadium on Monday.

A 1-1 game entering the bottom of the sixth inning turned into one of the ugliest defeats of the season for the Giants, in large part because bunts and grounders were kicked and thrown all around the infield.

Asked about the brutal defense, which was charged with three errors and misplayed several balls that were ruled hits, Bochy took a long pause.

“Well, it’s been ongoing,” he finally said. “I don’t think I’ve quite seen what we saw tonight. It looked like we skipped spring training.”

In the late innings, it often looked worse than that.

Bobby Abreu hit a one-out single in the bottom of the sixth off Giants starter Barry Zito and advanced to second when Juan Uribe drew a walk. A.J. Ellis’ double scored Abreu, and Uribe scored when Conor Gillaspie made a poor throw on Tony Gwynn Jr.’s bunt single down the third base line.

Another wayward throw cost the Giants a run in the seventh. Matt Kemp doubled and bolted for third when Juan Rivera hit a comebacker to Steve Edlefsen. The Giants reliever knocked the ball down with his glove but threw the ball

well wide of Gillaspie at third.

Kemp scored to put the Dodgers up 4-1, and against the Giants’ sputtering offense, that was enough to make a winner of Ted Lilly, who gave up one earned run and struck out six in six innings.

“I don’t know how many hours we put in on some of this stuff,” Bochy said. “(Defense) is like hitting — it’s contagious.”

Whatever bug is infecting the Giants’ gloves has shown no sign of abating. There’s no pill to fix this problem, and there might not be a Brett Pill or several other out-of-position hitters the next time the Giants take the field.

Before meeting with the media, Bochy met with coaches to discuss the lineup.

He said he’s leaning toward throwing his best defense out there Tuesday, even if it means starting left-handed hitters against N.L. Cy Young Award-winning southpaw Clayton Kershaw.

“That’s what we have to decide: What is our best defense?” Bochy said. “And you still have to score runs, too.”

That part didn’t come easy Monday night, either.

The Giants tied the game on Joaquin Arias’ RBI single in the top of the sixth, part of a banner night for the recent call-up. Arias tied a career-high with three hits, raising his average to .344.

But that would be it for the offense. After James Loney robbed Hector Sanchez of a two-run double in the top of the eighth, the Dodgers methodically tacked on five runs in their half.

The miscues continued throughout the frame. Buster Posey made an error at first base, and Gillaspie and reliever Travis Blackley miscommunicated on a bunt by Dee Gordon and failed to get the out.

Coming days after Pablo Sandoval underwent hand surgery and hours after Guillermo Mota was suspended for 100 games, the rough night was tough to take in the Giants’ clubhouse.

“We’re pretty beat up right now,” said Zito, who gave up three runs in six innings. “We’re just sustaining blow after blow.”

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