Month: September 2021

Sep28-30: Final week, last 2 series. Gotta sweep both. Will the Padres lay down for us or for the Giants?

Game 1- Dodgers face old friend Yu Darvish. Leadoff back to near back doubles by Mookie and Trea, to score 1. Trea advances to 3B, but then gets in a rundown half way to home on a grounder to 1B by Muncy — another running blunder by Trea (should have stayed at 3B). Dodgers get lucky though when Manny throws a slider into RF after tagging out Trea, and Muncy goes to 3B anyway. 2nd, JT leadoff walk, AJ out, G Lux hit. Buehler to sac bunt, but appears reluctant and takes a K (bad AB). Mookie swings 3-0 for a foul (not sure I like that), then takes a walk to load ’em up. Seager in a big AB flies to CF, leaving 3 on. 3rd, Trea leadoff infield hit, JT gets his 2nd walk, and AJ comes through again with a long single to plate Trea. Pads IBB G Lux to lead ’em up again, only to have Buehler K again to end it. (7 LOB through 3!) 2-0. 5th, Muncy leadoff walk. Smith K looking. JT long lash caught in RF. WP Max to 2B — RISP. AJ (BA at .300), gets pitched around for a walk. 2 on, 2 outs for G Lux, who chases a high one and flies meekly to LF (10 LOB). 6th, Seager walks with 2 outs, and Trea gets his 3rd hit. Muncy again leaves him on — on a K. Dodgers get 1 on in 8th, and a surprise PH by Belli for 3rd out on a grounder. Trea got half the Dodgers’ hits and was the only one to score. The rest of the team not hitting, except Lux. Dodgers left minions LOB and RISP — exasperating waste of opps.

Pitching: Hoping Buehler is back — and he is. No hits through 4, then an infield hit in the 5th, erased on a DP. 6th Buehler gets 2 on, 1 out, then another around the horn DP. Still 2-0. Walker still in there in the 7th. Gives up an oppo chopper down 3B line for a double after Trea misses the tag (did 2 things wrong), but makes up for it with an over the shoulder catch of a popup. Buehler great 7: 0R, 3H. Kelly dominant 8th. Treinen makes one mistake — belt high to killer Cronenworth for a solo splash. Now a 2-1 nail biter. Treinen makes an outstanding pitch to K PH to end the game — a 2-1 win.

Game 2- With Scherzer on the hill one would expect another low-scoring game, but a slugfest breaks out. Dodgers score a whopping 4 in the 1st, on a pair of doubles, single, and 2-run homer by hot AJ. They tack on an additional run in the 2nd on another Seager double to drive in Mookie. But then the Padres unexpectedly come back on 2 homers to cut the lead to 5-3. Then 5-5 in the 4th, when the Dodgers go 1-2-3 (after unexpectedly letting Scherzer hit for himself — mistake methinks), and go in order again in the 5th. Infield hit by CT3 in the 6th stranded by Belli K (fans on yet another high fastball) and Pujols PH fly out.

Down 4 in the 7th, Mookie hits his longest home run of the season (421 ft) for a solo run. Down 3 with 2 to go. (And since the Giants won 1-0, looking grim.) Rinse and repeat in the 8th: Muncy hits a solo HR, for 9-7. But wait, there’s more: AJ blasts a solo too, for his 2nd HR of the game, for 9-8. Next, CT3 just misses it for long fly out. Oh My: ice cold Belli goes yard too (1st since Aug 12) — 4th solo HR in last inning+ — to tie the game at 9! Not done yet: JT PH double off the LF wall. Wait, there’s even more: Seager belts a 2-run HR for the 4th of the inning and an 11-9 lead! Who put ginger in the Dodgers’ tea party? Wham bam! Craziest game of the year? And not over yet.

Pitching: Scherzer sails through 2, but gets roughed up in the 3rd for 3 runs on 2 home runs (uncharacteristic). His pitches getting too much of the middle of the zone with not enough movement. Max Scherzer getting hit hard again in the 4th, giving up 4 hits (season high 9 total and only 1 K) but saved by a strike-em-out, throw-em-out DP (in spite of Smith’s throw tailing badly again). Still smacked for a ground rule double scores the 4th run, to make it only 5-4. Compounded by 2 bad Dodger errors on grounders, the 2nd one by Seager allowing the tying 5th run to cross. Max lost his command completely, and looks done — stick a fork in him (and the Dodgers). Ugly 5-5 tie through top of 4th. Max finally gets it back for a clean 5th. But gets hit hard again in the 6th, capped by a long triple for a run to CF that Lux should have caught — it landed in his glove but bounced out when he looked for the fence too late. Gotta look for the fence early, find it, then catch the ball. Now Lux is hurt too (not just his pride) since he is not schooled in the art of “find the fence” (poor guy).

Padres take the lead in the 6th 6-5 (ugh). Graterol finally makes an appearance in the 7th, but is done in by horrible pitch calling: Grat hit 101-102 with heaters on the corners (unhittable), but they have him follow with curves that he can’t control for 2 walks, and then 2 hangers for 3 runs! Game over at 9-5. Adding insult, Padres steal 2B on yet another bad tailing throw down by Smith (doesn’t he practice?). Then adding more insult, Smith gets crossed up on a high fastball for strike 3 that nails the plate umpire square in the mask. What high school is this? Price settles things down in a 1-2-3 8th. Jansen for the save in the 9th K’s the side on 10 pitches — unbelievable!

Game 3- Can’t top last night’s game, but here we go, right where we left off: leadoff back-to-back homers by Betts and Seager. That makes it 7 HR’s in last 11 AB’s! (Is that a record?) Trea gets a hit (16 straight games) but is caught stealing. 2-0 after 1. 1-2-3 in 2nd. Red hot Seager gets a 2-out double in the 3rd, but Trea flies out: 2-1. Dodgers’ home run derby continues in the 4th with 2nd pair of back-to-back homers, this time by JT and AJ (how alphabetic): 4-1. (All 5 runs in game via solo HR’s.) After a 1-2-3 5th, Dodgers score 3 in the 6th on a Trea infield hit, Smith and JT RBI singles, AJ sac fly, Belli RBI single: 7-3. In the 7th, super hot Seager goes yard again for his 2nd solo — last night he had 2 2B, HR; tonight 1 2B, 2 HR. 8-3.

Pitching: Catman Gonsolin starting and is good through 1. But Tony living in the middle of the zone too much and gives up a solo on a center-cut fastball. Then walks the pitcher (stupid to throw curves to him). But gets Tatis to end it at 2-1 after 2. 1-2-3 in 3rd. Tony tosses a good 4th, but serves up a gopher ball to NL HR leader Tatis who pummels it 467 ft on top of the LF pavilion roof! Gonso leaves in the 5th, up 4-3, replaced by Graterol (what is Roberts thinking?). Knebel goes a clean 6th, but in the 7th gives a walk and is replaced by Kelly, who walks Tatis but K’s Manny. Evan Phillips hurls a clean 8th, and does same in the 9th.

Dodgers win 8-3. Sweep the Padres (for the 3rd straight time!). Win #103, to keep pace with Giants (still 2 back). Dodgers hit 5 HR’s tonight, after 6 last night = 11 total in 2 games. Seager and AJ hit 3 each.

Sep 28-30: Dodgers face their new nemesis Pads in a critical series with only 6 games left and 2 games back of the Giants.

Sep 24-26: Dodgers return to play their cousins whom they should beat like a drum. Dodgers need a sweep.

Game 1- Betts leadoff hit, Seager BB, but TT hits into DP in the 1st. Will Smith leads off 2nd with a double (19th), driven in by a nifty slash hit by JT. Boy are we happy to have AJ back: he clobbers one deep into the LF bleachers for a 3-0 lead. In this inning, even pitcher Gonsolin gets an infield hit, only to be erased by Betts on a DP. 3 flies up in the 3rd. in order in the 4th. Still 3-1. Of course G Lux leads off 5th after making a great catch for a DP. But bats are silent again. 6th gets leadoff double by Trea, 1B by Muncy but Trea doesnt read it well and stops at 3B. Smith hits a nice sac fly to score Trea for 4-2. 7th: Beaty PH lines to deep CF. Mookie out. Seager lines into the RF corner for a triple! (With 2 outs need caution trying for 3B — better make it.) Trea strokes a chopper for 3rd out. All important 9th, as the Dodgers look for that elusive insurance run. Top of the order goes 1-2-3 (Trea fans on a bad chase).

Pitching: Gonsolin gets his 3rd start and is shaky in the 1st, as he offers up a center cut fastball that gets smashed to deep LF. No worry, AJ is there to snag it on a well timed leap against the fence. (However, AJ should have found the fence first.) Not so lucky in the 2nd, as Calhoun leads off with a solo HR (belt high fastball). But then Gonso settles down and avoids the middle of the zone to get 2 K’s. Tony very good in inning 3. He gives up a hit in the 4th, followed by a long fly to deep RCF sprinted down by a fleet Lux to amaze us all — including the runner who got doubled off. 5th gets a K on a WP and runner reaches 1B. Grounder that should have been a DP gets only one out at 1B due to the shift leaving no one to cover 2B (mistake!). Run cashed in on a hit (shame), so now 3-2. Yet another WP (really wild) moves tying run to 2B, but Tony escapes on a K (and done on only 67 pitches). Vesia for the 6th: K, double and walk, so 2 on. Vesia gets troublesome Calhoun to fly out for 2nd out, and finally a K on a 95 heater. Still 4-2. Treinen gives us a scare in the 8th: 1 pitch away from loading the bases with 2 out vs. troublesome Calhoun again, but fans him on a high 93 cutter. (I wanted 97.) 4-2 in the 9th: Jansen for the save — please! Kenley goes up and away to 2 lefties (normally good approach) but they both manage to slice the ball in the air to LF, now occupied by CT3. And a very good thing, as CT3 uses his speed to make 2 great catches, including an all out dive (makes up for his whiff with bases loaded). With 2 out, Kenley tosses a wipeout slider for a fan and the ballgame. Dodgers lucky to hold on for the 4-2 win, as the bullpen hurls 4 more shutout innings.

Dodgers remain 1 game behind Giants (99 wins to 100 — unreal).

Game 2- oy oy. Dodgers sleepwalking through this game. Nothing doing on offense until a solo jack by Trea in the 6th, but that is all. Along with sloppy defense. How does the worst team in MLB embarrass the Dodgers like this? Trea Turner gets a pass on his 2nd solo jack of the game in the 9th. Dodgers lose 7-2 and deservedly so. Bad night.

Pitching: Kershaw not a good showing either — seems all the Dodgers drank the same Kool-ade. Marte homers on 1st pitch! A bad sign. Kershaw gives up 4 runs and is lifted in the 5th for Graterol. But the 4-0 lead does in the Dodgers tonight. To make matters worse, Roberts throws in the towel by bringing in Evan Phillips in the 8th only to see him surrender 2 extra runs, so now 7-1 — game over.

Game 3 (rubber)- red hot Seager and Trea go back to back in the 1st for a 2-0 lead. red hot Seager goes mile high club with a 464 ft solo blast for 3-0. Then Dodgers hit the usual mid inning drought, so still 3-0 in the 9th. Big problem is the bottom of the order can’t get a hit with men on base (0-9 with RISP). AJ got hit on his hand by a pitch — hope he is OK (we need him).

Pitching: Urias goes 5 shutout innings (yay, back on track). Bruihl for the 6th, Kelly the 7th, Knebel the 8th — all shutouts. Jansen for the save, gives up a hit. But then stupid give the runner 3B. Okay, we hold on for the 3-0 shutout and take the series.

Notes:

1. Dodgers get their 100th win for the 9th time in their storied history.
2. Both Dodger middle infielders, Seager and Trea, get their career 100th home runs in the same game!

Sep 21-23: Dodgers travel to the Rockies to begin the final fortnight of the season — 2x 3-game series at home and away. Dodgers will send their amazing 3 hurlers to the mound: all 3 have >=14 wins. Dodgers have placed Belli on 10-day IL and replaced him with Luke Raley (oh no — a regular 0-fer).

Game 1- Dodgers start Raley in RF (drat, I will pencil in his 0-4) instead of CT3 (why?). And the fans cry, “Why not Beaty?” I’d even take McKinstry. Dodgers go out in order 1st 3 innings (0-9), then 1st 2 out in 4th. Figures 1st hit in the game would be an infield bleeder (by Trea). Muncy 0-fer the road trip. (0-9, so why’s he batting 4th?) With 2 gone in 5th, Dodgers finally come alive with hits from G Lux and Hot Hand Luke, with Urias driving in the RBI! Dodgers finally on the scoreboard, and have runners cornered for Betts, who goes Baltimore chop for an infield single and RBI — ties the game at 2. Trea leadoff hit in 6th, followed by a Muncy 413ft mash off the wall for a double, scoring Trea on his signature slip-and-slide — to take a 3-2 lead. Muncy takes 3B on JT fly to RF. Rox bring the infield in, but to no avail, as RBI man Smith cashes in the run on a long fly to RF corner — extends lead to 4-2. (Dodgers had only 1 hit through 4, but got 6 hits the next 2 innings, good for 4 runs.) Now tied at 4, Dodgers need to score in the 8th, with 2-3-4 at bat. Seager grounds to 1B. Trea lines it back at pitcher who fly swats it down for out 2. Muncy caught looking (ugh). Better produce runs in the 9th, but did not — even though G Lux got yet another hit, but was thrown out trying to advance to 2B on a WP! We go to the 10th: Lux on 2B to start. Tio Albert to PH (vs a RHP!) goes hard up the middle (a veteran play) to plate Lux for the winning run. Pujols POTG, as Dodgers hold on (exhale) for an exhausting 5-4 win.

Pitching: Urias efficient in 1st on only 6 pitches, and very good in 2nd-3rd — perfect through 3. Julio falters in the 4th to give up 2 runs on a pair of doubles. Leadoff double in the 5th. Balk on a flinch. Great snatch on 1-hopper by Trea when infield was way in. (I would play them half way in the middle, up at the corners. A K. Flyout — runner stranded. 6th is usually Julio’s downfall — gives up a leadoff hit. Next a sharp grounder up the middle snagged by shifted Trea, but no one else to cover 2B, so throws to 1B (runner to 2B). A 2nd RBI double to CJ Cron, for 4-3. Back-to-back double on a pop fly that just eludes Lux on a dive, so game tied at 4 runs on 7 hits for each side after 6. Urias loses win opportunity, and puts kibosh on his Cy (sigh). Kelly starts the 7th with a walk and hit (oh no). K on a bunter. Infield fly for 2 outs. What’s the Story? 0-3, but gets a walk. Out goes Kelly for Treinen, with bases loaded, 2 outs. Blake battles the heck out of nemesis Blackmon and gets the swing and miss on the 9th pitch, a 98 heater, to preserve the tie after 7. Blake cleans up the 8th. Jansen for the tie-save in the 9th, walks the leadoff hitter (ugh). Rox try to bunt runner over, and fail, but a little WP off Smith’s heel moves runner up anyway. A flyout, runner holds at 2B. And now for another Story (AB). Kenley trying to make Trevor chase, but no bite and he walks (OK, 1B open). But now we face nemesis Blackmon. Long fly to RF, back goes Raley and … makes the catch (breathe). We go to extras! Graterol for the 10th (guess Roberts wants to go with gas over finesse, being in Colorado). Brus gets 2 outs, buts walks the 3rd hitter — 1st and 3rd. Replaced by Vesia, who induces a fly out to CF — ballgame! (I’m surprised the Rox didn’t try a double steal, as the Dodgers are known to be poor on steals.)

Game 2- Facing all-star pitcher Marquez. Trea with a hit in 1st. Smith and G Lux on base in 2nd with 1 out, but Raley (good 0-fer replacement for Belli) and Buehler K. Seager on in the 3rd, but a rare GI DP by Trea. In the 4th, hot G Lux strokes another one into LCF, this one for a run scoring double to open the scoring. Hot Hand Luke unexpectedly thumps a 2-run homer to CF, and the Dodgers lead 3-0. Now behind 5-3 in the 5th (that’s Colorado), Mookie leads off with a walk (very close call). Seager single the other way. TT walks to load ’em. Muncy walks for a run, and that’s all for the all-star Marquez. JT strokes a sac fly to RF, to plate the tying run, but Trea gets picked off 2B when the throw goes there instead of home (big gaffe). Smith chases for a K and last out. 5-5 in the 5th, but 6-5 in the 6th. Raley and Lux out, then we get to see AJ as a PH (yay, he’s back!) ground out. Top of the order in the 7th. Mookie rakes a 1-hopper short-hopped by Story. Seager smash snared at 1B for a pitcher covering out. TT follows suit with the 3rd hard grounder, to 3rd, to end 7th. Now down 10-5 in the 9th, appears hopeless. Dodgers send up a parade of PH’s to no avail, and lose 10-5.

Pitching: Buehler clean 1st. Pitches go belt high in 2nd for a long fly out and another double off the wall by CJ Cron, followed by another long fly out to CF, Cron taking 3B — stranded. In the 4th, Rodgers ambushes 1st pitch for a solo HR. 2 straight hits follows. Then a pop fly falls that should have been caught by Trea (no help on call!) for bases loaded, no outs. McMahon strokes the 5th straight hit for 2 runs to tie the score. Another long fly, for an out (on another high fastball). But pitcher Marquez hits a 2-out double to score 2 more runs for 5 in the inning, and Walker comes out for Bruihl. 5-3 Rox (and no W for WB). 5th, Bruihl hits Blackmon to put 1st 2 on, and replaced by Graterol. Brus’ lasers are center cut and gives up back to back singles for a run (6-5) and bases loaded, no outs. Lucky liner is snagged by Seager for 1st out. Slider for K, 2 outs. Laser at 102 for called K, and leaves ’em loaded (whew). 6-5. Knebel clean in 6th. Vesia in 7th, after a collision at 1B with Blackmon, also surrenders a double to CJ Cron (4th of series!) on a belt-high fastball (stop that!) to score Blackmon for 7-5. Ouch: Sam Hilliard of all people bangs a 3-run homer for 10-5 and ballgame. Apparently the collision hurt Vesia enough, and he is replaced by Evan Phillips (who?), who ends the inning, and gives a clean 8th.

Game 3 (rubber)- Must win. Dodgers get the return of AJ, who will play LF today. Dodgers inexplicably move Lux to CF and leave Mookie in RF (?). 1st: Dodgers get 2 on, 2 out, and leave it up to the #5 hitter (critical spot), cold Muncy, who works the count 3-0 but is green lighted to pop up (ugh). AJ leads off 2nd by banging a double (great to have his bat back), and he is cashed in by a Barnes (!) single. Hot G Lux should be batting higher than 8th, and he continues his hot hitting with a single. Scherzer struggles to even bunt and almost pops up foul, but K’s, while Barnes and Lux pull off a double steal (close). Betts K, but Seager comes through big with a pop fly hit to drive in both runs — 3-0. Seager and Trea leadoff 5th with hits, but all erase on a DP by Muncy. Dodgers sleep through 6-7, but awaken in 8th for a run on another double by AJ to cut lead to 5-4. The fateful 9th, down a run — season on the line. Dodgers show some life and get 2 on, 2 out via singles by Betts and Seager (4th hit), with game on the line for Trea — boom, a base hit to score the tying run at 5! Clutch. And we go to extras again. In the 10th, Mighty Mad Max comes through with a mighty blast to deep CF for a 2-run homer, and the ballgame! A 7-5 win in 10.

Pitching: Mad Max Scherzer takes the hill, and throws a clean 1st. 2nd, gives up a leadoff hit to face killer Cron, who also singles. Then a double for a run! Why can’t Dodgers pitchers adapt to Colorado? All 3 games of this series our top 3 pitchers struggle — with location and movement. Yay, Max gets a chase K — do more of that and don’t throw in the middle. 2nd-3rd with 1 out, fly to LF for AJ, who makes a crisp throw home to hold the runners. Max only has to take care of the pitcher, but Freeland lashes a liner to LFx to drive in both runs and tie the game at 3. Just like yesterday. More bad in 5th: a 2-run homer to Tapia for 5-3. Max replaced by Kelly for clean 6th. Bickford gives up a hit in 8th and is replaced by Bruihl, with runners at 2nd-3rd and 2 outs, gets a K to end the threat and preserve 5-4. Jansen a clean 9th, to get the game to extras.

Sep 17-19: On the road again. Reds needing wins for WC berth, while Dodgers need to gain a game on the Giants.

Game 1- Both pitchers on their game. Mookie laces a leadoff double that 1-hops the RF wall, and after 2 K’s, Seager walks. JT lashes a grounder to SS for the last out. Dodgers can’t hit Castillo’s changes, and go out in order in the 2nd and 3rd with 6 K’s total. 4th a little better: Seager gets a hit but JT another hard grounder to SS, with Seager moving up. Will Smith K’s for 2nd time. Belli leads off the 5th getting called out on ball 4 (bad call). With 2 outs, Walker lives up to his name. Mookie sharp groundout to end it. 6th, Muncy out but #6 Trea singles up the middle, followed by a beat the shift infield hit by Seager. JT and Will go 2 flies up. Now 3-0. Dodgers really need to score this 7th inning, but 7-8-9 coming up. Belli gives up the 10th K after going 3-0. Beaty a hit (yay) to knock out Castillo (finally) — Castillo ended up with 10K’s. CT3 to PH gets long fly caught, ditto for Betts. Dodgers have 2-3-4 up in the 8th, but go 1-2-3 (K, 4-3, long fly to deep CF). Last chance 9th with 5-6-7. 1 on, 1 out with Belli grounding out on a rare hit-and-run . Down to last out, with Beaty hit clutch single to score Smith and at least defeat the shutout. Last dance with Pujols PH who lines out to CF. Dodgers lose 3-1.

Pitching: Buehler looking sharp, matching Castillo with 4 shutout innings. Walker establishing command with his fastball at 97, and mixing cutters and curves. Has given up 1H, 1BB through 4. Scoreless into the bottom of 5, Buehler surrenders game’s 1st run on a leadoff double to ex-Dodger Kyle Farmer and an RBI single. 6th, 1-out single by Catellanos on a center cut fastball. Hot Votto slashes a single to RF on another center cut fastball. 2 on, 1 out for “Moose” to popup foul for 2nd out. Walker only goes 6 (95P). Farmer gets a hanger and strokes his 2nd double to LF to score 2: 3-0. Knebel for the 7th with K-K, but then dishes a center cut fastball to India for a loud lineout to leaping Seager. Graterol out of witness protection for the 8th gives up a hit, a flyout (snag by Belli), sharp grounder by Votto diving stop by Trea to throw him out. Pop foul ends it. Still 3-0 to the 9th.

Game 2- Another scoreless game until the 5th. JT hits a double for 2nd-3rd, and G Lux hits a huge triple to score 2. Lux scores on a safety squeeze by Betts for 3-0. Dodgers tack on 1 in the 6th, with Trea scoring the 4th run. Dodgers get some traffic going with 2 outs in the 9th, as Barnes walks, Pujols PH infield single, Mookie RBI hit for 5-0.

Pitching: To the Max, as Scherzer strong again. A little trouble with command of his slider and change, Barnes calls for curves that get him back on track. Max hurls 7 shutout innings on only 2 hits. Joe Kelly cleans up the 8th. Vesia in the 9th gives up 2 long flies and then walks Votto, a long fly off the wall for a single by Moose for 1st-3rd. Farmer hits a slow roller to Seager for the last out — but wait, Corey lobs it into the dirt and Muncy can’t scoop it — E6 and unearned run for Reds. Roberts panics and brings in Jansen to close it. Dodgers hold on to win 5-1, as a reversal of its game.

Game 3- Rubber game. Dodgers wake up on a Sunday morning and feast at the altar of the long ball. In a series with no home runs by either team, the Dodgers bang 3: Smith, Lux, Seager (so much for lefties can’t hit LHP). After just 3 innings, twice through the lineup, the Dodgers have more runs (6) and hits (8) than either of the weekend games. They have 4 batters with 2 hits each (2 of the HR hitters and Betts, CT3). G Lux has 3 RBI. But as happens half the time, Dodgers score early and rest. Unexpectedly, the Dodgers bust out for 2 runs in the 9th, to go up 8-4.

Pitching: Kershaw back for his 2nd start after IL. Kersh induces a DP followed by a backfoot slider K in the 2nd, and also finishes the 3rd on a swinging K for 0R, 2H through 3. Kersh gives up a double in the 4th for a run on a WP and an out, but finishes the inning with his 6th K on a high fastball (!). Now 6-1. Gonsolin takes over the double starter game in the 6th and gives up a run for 6-2. Gonso was left in too long, and gives up another 2 runs for 6-4. Roberts then sends in the marines (yay) with Treinen and Jansen to shut it down — save a solo jack by PH Votto (good for him!). Dodgers hold on for an 8-5 and series win.

Sep 13-15: Dodgers need a sweep of this NL’s worst team. But they have been Snakebitten this season.

Game 1- Dodgers leadoff with a Mookie double (love it!). Gotta score him. Muncy moves him over on a warning track fly. Up to Trea, who works count full and walks. Cleanup is Seager who smacks a sharp grounder through the shift to drive in the 1st run. Trea takes 3B. 2nd Turner comes up and rakes a double to left, scoring both runners standing up: 3-1. Batting 6th — oh no, not Belli again: weak out (#2). G Lux gets a turn: comebacker to end it. Dodgers strand a pair in the 2nd (Kersh swinging bunt hit, Mookie walk). Seager and JT chase the high cheese for K’s, Belli fly out, in the 3rd. G Lux still hot with a leadoff single interesting he 4th. pop fly falls in for Barnes, sac bunt by Kersh, to get 2nd-3rd with 1 out. Mookie sac fly to RF barely scores Lux (good hustle!). But wait, upon review umps reverse call — unbelievable! He was clearly safe (terrible call!). Still 3-1. Hot G Lux 2nd up walk. Barnes feasts on a hanger to bang into LF corner and score galloping Lux (this time!) — once again 4-1. Beaty PH gets HBP. Mookie another long fly out moves Lux to 3B, but now 2 out. Then they Max out on a high pop. Dodgers keep squandering, which can bite you in the end. Dodgers bat 3-4-5 in the 7th, and play 2 flies up, and then bombs away solo by JT (his 25th) for a 5-1 lead. Belli given 2nd life on a botched foul pop ropes a double into the RF corner (long time coming). Dodgers leave them cornered. In the 8th, Mookie HBP, Muncy another long fly out to the track in LF. Trea finally gets a hit to corner the runners again, but Seager strands them (3 un.). Still 5-1 going to the 9th, as the Dodgers leave 145 LOB (so it seems).

Pitching: Great to have Kershaw back on the mound. He is a little rusty in the 1st, giving up a hard double and a single on an ill-advised 0-2 pitch (that should never happen!) for a run. Belli bad throw lets runners move up to 2nd and 3rd. Kersh holds. 2nd: base hit, sac bunt, K to end it — curveball looking good (no sliders?). Kershaw very efficient into the 3rd. Hanger banger long fly to LCF as Lux and Belli collide — Lux holds on to it. (That should never happen! who coaches these guys? sloppy.) Kershaw gives up a 2-out double in the 4th, but ends the inning with a K on his best slider — and final pitch (44). Great 1st outing for the K-man. But wait, Roberts weirds out by bringing Kersh out to start the 5th, only to pull him after one pitch (and 1 out) — give him a chance for a fan ovation. Bickford finishes the 5th leaving a man on 2B. 6th, Vesia gets into some traffic (hit, BB) but pitches very well out of it with K’s. 7th setup goes to Knebel. After a K, ouch — 4-pitch walk, into the heart of the order. Marte blasts a high fastball to deep RCF that Belli tracks down on the track (whew). Flyout. Still 4-1. 8th for the hold goes to — wait, Mitch White? Why White? He’s hit hard but at ’ems for 3 outs (we were lucky). Jansen on paternity leave, so the closer is Treinen — wait, no, it is still White. High cheese K on Beer for 2nd out. Long fly ends it. Dodgers win 5-1.

[comment on Belli’s stance change: first, what took so long? Dodgers wait 5.5 months to suggest a change to Belli’s swing or stance? really? I have been suggesting for 5 months that Belli keep his hands higher, don’t drop the barrel, and don’t lunge or collapse his stance. his stance adjustment just takes care of the last item. Belli needs to be forced to hit the other way — beat the shift, and hit inside the ball. pulling the ball into the shift is useless, no matter how hard he hits grounders. but dropping his hands and the barrel makes him miss high fastballs constantly, or at best pop up.]

Game 2- Muncy gets an unlikely double to RF. Trea follows with an even more unlikely double poked down the RF line. Sad that D’Back’s rookie 1B hurts his arm diving for the ball and has to leave game. Seager in the Turner sandwich, walks, but runners are left on: 1-0. Dodgers get 3 runs in the 3rd: 2 on a Muncy mash, 1 more on throwing error (no wonder D’Backs are worst team), but 1st-3rd threat is ending by Belli hitting into a DP (sad): 4-0. Trea turns on one for a solo in the 5th: 5-0. Will Smith solo’s in the 6th for Dodgers’ 3rd HR: 6-1. Dodgers recover 2 of the 3 runs surrendered in the 7th by loading the bases on 2 walks and a hit, followed by back to back sac flies (JT and Will): 8-4. Good to see Pujols get a PH chance and single in the 8th. Mookie is due (1-4) but grounds into a DP.

Pitching: Gonsolin making another start looks great in 1st, with 2 K’s and in order. Gonso gives up no hits through 3, then a leadoff hit in 4th is left on via deft pitching. Tony also gets through the 5th, with totals of 0R, 2H. Relieved, Dodgers pay the Price for a run in the 6th, on 2 hits and a double. Price K’s last 2 to hold on for only 1 run. Bruihl is ambushed by Dodger killer Marte for a 3-run homer in the 7th (uh oh) — cuts the lead to 6-4. Treinen efficient in the 8th. New daddy Kenley for the 9th, with a clean inning. Dodgers win 8-4.

Game 3- Dodgers go down in order in 1st, but score 1 in the 2nd on 3 hits and a walk to load the bases for Urias to hit into a DP. (Maybe they should have had Julio bunt for a safety squeeze — at least stay out of a DP.) 3rd: Muncy single but throw out stealing! Walk to Trea, who steals 2B on a very close play, but is left on. Dodger 3rd JT leads off with a hit, followed by a Smith double. 1 run scores on a Belli ground out, and another on a G Lux single. Mookie cranks a long fly to LF that is robbed of off the fence to end it. So Dodgers re-take the lead at 3-2. Leadoff rope into the RF seats by Muncy again (34th) for 4-2 in the 5th. Dodgers load ’em up with 2 out but G Lux leaves them. Dodgers tack on a run in the 6th for 5-3. Pujols PH leads off the 8th with a sharp 1-hopper to SS. Mookie finally on board with a double. Steals 3B. Muncy shallow fly, Mookie should have tried to score but held (would have made it). Trea should bunt for a hit to score the run, but fishes for a K. No runs.

Pitching: Urias going for his 18th win. Retired side in 1st. One left on 1B in 2nd. Ugh Urias: gives up 2 runs in the 3rd after allowing a free steal of 2B with a runner also at 3B, then gives up the predictable hit for 2 runs (instead of 1). Urias good through 5 (2R, only 76P), but inexplicably gets pulled! Bickford gives back a solo jack to trim lead to 4-3 in 6th. Vesia for the 7th was sailing along until gamus interruptus by fans on the field for a 10-minute delay. Vesia was visibly thrown off, and his first pitch hit poor Gavin Smith on the elbow painfully. Vesia replaced by Kelly for the final out. Still 5-3. Treinen for the hold in the 8th facing 2-3-4, starting with Ketel Marte who has been tough on the Dodgers. Marte works the count full and walks on strike 3 (should have been). Karma gives Dodgers an eraser: DP. But then another walk on a full count, and more good karma as a liner is caught by Trea to end the 8th at 5-3. Jansen for the save, and he sparkles a nearly immaculate inning, K-ing the side. Yay, Julio gets his 18th W.

Off day tomorrow — traveling to Cincy.

Sep 10-12: This was supposed to be the final battle for 1st place in the West, only the Padres did not show up with a valid ticket. Padres find themselves in the role of a spoiler yet battle for a wild card. We are all so happy Dodgers finally listened to us about the awful, weak bottom of our order with Belli, McKinney and Sousa — and finally brought up Beaty (yay!) and even Gavin Lux for LF.

Game 1- Quiet 1-2-3 1st, although Muncy hit a long fly flagged by Tatis at the RF wall. 2nd, Dodgers get the fabled 2 on, 2 out with slumping CT3 on the snide for a K. Muncy gets revenge in the 3rd by launching a 428 ft moonshot (32nd) for 2 runs: 2-0. So happy to have Will Smith back in the lineup: he bashes a double high off the wall in LCF in the 4th, moves over on a WP, and scores on a sac fly — 3-0. 6th sees Dodgers get 2 on, 1 out (again) with Lux now on the spot. Gavin has a good AB: works the count full and ropes a liner, but it is caught. Then Freaky Friday breaks out as the throw by Profar goes far into LFx, allowing both runners to move up. So Padres IBB CT3 to load the bases for Urias. I think I would have PH for Julio, but he K’s (can’t hit that curveball) to leave ’em loaded. Still 3-0 after 6. In the 8th, Dodgers sure could use an insurance run, but go quietly. But because of the shutout, the Dodgers still win with only 3 runs on all of 4 hits — with the Muncy HR and Smith 2B accounting for all 3 runs.

Pitching: Urias to the rescue? So far so good through 2 — no score. In the 4th, CT3 makes a sprawling catch in CF to save the inning as clean. 4 shutout innings (remarkable Julio). Urias survives Machado in the 5th with a perfectly executed long fly rescue (find the fence!) near the top of the LCF fence by CT3 to save a double. That is 5 shutout innings by Julio yet again. He usually tires in the 6th, but he survives, after giving up a double (almost another great catch by CT3, who got his glove on it but had a bad angle to hold on). Urias stuns us by taking a 3-hit shutout through a clean 7th — first time in who knows when. Now Treinen for a high leverage hold vs. top of the order in the 8th. A pair of 2-out hits puts runners at the corners. Obvious that Tatis at 1B would go, so I would have pitched out and thrown him out to end the inning. (Why don’t the Dodgers ever do that?) So Treinen has to face Wil Myers with 2nd and 3rd. Blake appears to strike him out twice on check swings that were denied (bad calls), then proceeds to make him really chase a wicked slider to end the 8th still 3-0. Jansen for the save. Kenley again curiously is the only pitcher ever to intentionally balk a runner over to 3B, after allowing the runner to steal 2B without a blink. (Again, I would have pitched out and thrown him out — to end the game!) Kudos to Urias to get his MLB leading 17th win (you know what I mean).

Game 2- What’s Belli doing back in CF? The cat has 9 lives. Why isn’t Beaty starting? Roberts has some explaining to do. Dodgers bat only 3 in 1st after leadoff hit by Mookie is erased caught stealing as Muncy K’d. 1-2-3 in 2nd. Belli (!) leads of the 3rd with a walk, and scores (barely) on a double by Lux. (Coach Ebel likely sent Cody with no outs because the pitcher was up next.) Buehler sac bunts Lux to 3B, and he score on a sac fly by Betts — 2-0. But now 2-2, with 3-4-5 coming up in the 4th: Turners sandwiching Seager, but no club here — retired in order. About to be retired again in the 5th, G Lux goes deluxe with his 2nd hit — to just get Buehler out of the way, but surprise: Walker does that on 4 pitches. So pitching change, with 2 on, 2 out. 1st pitch: gone! Wow, Mookie blasts it into LF bleachers for a 3-run job (his 20th) and a 5-2 lead. (Could be ballgame.) the 6th sees another Turner sandwich, with same meh results. 7th has a leadoff walk by Will Smith. Roberts lets LH Belli bat, who hits a DP ball to 2B, but avoids the DP on a low throw. But Roberts then drives us mad by PH Souza for Lux after Gavin has 2 hits! So Souza completes the DP to end the inning (ugh!). Dodgers out in order in the 8th, ended by frustrated Muncy called out on a low pitch (bad call). Odd statistics: Dodgers have 0 LOB! Mookie and G Lux get all 4 hits and all 5 RBI.

Pitching: Buehler takes the mound after one of his worst ever starts and retires side in order in the first, gives up a hit in the 2nd, and retires the side in order in the 3rd. Walker appears to have good command of his pitches this time (good location and movement). After a hit to Manny, Buehler inexplicably throws Tatis a cookie on the first pitch for a homer to tie the score at 2. Hosmer follows with a double to LF that Lux has a misadventure on, but gets left on (lucky liner to Betts). Buehler better in the 4th, but does give up his 4th hit. Manny gets a leadoff double (why do they pitch to him?), then stupidly takes 3B on a grounder to 3B with now 2 out (against baseball rules). But Manny is left on, so still 5-2. Buehler goes on the hill for the 7th and gets a 0 after a good running catch on a roped liner in RF by Mookie (again). Treinen for the hold in the 8th. Frazier leads off and steals 2B. Manny (2-3, 2B) strokes his 3rd hit for an RBI to cut lead to 5-3. Tatis up as tying run. Blake tries to keep Manny close by throws over, but he easily steals 2B. Tatis get his 3rd hit to drive in Manny for 5-4 (!), and the Dodgers compound it by letting Tatis take 2B on the throw home. Tying run at 3B with 1 out. In comes Joe Kelly to brilliantly K 2 batters on wicked sliders. Jansen for the save at a slim 5-4 lead. First 2 batters out, 1 more to go — top of the order. Called strike 3! Dodgers hold on by skin of teeth for a 5-4 win, and Buehler finally gets win #14.

Game 3- After 1st 2 games where Dodgers got only 4 hits each game, let’s hope the offense gets going. And let’s hope Roberts plays all our best and hottest hitters, so Betts and Lux for sure. And indeed, they play, along with Souza for Belli to face LHP Snell. But alarmingly, Blake Snell pulls a groin in the 1st and is replaced by a RHP, Chrismatt (Merry?). With 2 out, Trea pops up to shallow CF and it falls. Of course Trea steals 2B (27th to lead NL). Turners are back to back in the lineup today, and JT lines to Manny. In the 2nd, Will Smith belts a long fly headed to the top of the LF fence that is snagged on a leaping snow cone by Pham. (Would have been over the fence with the old ball.) G Lux leadoff single in 3rd that Manny playing him in RF tried to throw him out at 1B but threw wildly. Scherzer can’t hit, can’t bunt, K’s trying. Mookie and Muncy out meekly. Scoreless into the 4th, when a Seager special solo blast makes it 1-0. Dodgers then load the bases on 3 walks with 2 outs, including a PH by Belli for Souza and an IBB to G Lux to get to Scherzer, who bounces out. Mookie leads off the 5th with another solo blast for 2-0 (and his 21st). Dodgers get a 3rd run in the 6th, and then wham — a doubling of the score to 6-0 on a 3-run blast by a dormant JT — game over. Or should have been. Padres roll out their headhunter who proceeds to hit 3 batters almost in a row and almost beans Trea — to load the bases on owies and score 2 more. Note: Belli finally gets a hit, a double to RF (Bronx cheer?).

Pitching: Scherzer on the hill, pitches an immaculate 2nd (9 pitches, 3K), along with 2 more K’s to retire side in the 3rd — to close in on 3,000 K. Max perfect through 4, getting Manny to pop up. 5th leads off with Tatis, who blasts a hanger to deep CF: back goes Belli to catch it a step from the fence. (Whew! but he could have played it better.) Max still perfect after 6 after fanning PH Marisnick! 1st pitch of 7th lofted high and deep to RF as Mookie fights the sun to make the catch. Flyout to LF. Here’s Manny! A loud foul; count goes full, and tension mounts. Max goes with curve that Manny hits off the end of the bat for a soft comebacker. Perfect through 7! Tough hitters in the 8th: Max gets Tatis, but leaves a change over the inner half to Hosmer for a double — end of no-no and perfecto. Maxx finishes the 8th and is replaced by Bruihl in the 9th to complete the 1-hit shutout.

So Dodgers hold on for an 8-0 bruising of the Padres for the sweet sweep.

Sep 6-9: Labor Day special today as we move on to St Lou. Giants at Rox, so we stand to lose a game to them as they sweep. Tio Albert returns home for this long season.

Game 1– A Labor Day special day game (3pm local time). Leadoff greatness as Trea gets a double. Followed by hits from Muncy and Mookie, but JT hits into a DP scoring the 2nd run (OK). Walk to Seager followed by a mighty blast from slumping CT3 for 2 more runs. 4-0 in 1st! (Bet we don’t score again.) Yay, we do score again (3rd): Mookie walk + error to 2B; Seager hit to score Betts. Now 5-0. But all is quiet on the Dodger front through 8. As predicted, Dodgers sleepwalk through rest of the game, getting only 2 hits after the 3 in the 1st.

Pitching: Max gets greeted with a leadoff double on an elevated change (not a good start). But he does his thing striking out 2 to leave the runner at 3B (after a WP that Barnes should have blocked). Scherzer clean through the 3rd. Leadoff hit by Goldie in 4th, but Max very efficient, ending the inning on 9 pitches total. And another quickie in the 5th. There is some traffic in the 6th, and Cards score 1 on another WP that Barnes should have blocked. Max has an easy 7th. So 5-1 through 8, with Max at 1R, 6H, 13K(!). In comes Kelly to close it, and he goes a nice 1-2-3 (rare). So Dodgers take an easy opener 5-1.

Game 2- Who gets rested today? Muncy and Mookie (M&M — why both? Put them on a milk carton?) Who got called up? Steven Souza Jr for McKinstry, who I feel wasn’t given a chance. But why start Souza in place of Mookie? Tio Albert goes yard (679) in 1st for a 1-0 lead. Cards tied it in the 2nd 1-1. 3rd: Trea gets a 1-out double with a slip-and-slide (extends hitting streak to 14), but is stranded by JT and Tio. 3rd: Dodgers string together some hits for 2 runs, including a double from unlikely Souza — 3-2 Dodgers. 4th: JT pokes a solo (his 22nd) inside the LF foul pole — 4-2. 6th: Cards now Happ-less as pen enters. CT3 K on bad chase. Will Smith goes solo (his 23rd) on yet another high fastball, thank you. Souza chase K, Belli tap out (literally?) — 5-2. Out in order in the 7th. Will Smith goes 4-4 in the 8th on his 3rd infield hit (!). But nothing else. Dodgers content with 5-2 lead. Belli weak hit into the shift (0-4 again). Mookie PH grounder. Trea 2nd hit of game. Surprise: JT smacks 2nd HR to deep CF (Dodgers’ 4th HR): 7-2.

Pitching: Bullpen vs Happ. Opener Knebel (again) gives up 1 on a double and sac fly. Newbie Evan Phillips OK in the 2nd. Phillips in 3rd gives up a double with 2 outs. CT3 makes a nice scoop but throws way off; should have gotten the runner. Cards cash that in on another hit to CT3, who charges but makes an awful throw home (cutoff). After 3rd straight hit, Phillips is replaced by Vesia, who fans Carpenter on 3 pitches (yay). 2-1 Cards. 4th is no runs from Shane Greene, after a double and good play at SS by Seager. Now 4-2 Dodgers. 5th brings in 5th pitcher: Bickford, who gives up O’Neill’s 3rd hit, but gets flies from Arrenado and Molina. 6th, now 5-2, sees 6th pitcher: Graterol, who has easy breezy inning. Next up, in the 7th, our 7th pitcher, Joe Kelly: side in order. Next up, in the 8th, our 8th pitcher, Treinen: leadoff walk, K of Arrenado in long AB, K of Molina (another great slider), cold Carpenter delivers a room service fly out. Jansen was warming up, but now 7-2 so he sits and in comes rookie and new callup, Neftali Feliz. Dodgers record of 9 pitchers in 9 innings! Pop foul; long fly out; base hit (hanger); ground out. Game over: 7-2.

Game 3- Vs old slow pitch Wainright, the Dodgers are baffled. 1st: Trea K; Muncy 1B; Mookie 1B; Seager off the LFwall scoring Muncy but Betts is out at home; Smith lineout to P: 1 run. Dodgers retired on 5 pitches in the 2nd. 3rd: 2K and a groundout by Muncy. Dodgers go in order in the 4th and 5th, in all 13 in a row until Muncy bombs his 31st to cut the lead to 4-2. Dodger bats quiet until the 9th, when they score 2 to cut the lead to 1, but alas, lose 5-4.

Pitching: Mitch White back for a start. Gives up 2 leadoff hits, then doesnt pay attention to the runners and they double steal. Gets a K, then a hard 1-hopper to SS, but Seager chose not to throw home (why not?) so game is tied. But then the crusher: Molina hits a 2-run HR, so now 3-1 (still in the 1st!). Maybe White will settle down? 2nd starts with a dribbled comebacker, but White has a brain cramp and lobs the ball into the back of the runner. But that’s all. White K’s the side in the 3rd. White gives up 1 more run in the 4th on a Molina double, WP and a hit. White leaves after 5 innings, down 4-1. Followed by Graterol in the 6th, the Dodgers go into their pitcher per inning mode, but do shut down the Cards.

Game 4- Dodgers yet again decimate their lineup (JT sat y’day) by sitting a hot Smith, Seager and Taylor — in favor of weak Belli, Souza, McKinney and Barnes (pencil in some 0-fers). Also swap of Trea and Betts 1 for 3. Dodgers score 1 early and then fade. But fun that JT leads off the 6th after making a diving stop in the 5th (baseball maxim). But after Turner comes the Roberts surrender offense of Belli, Souza, McKinney and Barnes. Finally, in the 7th, we get some PH: CT3 for McKinney (F-9); Barnes out (6-3); Pujols for pitcher gets walked; Betts ends the inning (FC6-4). Dodgers go quietly in the 8th (boo). Last chance 9th down 2-1. Why not PH Seager for Belli (awful- pops up)? At least Seager PH for Souza but K’s. CT3 K’s, ending a dreadful 2-1 loss with only 4 hits (doubles by Max and Trea, singles by Betts and Trea).

Pitching: Gonsolin is back, and goes 3 with 1R/3H (pretty good). Usual opener Knebel is used for a good 4th (1BB). Reliable Bickford gets the top of the order in the 5th, and gives up a homer just barely clearing the LF fence to O’Neill. (Maybe CT3 catches that ball, but not Souza.) Now 2-1 Cards. Vesia K’s the side in the 6th. Joe Kelly in the 7th hangs a 2-seamer (at only 95) for a leadoff hit. Balks him to 2B. But ends the inning on a short fly to RF where Souza (why not Mookie?) makes a lumbering awkward sliding catch. Jansen hurls a 1-2-3 8th. Let’s hope we pitch a 9th. Not. Terrible to lose a game when you give up only 2 runs.

Sep 3-5: BIG time series — teams tied with exact same record (unusual). Will not matter too much unless there is a sweep.

Game 1- Already off to an odd start: Dodgers’ listed starter Price not starting (he has issues), so another dreaded bullpen game. Don’t get why hot AJ is not starting, but cold Belli is in his place. 1st inning Dodgers get 2 on 2 out, as JT takes a very close 3-2 pitch for a walk. This is why the #5 spot is so important, and it is Seager there, but only whiff on 2 straight changes (fool me twice?). McKinstry early PH (for Knebel) K. Trea gets a 9-pitch walk and works his way to 3B, but gets stranded in the 3rd. Nothing doing in 4th and 5th, but we do send up our 2nd PH for our RHP: McKinney fly out. Dodgers bring up 2-3-4 in the 6th: we need to score! 7th gets a leadoff walk. grounder-force, flyout and then a predictable Belli K. Bad on Roberts for not PH for Belli — with anyone, including AJ, Barnes, Pujols — but no. Dodgers still a goose egg (sad), with only 2 innings left. 1-2-3 in 8th, in spite of a good swing by PH AJ (should have hit for Belli) for a long fly to CF run down in the gap by Slater. Now for all the marbles in the 9th — last chance, down 1-0. Dodgers bring up 3-4-5. Betts grounds out. JT clutch hit for Dodgers only 4th hit. Seager follows with another clutch hit, a double — 2nd and 3rd, 1 out. Here comes clutch Willy, but unfortunately his hard hit is right at 2B, who throws home, getting JT in a rundown. JT is run all the way back to 3B, but Seager moves up to 3B — both runners standing on 3B. We all know the rule, but apparently JT doesnt, and almost is doubled off to end the game! Down to the last breath, CT3 clutches a blooper to tie the game, Seager scoring! Now for extra fun, finally we PH for weak Belli — with Pujols, who grounds out. Now tied at 1-1 in the 9th — what else.

Pitching: Dreaded bullpen game Opener is Knebel. Leadoff hit (not a good sign). K (good sign). Popup, groundout (good). Good through 2 (2H, 0R). Next up Bickford for the 3rd. He starts off with 2 walks (ugh!), then a hit to load them, and is replaced by Vesia. He also hurls a cookie for another hit and 1st run of series (on an 0-2 count — a sin). But redemption on a great K of Bryant, followed by a rope to deep CF flogged by hot Crawford but luckily flagged by a fleet Belli. Damage limited to 1 run (we’ll take it): 1-0. Vesia gone too. In comes Graterol in the 4th: leadoff double (ugh!). Advances on groundout. K of patsy pitcher — 2 gone. Leadoff is rough Ruf (not a dog LOL): comebacker for 3rd out. Enter our 4th pitcher in only the 5th: Shane Greene (maybe we could use Shawn Greene LOL). K, groundout (nice play by Seager), but then 2 walks. Out goes Greene for LHP Bruihl to face LH hot Crawford (I can’t watch). But nice job and Craw grounds into a force — no runs. Roberts runs out our ace early, in the 6th, and Treinen gets us out of the inning — but not until Belli appears to make a shoestring catch but overturned to a trap (correct call). Blake gets the next guy to end the 6th, and he goes 1-2-3 in the 7th. Still 1-0. Now tied 1-1 in the 9th, in comes Jansen, who throws 6 straight balls (dumb pitch calling — not 1 cutter) and walks 1st 2. But Kenley guts it out somehow getting 2 flies and a groundout (not overwhelming).

And we go to extra innings, tied 1-1 — how appropriate. Runners placed at 2B. For the Dodgers, unfortunately it is Pujols, who gets moved over on a long fly by AJ. Roberts goes with a pinch runner for Tio: Buehler. Trea gets the clutch sac fly to go ahead 2-1. Barnes PH single for Kenley, gets WP to 2B. Mookie works the count full and walks: 2 on, 2 out. JT grounds out. So 2-1 to the bottom of the 10th. Dodgers have no one left to bring in as their 9th pitcher, save yet another late acquisition: Andrew Vasquez who hasn’t pitched in MLB since 2019. Giants leadoff with hot Crawford, who works the count full and then pounds a grounder through the middle to tie the game. Worse, is the lame Dodgers don’t cut the throw, so Craw takes 2B as the winning run (oh no) — could cost the game. Grounder gets Craw to 3B. Gutty Vasquez K’s Yaz for 2nd out. Winning run 90 feet away. Giants go with a PH, so Dodgers answer with yet another pitcher (10th of the game and 39th of the season), newly acquired: Evan Phillips, who comes in and blows away the PH Casali on a sweeper.

So now we go to the 11th, completely exhausted and bereft of pitchers and players, tied 2-2. They even had to put Will Smith at 1B for Pujols (for Belli for Muncy). Seager leads off with his 4th hit, and Dodgers have them cornered with no outs. Smith hits it hard but right at SS Crawford who goes home to tag out JT (who I wish would have been sent home on the Seager hit). 1B and 2B with 1 out, up to bat is CT3 (9th inning hero). Whiff, 2 outs. Oh no, Dodgers have no one left to PH, so they send up the relief pitcher Phillips (crap!). Dodgers completely waste 1st and 3rd no outs. That ought to cost them the game. Dodgers have no one left but me, to write their epitaph. Giants bat top of the order, with Ruf on base 4 times, but a swing and a miss for a K. LH hitter BB gets the IBB, to bring up Kris Bryant (0-4). Walk to load the bases. Liner/hopper snagged by Seager at SS who throws home for a force and 2nd out. Just have to get by killer Posey. He strokes it sharply to the 4 hole, snagged by Trea who rifles it to Will Smith at 1B, but a tad high barely pulling Will off the bag, but he struggles to get a toe back on. After review, still ruled SAFE — game over. Giant win 3-2. Oh my goodness. (The game had to end sometime.)

Game 2- Dodgers need a comeback win after last night’s exhaustion. And Trea gives them a liftoff with a leadoff solo blast (16th of his career). Dodgers go on to score 3 total in the 1st, but Urias gives 1 run back (could have been worse). Looks like a typical Dodgers game where we score early then try to hold on. But good that they tacked on 3 more runs late (8-9th), last run on a solo jack by hot Seager (3+ hits last 2 games). Hot AJ gets a double, but pulls a hamstring trying to steal 3B. (Reports it is a grade 2 pull, so AJ is likely gone for 3-4 weeks — such a shame.)

Pitching: Urias pitched out of a lot of traffic, giving up only 1 run with 8K’s in 6.2 innings. His relief shutout the Giants: Vesia, Bickford, Treinen, Graterol. (Much more efficient than the 11 pitchers used last night.) Dodgers get a big 6-1 statement win.

Game 3– Rubber game meets the road. Dodgers in their ugly new dress blues. Difference early is both teams get 2nd and 3rd with no outs in the 2nd, but Dodgers leave them (CT3 popup, Belli K, Buehler K), while Giants get a triple for 3 runs. After the 2nd batter homer by Belts, it is now 4-1 Giants after 2. Dodgers get a leadoff hit from Trea and move him to 3rd, with Mookie on 1B with a walk, but 2 outs. JT flies out, and we leave ’em again. Dodgers load the bases in the 5th with 2 outs, Will Smith up. 1st pitch to the backstop, but ricochets right back to the catcher (weird), so runners hold. Count goes full and wow, what a close call for ball 4. Mound visit. 1 run in and CT3 up — K. Settle for only 1 run: 6-2 (missed critical opportunity yet again). Dodgers limp in order in the 6th. Dodgers send up 2-3-4 in the 7th, but go 1-2-3 (ugh). 8th again goes 1-2-3, including a Smith smash 1-hopper diving snag by Bryant to throw him out. Sleepy Dodgers limp into the 9th. 1 on, and Pujols to PH — wham bam! Tio slugs one into the bleachers (Dodgers only XBH of game) to give the Dodgers a modicum of momentum and a 2-run deficit at 6-4. After Trea flies out, Muncy comes up being 0-11 for the series, but comes through with a hit. Tying run to the plate in Mookie. He works the count to 2-2 when ump makes BAD call for strike 3 on a ball 4 inches inside (boo!). Last chance with JT, who lofts a foul fly down the RF fence that is snatched just off the screen by Yaz. Oh my, fitting end to a fitting series — close all the way. At least the Dodgers show some fight and make it interesting at the end.

Pitching: Dominant Buehler anything but. Balls being laced. Low fastball to Belts in 1st goes 419 feet for a homer. Belt high and in cutter to Duggar gets roped into RF corner for a triple (Mookie seemed to take his time). Never pitch belt high to anyone, or to a “happy zone” (for lefties it is down and in). Buehler still getting ripped in the 3rd, seems lost — too many pitches in the middle of the zone and not enough movement. Cutter mediocre; curve nowhere to be seen. Now 6-1 on 7 San Francisco hits through 3 (reverse score of yesterday). Kiss this game good-bye, along with Walker’s Cy Young (sigh). Buehler lifted after 3 with 6 ER. Bruihl a solid 4th and 5th, with a nice snatch by Muncy on a hot shot to 1B. Also a masterful bunt hit by an ageless Crawford that hits 3B to beat the shift, but he is caught stealing (Dodgers first since I don’t know when). Giants leadoff in the 6th against Price with a drag bunt hit by Yaz (wow, impressive, and shows why the Giants keep winning). Followed by a double for 2nd and 3rd no outs. Another weird play as Seager trips over the runner on 2B while catching a popup near the bag, complicated by Trea getting in the way too. (Should have been called by a 3rd party, usually the pitcher directing traffic.) IBB to load the bases, 1 out. Another popup, 2 outs. A hit here breaks the game open. Belt up, and rips a grounder up the 1B line snagged by Muncy, and the Giants also leave the bases loaded. Price starts the 7th, but is replaced by newbie Shane Greene. 2 on, 2 outs, catcher Casali makes final out. Still 6-2. Newbie Andrew Vazquez hurls a clean 8th. So the Dodgers bullpen shuts out the Giants again! But too late, as the 6 runs had run out the Buehler door.

Odd play in the 4th when a DP grounder to Trea isn’t: Trea makes a rookie mistake going after the runner instead of throwing to 2B for a possible DP. Worse, Trea tags the runner with an empty glove, and the play is challenged. Turns out trea accidentally clipped the runner’s helmet with the ball in hand before throwing to 1B.

Series summary: Dodgers scored 2 more runs than Giants, but lost 2 out of 3. Maybe the Giants are just a tad more efficient at producing runs, especially with RISP. Both bullpens were very tough. Buehler was a huge disappointment (go figure). Belli cost us a lot of scoring opportunities by his K’s and popups with RISP. He has to be replaced in the lineup — by either of the Mc’s or Beaty (bring him back to replace AJ!).