Daily Clips July 7, 2016

Transcription

1 Daily Clips July 7, 2016

2 LOS ANGELES DODGERS DAILY CLIPS THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2016 OC REGISTER: Marathon loss to Orioles leaves Dodgers pitching staff drained going into Hyun-Jin Ryu's return-j.p. Hoornstra Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw cleared to play catch; timetable for return remains under wraps-joey Kaufman Dodgers lineups: Clayton Kershaw cleared to begin throwing-joey Kaufman On deck: Padres at Dodgers, Thursday, 7 p.m.-joey Kaufman LA TIMES: Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw cleared to play catch; timetable for return still not public-andy McCullough Despite six hits by Chase Utley, Dodgers fall to Orioles, 6-4, in 14 innings-andy McCullough DODGERS.COM: LA falls to O's in 14th; teams combine for 36 K's-Jack Baer and Brittany Ghiroli Old dog, new trick: Utley has first 6-hit game-jack Baer Kershaw plays catch, is 'considerably better'-jack Baer Ryu faces Padres in first start since 2014-Jack Baer DODGER INSIDER: Yasiel Puig keeps connecting with community-erin Edwards First things first at Dodgers RBI PlayerFest-Erin Edwards Dodger bullpen, brilliant for so long, succumbs in 14 th -Jon Weisman Kershaw, Ethier, Anderson quicken recovery progress-jon Weisman Fifty years ago, Orioles gave Dodgers afternoon blues-mark Langill TRUEBLUELA.COM: Dodgers fall in marathon finale to Orioles-Eric Stephen Dodgers bullpen getting pushed to the limit-eric Stephen Corey Seager to participate in 2016 Home Run Derby, per reports-eric Stephen Dodgers vs. Padres schedule & probable starting pitchers-eric Stephen Jose De Leon strikes out nine in OKC victory-david Hood ESPN LA: Orioles outlast Dodgers 6-4 in 14 innings-associated Press Clayton Kershaw, rehabbing from disk herniation, cleared to catch-associated Press Grading Dodgers' early returns under Dave Roberts-Doug Padilla NBC LA: Orioles Outlast Dodgers 6-4, in 14-inning, Marathon Rubber Match-Michael Duarte

3 LOS ANGELES DODGERS DAILY CLIPS THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2016 OC REGISTER Marathon loss to Orioles leaves Dodgers pitching staff drained going into Hyun-Jin Ryu's return By J.P Hoornstra LOS ANGELES There were subtle hints that Wednesday s game never should have gone beyond nine innings. For the Dodgers, the hints weren t very subtle in their 6-4, 14-inning loss to the Baltimore Orioles. Pitcher Kenta Maeda pinch ran in the eighth inning. Another pitcher, Scott Kazmir, pinch hit in the 13th inning. Organist Dieter Ruehle played Take Me Out To The Ballgame during the seventh-inning stretch, and again during the 14th-inning stretch. By the time Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was ejected for arguing a low strike called by umpire Pat Hoberg in the 14th, there were almost as many security guards lining the field as fans in the front row. Jonathan Schoop s two-run double off Chris Hatcher in the top of the 14th provided the final score. Hatcher was also forced to bat for himself with the bases loaded in the bottom of the inning because the Dodgers had long since run out of position players. Hatcher, a former catcher, grounded out against Orioles closer Zach Britton to end the game. It s an extra-inning baseball game, a somber Hatcher said. They happen. And when they happen, there are consequences. The Dodgers already needed to make a roster move to make room for pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu, who makes his first start of the season Thursday. They ll re-consider that move after eight relievers threw 186 pitches in relief of starter Bud Norris on Wednesday. Pedro Baez was the Dodgers only reliever who didn t appear Wednesday, and he d pitched in the first two games of the series. Ryu maxed out at 84 pitches in eight minor-league rehab games, so anything more than a five-inning start against the San Diego Padres will be considered a nice bonus. This is definitely not a turn-key game, Roberts said. There s a lot of stress in there, I think, for everyone. Our guys competed. It was a long one. Generally speaking, the pitchers got the better of the competition. The two teams combined for 36 strikeouts, breaking a 20-year-old Dodger Stadium record. The Strikeout Meter on the left-field scoreboard ran out of room for K s. The Dodgers went 1 for 14 with runners in scoring position, the Orioles 2 for 11.

4 The haze of a 5-hour, 26-minute loss obscured a couple noteworthy milestones. Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley had six hits, a career high in his 1,660th career game. And rookie shortstop Corey Seager extended his hitting streak to 19 games with a double. Mark Trumbo hit two solo home runs, his major-league leading 25th and 26th. He also scored the Orioles first run after hustling out a pop-up that Seager lost in the afternoon sun. (That was at 12:32 p.m., when there were no shadows on the field.) Justin Turner s home run in the first inning off Kevin Gausman gave the Dodgers a 2-0 lead. The Orioles scored single runs in the second, third and fourth innings to pull ahead, 3-2. Luck turned in the Dodgers favor in the fifth inning, when Adrian Gonzalez dumped a weak hit into shallow center field in front of a charging Adam Jones. Seager and Utley both scored, giving the Dodgers a 4-3 lead and giving Gonzalez seven RBI in six July games. But Trumbo tied the score, 4-4, in the top of the sixth with a home run off reliever Casey Fien. The former Angel has five multi-homer games this season. Norris pitched five innings and left in line for his second win in as many starts since he was acquired from the Atlanta Braves. The right-hander, who pitched for the Orioles from , allowed three earned runs on six hits and two walks. He struck out five. The Dodgers blew a fantastic chance to take the lead in the seventh inning. With Dylan Bundy pitching for the Orioles, a single by Utley and a double by Seager put runners at second and third base with none out. But Bundy came back to strike out Turner, Trayce Thompson and Howie Kendrick, sandwiched around an intentional walk to Adrian Gonzalez. Again in the eighth inning, the Dodgers loaded the bases on an A.J. Ellis walk, a double by Utley and an intentional walk to Seager. Orioles pitcher Brad Brach then got Turner to pop up, ending the inning. The Orioles tried to force the issue in the 13th inning, when pinch hitter Joey Rickard singled with one out. Jones then lined a single into the right-field corner, but Rickard was cut down at home on a relay throw from Yasiel Puig to Utley. The Dodgers have played one longer game this year, a 17-inning win in San Diego on May 22. That game ended similarly, when the team with the most fatigued pitcher on the mound lost. It just happened to be the Padres; the Dodgers won, 9-5. This time it was the Dodgers. Hatcher, who d thrown two scoreless innings less than 24 hours earlier, was the sacrificial lamb. Six Dodgers played all 14 innings. They felt it, too. You d like to think physically, but sometimes it s mental at the same time, Seager said. To be locked in for that long, it s challenging for sure. Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw cleared to play catch; timetable for return remains under wraps

5 By Joey Kaufman LOS ANGELES Clayton Kershaw is already ahead of schedule. The Dodgers ace was medically cleared to start playing catch on Wednesday, the first step in his recovery from a herniated disc in his lower back. This is a little early, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. We re pleasantly surprised. This is good. Kershaw was placed on the disabled list last week after receiving an epidural shot from Dr. Robert Watkins, the club s back specialist, on June 29. The Dodgers have not publicly revealed a timetable for when Kershaw could return to the rotation and again declined to provide one Wednesday. But it has been expected that he will be out for most of July. He says his body feels considerably better, Roberts said. Hopefully we continue to move in that same direction. Through 16 starts, Kershaw is 11-2 and leads the majors in ERA (1.79), strikeout-to-walk ratio (16.11) and WHIP (0.73). Asked if the 28-year-old left-hander would make a minor-league rehabilitation start before he was activated, Roberts said no. As we get closer, we ll discuss it, but I don t see that happening, Roberts said. We ll see. Obviously with Clayton, we want him to be comfortable. And obviously it s also contingent on how long he s out for too. The last time Kershaw landed on the DL was in 2014, when he missed the first five weeks of the season because of an upper back injury. Before he returned that season, he made two rehab starts, one for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga and one for Double-A Chattanooga, which is no longer a Dodgers affiliate. The Dodgers don t plan to rush him back. We ve got to keep a close eye on him, Roberts said, because he s going to want to push it as much as he possibly can. PATIENT PUIG Since he came back from the disabled list two weeks ago, Yasiel Puig has snapped out of the slump that plagued him earlier in the season. In 48 at-bats since his return to the lineup, Puig has hit.320 with a.418 on-base percentage and.500 slugging percentage. He has hit two home runs. The at-bat quality is considerably better, Roberts said.

6 In his first 53 games this season, he hit.237/.283/.360. Roberts said he was most encouraged by Puig s plate discipline as of late, avoiding pitches outside the strike zone. There s really an intent to see the ball, Roberts said. It sounds academic and so simple, but with all the mechanics and scouting reports, it still comes down to seeing the baseball. When you see him in the batter s box, there s really an intent to just see the baseball and let his ability take over. Puig went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts in the Dodgers 14-inning loss to the Orioles on Wednesday. He entered the game in the sixth inning as a pinch hitter and remained in right field. His first strikeout highlighted one concern Roberts raised prior to the game: catching up to fastballs. He couldn t catch up to a 97-mph Dylan Bundy offering that resulted in strike three. A lot of the ball s he s hitting and driving are offspeed, Roberts said. So he s still gotta hit off the fastball. Sometimes I feel he s a little late or sitting soft in certain situations. ETHIER EYES RETURN It s possible that Andre Ethier, who has not played this season because of a leg fracture, could return to left field in a month. Roberts said Wednesday that he hoped Ethier could return in early August, going as far as referencing Aug. 2, when the Dodgers open a three-game series at Colorado, as a possible return date. Obviously he s got to go play games in the minors and play well and feel good and get him back here, Roberts said. Ethier recently began some light jogging and baseball activities such as throwing and swinging. The next step is to begin live batting practice. ALSO Corey Seager said he will participate in next week s Home Run Derby in San Diego. The rookie shortstop was named to the National League All-Star team on Tuesday. He has 17 home runs this season. Dodgers lineups: Clayton Kershaw cleared to begin throwing By Joey Kaufman LOS ANGELES -- Clayton Kershaw was medically cleared to begin playing catch Wednesday, the first step in his recovery from a herniated disc in his lower back. Kershaw was placed on the disabled list last week after receiving an epidural shot from Dr. Robert Watkins, the Dodgers back specialist.

7 The 28-year-old ace is ahead of schedule, according to Manager Dave Roberts. We re pleasantly surprised, Roberts said. The Dodgers have not publicly revealed a timetable for when Kershaw could return to the rotation and again declined to provide one Wednesday. But it has been expected that he will miss most of July. He says his body feels considerably better, Roberts said. Hopefully we continue to move in that same direction. The last time Kershaw landed on the DL was in 2014, when he missed the first five weeks of the season because of an upper back injury. Asked if the left-hander would see a minor-league rehabilitation start before he was activated, Roberts said no. As we get closer, we ll discuss it, but I don t see that happening, Roberts said. We ll see. Obviously with Clayton, we want him to be comfortable. And obviously it s also continent on how long he's out for too. On deck: Padres at Dodgers, Thursday, 7 p.m. By Joey Kaufman Where: Dodger Stadium TV: SNLA Did you know? Corey Seager s 19-game hitting streak is the second longest by a Dodgers rookie. THE PITCHERS DODGERS LHP HYUN-JIN RYU (2016 Debut) Vs. Padres: 4-0, 0.84 At Dodger Stadium: 11-7, 2.93 Hates to face: Yangervis Solarte, 2 for 3 (.667), 1 2B Loves to face: Melvin Upton, 1 for 7 (.143) PADRES LHP DREW POMERANZ (7-7, 2.65) Vs. Dodgers: 0-4, 4.39 At Dodger Stadium: 0-3, 4.20

8 Hates to face: Yasmani Grandal, 4 for 8 (.376), 1 HR Loves to face: Howie Kendrick, 2 for 11 (.182), 3 SO UPCOMING MATCHUP Friday Dodgers LHP Scott Kazmir (7-3, 4.37) vs. Padres RHP Andrew Cashner (3-6, 4.42), 7 p.m., SNLA LA TIMES Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw cleared to play catch; timetable for return still not public By Andy McCullough Clayton Kershaw wore a smile as he hustled into the dugout of Dodger Stadium on Wednesday morning. He had just completed what was his first game of catch as far as you know, he said, with a grin since he received an epidural injection for the herniated disk in his back on June 29. The Dodgers have not revealed a timetable for Kershaw s return, and are not expected to do so as he convalesces from his injury. But Manager Dave Roberts indicated the team had cleared him to throw a baseball ahead of schedule. This is a little early, Roberts said before Wednesday s series finale against the Baltimore Orioles. We re pleasantly surprised. This is good. For Kershaw, a long road lies between playing catch and facing major league hitters. But Kershaw has impressed the medical staff with his recuperation since the injection. He says his body feels considerably better, his back, Roberts said. So hopefully we continue to move in that direction. Roberts does not feel Kershaw will require a minor league rehabilitation assignment. That could change as Kershaw approaches a return. Kershaw has made clear his intention to hurry back from the disabled list. The Dodgers must make sure his pace is measured, Roberts said. We ve got to keep a close eye on him, Roberts said. Because he s going to want to push it as much as he can. Short hops Roberts hopes outfielder Andre Ethier (broken leg) could rejoin the team by the beginning of August. Ethier has not yet been cleared to take batting practice, but Roberts felt Ethier could improve enough to start playing games on a minor league rehabilitation assignment in the next two to three weeks. The Dodgers hope Brett Anderson (back surgery) will be back by the middle of August. Anderson has begun throwing bullpens after undergoing his operation in March. Corey Seager said he plans to take part in the home run derby on Monday at the All-Star game.

9 Despite six hits by Chase Utley, Dodgers fall to Orioles, 6-4, in 14 innings By Andy McCullough Trayce Thompson took flight across the outfield grass, his 6-foot-3 frame outstretched in an attempt to extend a game that could have ended hours before. Earlier in the day, he had smashed his bat and his glove in a fit of pique at the plate. Now he sacrificed his body in the 14th inning of a five-hour game. The sinking line drive bounced in front of Thompson as he hit the ground. The ball represented a tworun double from Baltimore second baseman Jonathan Schoop, who broke an endless deadlock by taking advantage of Dodgers reliever Chris Hatcher in a 6-4 Dodgers defeat. Both clubs had flailed in vain for this moment. Only one prevailed. They got the big hit, Justin Turner said. We didn t. We had plenty of opportunities. Indeed, in missing a chance for a series victory over the leaders of the American League East, the Dodgers stranded 16 runners and managed only one hit in 14 at-bats with runners in scoring position. The lineup combined to strike out 18 times, a feat matched by the Orioles, which only deepened the day s bitterness. The team could not capitalize on an admirable effort from an eight-man relief crew. The frustration for Manager Dave Roberts boiled over in the bottom of the last inning. He shouted at umpire Pat Hoberg over a strike call against Howie Kendrick. Hoberg reacted with an ejection. There were some pitches that were questionable, Roberts said. But that s baseball. We had some opportunities. Opportunities: The word came up often in the Dodgers clubhouse after the loss. The final few frames were agonizing for the group, which also wasted a six-hit day from leadoff hitter Chase Utley. Corey Seager extended his hitting streak to 19 games, but watched, helpless, from the bases as chances were frittered away in the seventh and the eighth. Our pitches threw up zeros from the sixth on, Seager said. We ve got to reward them for that, and unfortunately, we couldn t. Facing reliever Dylan Bundy in the seventh, Utley singled and advanced to third on a double by Seager. Bundy struck out Turner, intentionally walked Adrian Gonzalez, then struck out both Thompson and Kendrick to escape. The Dodgers felt Kendrick deserved a walk, frustrated by a 3-and-2 fastball that looked inside. In the eighth, the composition of the Dodgers roster proved onerous. Roberts has only four players on his bench. He had already used three of them, and felt he needed to save utility man Chris Taylor for pinch-hitting duty. So he sent Kenta Maeda in as a pinch-runner after A.J. Ellis walked. Maeda held at third base when Utley socked a double into the right-field corner off All-Star reliever Brad Brach. In that situation, you can t use all your players, at that point in time, Roberts said.

10 Brach intentionally walked Seager. The bases were loaded for Turner. Brach fed him a 2-and-0 fastball at the waist. Turner popped it up. Three innings later, after a single by Utley and another single by Turner, Gonzalez grounded into a double play. In extra innings, the team managed to load the bases again. Except Hatcher was forced to bat. Roberts had no other options. Hatcher grounded out to end the game. This is definitely not a turnkey game today, Roberts said. There s definitely a lot of stress in there for everyone. Turner woke up the crowd with a two-run homer in the first. He was involved in a less tidy play in the next inning. A popup by outfielder Mark Trumbo rose above shallow left field. Both Seager and Turner squinted through the sun. Turner pulled off to give Seager room. At the last second, Seager crouched in the grass as the ball fell behind him. The miscommunication led to a run after a double by infielder Ryan Flaherty. The Orioles tied the score in the third, and Trumbo would strike the ball with more force in his next two at-bats. Trumbo powered a 94-mph fastball from starter Bud Norris over the right-field fence in the fourth. Norris expended himself on an 11-pitch at-bat against Kevin Gausman in the fourth, and completed only five innings. The bullpen really did a great job picking me up, keeping us in that ballgame, Norris said. The seesaw tipped back into the Dodgers favor in the fifth when Gonzalez hit a two-run single. Baltimore tied the score in brutal fashion when Trumbo walloped another homer, this one off Casey Fien, in the sixth. Roberts emptied his bullpen as the afternoon stretched into the early evening. He did not intend to use Hatcher, who had pitched the previous night. But he did, and Hatcher could not put up a scoreless inning. The offense only teased him in the bottom of the frame. Somehow, we still had a chance to win in the ninth, Roberts said, before he caught himself and managed a smile. Or the 14th. LA falls to O's in 14th; teams combine for 36 K's By Jack Baer and Brittany Ghiroli DODGERS.COM LOS ANGELES -- Jonathan Schoop's two-run double in the 14th inning gave the Orioles a 6-4 win against the Dodgers on Wednesday in a game that lasted five hours and 26 minutes and featured the teams combining for 36 strikeouts, a Dodger Stadium record. "I was happy. I was going crazy, but I didn't want to show it," Schoop said of his double. "I showed it a little bit, but I was going crazy inside. I was 0-for-6 and I wanted to come through big for the team there and get a win."

11 The Dodgers had a chance to come back in the bottom of the 14th, with runners on first and third and two outs. But with reliever Chris Hatcher on-deck, Baltimore opted to intentionally walk Yasmani Grandal to load the bases, and Zach Britton got Hatcher to ground out back to the mound to end the game. Hatcher allowed the game-winning run, but he had thrown 31 pitches and two innings the previous day and manager Dave Roberts was hoping to avoid using him. Hatcher didn't use it as an excuse, saying "I'm ready to pitch every day." Mark Trumbo paced the Orioles on offense early, hitting home runs in the fourth and sixth innings to take the Major League lead with 26. Chase Utley knocked six hits in a game for the first time in his 14-year career to give the Dodgers some fight on offense. It was also the Dodgers' first six-hit game since Shawn Green on May 23, His and Trumbo's performance came during a day of lockdown relief pitching. "Just found some open ground out there," Utley said. "Overall it was a good game. Obviously, we're disappointed with the outcome, but we battled. Our relievers did a great job keeping us in the game. Had a lot of guys on base, a few big hits, could have used a couple more." Both starters finished their days after five rocky innings, with Dodgers righty Bud Norris in line for the win with a 4-3 lead against his old team. Trumbo's second home run -- off reliever Casey Fien -- quickly changed that, a bittersweet moment for Norris given that he and Trumbo have been good friends since their time in the Arizona Fall League. Norris ended up allowing three runs while striking out five, while O's starter Kevin Gausman allowed eight hits and four runs. After both starters were pulled and Fien allowed the solo shot to Trumbo in the top of the sixth, the two bullpens combined for 25 strikeouts and didn't allow another run until Schoop's hit in the 14th. O's reliever Dylan Bundy struck out seven, one more than his team's starter, while five straight Dodger relievers punched out at least two batters. "It's not going to be our best road trip, but I think we salvaged a little bit, winning this series," Trumbo said of the O's 4-5 record during the three-city swing. "And we got the two in San Diego, too. Pretty important game for us." MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Seager's streak stays alive: Corey Seager didn't put the ball in play his first three plate appearances, but his seventh-inning double gave the Dodgers men in scoring position and the rookie shortstop a 19-game hitting streak. The streak is the longest in the National League this season, third longest in the Majors, and one game shy of tying Tommy Davis' 56-year-old Dodgers rookie record of 20 games hitting safely. "There's really no secret. Good pitches, good swings, luck always helps," Seager said. "You're never not trying to get hits. You're always striving for it. Sometimes you don't, that's how it goes. That's how baseball works."

12 Trumbo's torrid half continues: For the fifth time this season, Trumbo turned in a multihomer game. His first, a solo homer off Norris, marked his 25th this season. Trumbo went deep again to tie the game at 4 with a leadoff blast in the top of the sixth inning off Fien. More > Puig hits the cutoff man: The Orioles got a good chance to break the tie in the 13th, with Adam Jones hitting a two-out single to the right-field corner with Joey Rickard on first. Rickard got a good jump, but things went south quickly as Puig quickly relayed the ball into Utley, who threw Rickard out at home. "Anytime there's a play at the plate in your favor, that can definitely create some momentum, for sure," Utley said. O's relievers dodge bases-loaded jams: Bundy, who came in following Gausman, got out of a big spot in the seventh inning to keep the Dodgers off the board in the frame. He struck out Howie Kendrick on a full-count called third strike to leave the game tied at 4. Righty Brad Brach had a similar fate in the bottom of the eighth, getting Turner to pop up to strand three more. Overall the O's relief corps pitched nine scoreless innings, with closer Britton improving to a perfect 25- for-25 in save opportunities. "They just continue to be as good as they've always been," Gausman said of a standout 'pen. "Obviously Britton and Brad, [Mychal] Givens comes in and shuts the door. Bundy did a great job. And every guy that came in threw strikes. I think that's the biggest thing, just coming in throw strikes, don't let guys get on base. This is a pretty good momentum team if they don't get on base you kind of limit that." QUOTABLE "You want them to always be perfect innings, but those guys are paid a lot of money to get guys in. The job of the bullpen is pretty much to strand runners in all honestly, especially when you get in jams. It's not always easy, but we found a way to do it and give our offense a chance. It was kind of a mental grind, sitting down there the whole game, that is a tough thing to do, especially for the younger guys that don't have a ton of experience." -- Britton, on the bullpen SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Adam Liberatore tied the Dodgers' record for consecutive scoreless outings with 23 after throwing a scoreless seventh inning, matching John Candelaria's streak in The left-hander leads all Major League relievers (min. 20 IP) with a 0.63 ERA and has not allowed a run since May 18. Bundy is the third pitcher to record exactly seven outs and seven strikeouts in a game. The others were Tom Niedenfuer for the Dodgers vs. the Phillies (1985) and Tim Stoddard for the O's vs. the Mariners (1979). WHAT'S NEXT Orioles: The Orioles will finally go home, enjoying an off-day on Thursday to unwind from a tough threecity road trip out west. Baltimore will welcome the Angels to Camden Yards on Friday at 7:05 p.m. ET for a three-game series before the All-Star break. The club has not announced a starter for the game. Dodgers: Since the 2014 postseason, Hyun-Jin Ryu has toiled through a shoulder injury and setback after setback. The Korean southpaw will finally make his return as the Dodgers welcome the Padres to Dodger Stadium for a final four-game series before the All-Star break. Game 1 is Thursday at 7:10 p.m. PT.

13 Old dog, new trick: Utley has first 6-hit game By Jack Baer LOS ANGELES -- Chase Utley has been in the Major Leagues for 14 years, but it took until Wednesday's 14-inning, 6-4 loss to the Orioles for him to reach six hits in a game for the first time in his career. Utley led off for the Dodgers in the first with a single, then struck out in the second, one of a Dodger Stadium-record 36 strikeouts in the game. From there, it was nothing but hits for the veteran second baseman. Utley finished 6-for-7 with two doubles and two of the four Dodgers runs scored, raising his slash line up to.270/.349/.387. That respectable.349 on-base percentage out of the leadoff spot has been an asset all season for the Dodgers. "Chase has been great," manager Dave Roberts said. "He finds a way to compete, put the barrel on the ball, and he found some outfield grass today. He's just a pro. The way he conducts his at-bats, I think he got three two-strike hits. Just used the whole field today." Only two players older than Utley, 37, have recorded six hits in a game, and they're a couple of recognizable names: Cal Ripken Jr. in 1999 and Ty Cobb in 1925, who were both 38. The feat is also the Dodgers' first six-hit game since Shawn Green on May 23, Utley didn't have much to say after the game, saying a win would have been preferable to a personal milestone. "It definitely would have been much better to have a win, but it is what is," Utley said. "We battled, they battled. We'll go get them tomorrow." The Dodgers weren't hurting for hits during the game, finishing with 16 against just four runs scored. In total, the team was 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position against starter Kevin Gausman and the Baltimore bullpen. "I thought we might have been trying to do much. Sometimes, you just have to put the ball in play," Roberts said. "Lately we've been doing well situationally, today's just one of those days." Kershaw plays catch, is 'considerably better' By Jack Baer LOS ANGELES -- Clayton Kershaw (herniated disk) took a big step in his recovery Wednesday, playing catch for the first time since he hit the 15-day disabled list. The Dodgers' ace is now ahead of schedule in his rehab. The good news for the Dodgers didn't end there, as both Brett Anderson (back) and Andre Ethier (fractured right tibia) have accelerated in their rehab over the last couple of weeks and could return by mid-august.

14 "It's encouraging," manager Dave Roberts said. "The guys that have been healthy have done a great job, but to have the guys coming back from injury just adds to our depth and it's going to be quite a few arms at our disposal." Kershaw threw on flat ground at Dodger Stadium from approximately 30 feet before Wednesday's game against the Orioles. Roberts was still hesitant to put a timetable on Kershaw's return, but it could be soon enough that the manager doesn't see the lefty needing a rehab assignment. Kershaw received an epidural injection around the time he hit the DL, which Roberts said "absolutely" did what the team was hoping for. "He says his body is feeling considerably better, his back. Hopefully, we continue to move in that same direction," Roberts said. "We've got to keep a close eye on him because he's going to push it as much as he possibly can." Anderson's timetable was 3-5 months when he went down with a back injury in Spring Training, and the left-hander has improved enough in the last two weeks that Roberts said a mid-august return is "pretty realistic." He threw a bullpen session Tuesday for the first time since the injury. Ethier could be back by the Dodgers' first game in August, but that's contingent on him improving at the same rate he has in the last few weeks. The outfielder has been throwing and taking swings, with the next step being taking batting practice on the field. A bone scan was scheduled sometime this week, but the medical staff no longer feels it's needed. "I don't know if it's being around his teammates more that has him even more incentivized, but his body is responding," Roberts said. Both Anderson and Ethier will require a rehab assignment. Ryu faces Padres in first start since 2014 By Jack Baer Since walking off the mound in Game 3 of the 2014 National League Division Series, Hyun-Jin Ryu has had to deal with a torrent of shoulder issues and setbacks. On Thursday, the Korean southpaw will finally make his return to an MLB mound against the Padres, ending a 640-day span spent off the field. Ryu pitched five games in his most recent rehab assignment with Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga and Triple-A Oklahoma City, reaching 84 pitches in six innings in his last start. "So far what I have accomplished as far as rehab goals, gaining all my pitches in quite a few outings, I think I'm pretty much ready to go," Ryu said Monday through an interpreter. Reports on Ryu's velocity have not been ideal, with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts saying Monday that he was touching 90 mph and averaging 86 mph. The adrenaline of his first start back could give Ryu's numbers a bump up, though.

15 Drew Pomeranz will be the Padres' man on the mound as the two teams play their final series before the All-Star break. Pomeranz will be putting the finishing touches on a breakout first half, holding a 2.65 ERA and 10.3 K/9 in 95 innings. Pomeranz could very well be making an audition for a potential opening on the National League roster, should any of the starting pitchers be ruled ineligible. Dodgers All-Star lefty Clayton Kershaw is currently on the disabled list, and a couple pitchers could be ruled out of Tuesday's Midsummer Classic if they start Sunday. "All the guys that got picked were very deserving," Pomeranz said. "They're all having great years. I'm having a good year. When it comes down to it, I just want to keep making my starts and stay out there. Obviously, it's nice to be recognized and get in that All-Star Game. But it's something that somebody else decides. You can't really control that." Things to know about this game Corey Seager extended his hitting streak to 19 games Wednesday, the third longest in the Majors this season. A hit Thursday would tie him with Tommy Davis for the longest streak ever by a Dodgers rookie. Pomeranz was excellent his last time at Dodger Stadium, allowing just three hits and a run in seven innings, but he took the loss as Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw tossed a shutout. Yasiel Puig was out of the starting lineup for the Dodgers on Wednesday, although he entered as a pinch-hitter and ended up playing eight innings during the 6-4 loss to Baltimore. Roberts said the right fielder will start all four games of the Padres series. Since returning from the DL, Puig is hitting.333/.418/.500 in 15 games. Yasiel Puig keeps connecting with community By Erin Edwards DODGER INSIDER Back in 2014, before his first full season in the big leagues, Yasiel Puig was part of the Los Angeles Dodgers Community Caravan that included the Dodgers Dreamfield Dedication of Jesse Owens Park and a clinic for boys and girls. Fast forward to 2016, and a lot has changed. Puig is in his fourth MLB season, and those playing on the Dreamfield are now Dodgers RBI players. But much has also remained the same: Puig and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation remain a constant in the community. On June 23, Puig surprised 100 Dodgers RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) players at the Dodgers Dreamfield at Jesse Owens Park. Just one day after being activated from the disabled list after to a hamstring injury, Puig led a baseball skills clinic and brought gifts from Nike. High five! That a boy! And two hands! These phrases and more echoed from Puig s booming voice. Many were impressed by his effective coaching skills. Puig wouldn t move on to the next kid until he was

16 sure the Dodgers RBI player got the fundamentals right. It was evident that he wanted to interact with each child. You can t imagine how amazing this is for our kids to see a real Dodger at their park, said Stan Brooks, founder and president of Hollywood Indies Little League. It gives the community a sense of pride and purpose to see a real life hero of theirs, Yasiel Puig, at their park. Puig exemplifies the spirit of many of the Dodger players, LADF executive director Nichol Whiteman believes. Our players deeply care about what our kids are doing and what is available to them, Whiteman said. Many take their time to come out to parks and participate in activities like this. We take great pride in what our players are doing on the field. This is why the players we have on our Dodger team are so special. Said Puig in Spanish after the event: I feel really happy, because the kids make you remember the time when you were a kid, and it feels nice to be able to be with the kids when we are given these types of opportunities. Puig s appearance is part of the Dodgers RBI program, aimed at giving young people from underserved and diverse communities opportunities to play baseball and softball, while also providing education, life resources and one of a kind experiences. The Dreamfield at Jesse Owens Park is one of 44 parks in L.A. that the Foundation has created, with Nos. 43 and 44 having been dedicated in early June at Belvedere Park in East Los Angeles. Together the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, the Dodger players, and community can make great things happen. This type of collaboration and unity exemplify the spirit of Los Angeles. First things first at Dodgers RBI PlayerFest By Erin Edwards There were a lot of firsts at the third annual Dodgers RBI PlayerFest. For many, it was their first time at Dodger Stadium. Others got to go rock climbing for their first time. Some got the thrill of running around the bases at Dodger Stadium for their first time. But for 15-year-old Miranda, it was her first time getting a pair of much needed eyeglasses. PlayerFest had varying impacts ranging from quality family time, team bonding, and even the gift of sight. All 6,000 Dodgers RBI (Reviving Baseball In Inner Cities) players were invited to bring their families to spend the day at Dodger Stadium. With the help of Dodgers RBI Gold Sponsor Bank of America, volunteers filled the ballpark to assist with various booths. The Foundation, our partners and volunteers work together to create this special day, LADF executive director Nichol Whiteman said. By bringing together our players, families, coaches and partners it is a community, family affair.

17 The Dodgers RBI program is part of Major League Baseball s larger program to give children in underserved communities access to baseball and softball while also providing education and life resources. PlayerFest included resources such as LADF partner Vision to Learn s mobile clinic that provided free eye exams and glasses, Read Conmigo s distribution of hundreds of bilingual books, Gazillion Bubbles 5-foot Bubble Machine, Dodgers Alumni autographs, the rock-climbing wall, face painting and more. To wrap up the day, many watched the Dodgers take on the Pirates on DodgerVision, and also enjoyed one more first: their first Dodger Dog. RBI players and family members were tired but smiling as they exited the stadium with their new LADF t-shirts. Dodger bullpen, brilliant for so long, succumbs in 14 th By Jon Weisman As this sentence was being written, the Dodgers and Orioles were tied, 4-4, in the ninth inning. At that moment, two things were certain: If there were going to be a Dodger hero today, a fine young man carried off the field, it would be a hitter. And some Dodger reliever would either be a goat, or lost in the shuffle. So what happened? In the Dodgers longest game since they played 17 innings at San Diego on May 22 on a day that Chase Utley became the first Dodger to have six hits since Shawn Green s memorable day in Milwaukee on May 23, 2002 Jonathan Schoop hit a two-out, sinking line drive in the 14th inning that barely eluded Trayce Thompson s glove, driving in two runs for a 6-4 Baltimore win. Chris Hatcher, who had thrown 31 pitches the previous night, took the loss. He also had the burden of making the final out, with the bases loaded, long after the Dodgers ran out of pinch-hitters. Painful as that is for Dodger fans to process, the Dodger bullpen deserves a collective bow. In the six games of this homestand in the midst of what has really become a rebirth for the relief core Dodger relievers have done the following. Through 14 The bullpen has averaged approximately five innings and 80 pitches per game for the past six games, yet had a 0.94 ERA on the homestand before the game-winning hit. Dodger relievers are on pace to throw 524 innings this year, which believe it or not, would not be a record. In 2009, a National League Championship Series season, the Dodger bullpen racked up 553 innings.

18 Footnote: The Dodgers and Orioles combined to set a Dodger Stadium single-game strikeout record with 36. The previous Dodger Stadium strikeout record of 32 was originally set by the Padres and Dodgers in a 17-inning game June 27, 1989, and matched in an 18-inning Braves-Dodgers game August 3, Also, Adam Liberatore, who pitched a scoreless seventh inning of relief, has made 23 consecutive scoreless appearances, tying the franchise record set by John Candelaria in Kershaw, Ethier, Anderson quicken recovery progress By Jon Weisman Chronically the last team to count their chickens before they hatch, the Dodgers nevertheless feel upbeat about the latest progress from Clayton Kershaw, Brett Anderson and Andre Ethier in their injury rehab. Kershaw and Anderson, each recovering from different back ailments Anderson s required surgery in March, Kershaw s an epidural last week played catch in left field this morning, which is exciting and encouraging for all of us, Dave Roberts said. No return timetable has been outlined for Kershaw, but Roberts said that the clearance to play catch came ahead of schedule. He says his back feels considerably better, so hopefully we continue to move in that same direction, Roberts said. Actually, this is a little early. We re pleasantly surprised. This is good. Dr. Robert Watkins and the training staff have obviously given him their blessing, so that s a good thing. Roberts did caution that we ve got to keep a close eye on (Kershaw), because he s gonna want to push it as much as he possibly can. With Anderson, Roberts said that a mid-august return is pretty realistic. Brett has been throwing pens, and feels good coming out of the pens and stretching it out, Roberts said. The last couple of weeks with Brett, he s really shown some vast improvement. Ethier, who is recovering from a fractured right tibia, has taken longer to return than initially expected, but recently the pace has picked up rapidly. Roberts was more than hopeful that Ethier could be in uniform for the Dodgers first game in August. His body is responding, Roberts said. He s doing some light jogging. As far as being a baseball player and throwing and taking swings, he s doing all that stuff. The next progression is doing batting practice on the field, but the leg feels considerably better. Roberts noted that Ethier would require a minor-league rehab assignment of approximately 10 days and/or 20 to 25 at-bats. Obviously, things can go a different way, but the beginning of August is realistic, Roberts said. Fifty years ago, Orioles gave Dodgers afternoon blues

19 By Mark Langill Today marks the first Dodgers-Orioles day game at Dodger Stadium since the original Los Angeles dynasty came crumbling down nearly 50 years ago in Game 2 of the 1966 World Series. An error-filled 6-0 defeat marked the final game of Sandy Koufax s career, and the bright skies also broke the heart of longtime center fielder Willie Davis, whose all-time marks in the Dodger record book are overshadowed by two seemingly routine fly balls lost in the sun. With six National League pennants in 13 seasons, manager Walter Alston s Dodgers were overwhelming 8-5 favorites by Las Vegas oddsmakers to beat the Orioles, making their first World Series appearance since moving to Baltimore from St. Louis in Baltimore defeated Don Drysdale, 5-2, in the first game of the Fall Classic, but why should L.A. worry with Koufax in the wings? Koufax led the Dodgers to World Series titles in 1963 and 1965, masking an average but efficient offense fueled by the stolen-base threat of shortstop and team captain Maury Wills. Koufax, who at age 30 had already decided to retire after the 1966 season, was close to physically breaking down at the finish line. Koufax in 1966 became the first pitcher in MLB history with three seasons of 300 or more strikeouts. But starting 41 games in both 1965 and 1966 required a combined 658 regular-season innings en route to 54 complete games and 13 shutouts. The World Series appearance against Baltimore was Koufax s third start in an eight-day span, because he was needed to clinch the pennant on the final day of the season. Locked in a three-team pennant race with the Giants and Pirates, the Dodgers lost the series opener at Philadelphia, and a Saturday rainout forced L.A. to play a Sunday doubleheader. L.A. held a 3-2 lead after seven innings and Koufax warmed up in the bullpen in case he was needed for a save. Those plans blew up in the eighth when a throwing error by reliever Bob Miller led to a two-run Phillies rally and 4-3 victory. Koufax started the nightcap and held on for a 6-3 victory. Even with a six-run lead, Alston didn t take Koufax out of the game in the ninth when Philadelphia opened the inning by scoring three runs on two singles, a double and an error. Earlier in the game, Koufax felt a pop high in his back at the base of his neck while pitching to Gary Sutherland. Trainers Bill Buhler and Wayne Anderson rushed Koufax to the clubhouse after the inning and had the slipped vertebra popped back into place. The two trainers pulled on the top side of Koufax, and former Dodger teammate Don Newcombe, who happened to be visiting, held Koufax s feet. Buhler later explained Koufax could sometimes pitch with the injury, but couldn t move his head to check a runner at first base. Koufax joked that such a condition makes for great control. Pitching in the World Series on three days rest, Koufax enjoyed early success against Baltimore as 25 of his first 28 pitches were strikes. He allowed only one hit in the first four innings Luis Aparicio s infield single leading off the game. The cracks in the ice started to appear in the fifth inning with one out and Boog Powell on first base. Paul Blair lofted a fly to Davis, who waved his arms in desperation as the ball dropped at his feet for an error, giving Baltimore runners on second and third. Andy Etchebarren hit another fly to Davis with

20 similar results. After the ball hit the heel of his glove and fell to the ground, Davis hurried a wild throw past third base. Two errors on one play gave Baltimore a 2-0 lead with Etchebarren standing on third base. After pitcher Jim Palmer struck out, Aparicio s RBI double down the left-field line made it 3-0. Davis later said he never saw Blair s ball and got a late look at Etchebarren s fly. The Dodgers made six errors that afternoon. A long fly ball by Frank Robinson in the sixth inning also bounced between Davis and right fielder Ron Fairly for a gift triple. In six innings, Koufax allowed six hits, one earned run and had two strikeouts. Nine days shy of his 21st birthday, Palmer became the youngest player to pitch a World Series shutout, scattering four hits and needing to escape only one jam in the second inning by striking out Koufax with the bases loaded. The Series moved to Baltimore, and the Orioles completed the sweep by winning the next two games by scores of 1-0, as L.A. was blanked over the final 33 innings. After the 1966 Series, Koufax announced his retirement while the team was playing an exhibition tour in Japan. The Dodgers broke up the roster by trading Wills and two-time NL batting champ Tommy Davis. The Dodgers didn t even manufacture World Series rings for the players, opting instead for a Rolex watch. The teams went in opposite directions over the next decade. The Dodgers suffered consecutive losing seasons in 1967 and 1968 for the first time since in Brooklyn. Baltimore made three consecutive World Series appearances from while the Dodgers underwent a rebuilding phase and didn t play in a World Series again until Davis slides into 3rdFor Willie Davis, who passed away at age 69 in 2010, his only career three-error game occurred at the worst possible time. Even today, some fans assume his Three Dog nickname comes from the Baltimore nightmare, rather than a combination of his uniform number and yearly high number of triples. During a 2005 visit to Dodger Stadium, Davis watched an afternoon game on the Club Level with former teammates Roy Gleason and Al The Bull Ferrara. A fan approached the trio for autographs and excitedly said, Hey, Willie. I was here that day you lost those fly balls in the outfield. The normally easygoing Davis shrugged his shoulders and quietly offered, I had some good games, too. Davis remains the L.A. Dodger all-time leader in total bases (3,094), at-bats (7,495), triples (110), extrabase hits (585), plate appearances (8,035), runs (1,004) and hits (2,091). In 1,952 regular-season games with Los Angeles, Davis committed two errors in a game only once. He won Gold Glove Awards in his final three seasons with the Dodgers from Dodgers fall in marathon finale to Orioles By Eric Stephen TRUEBLUELA.COM A bloop double by Jonathan Schoop brought home two runs in the 14th inning, giving the Orioles a 6-4 win over the Dodgers in the finale of their three-game series on Wednesday afternoon at Dodger Stadium.

21 Chris Hatcher allowed three hits in the 14th inning, the first a bloop single to right field by Manny Machado, then a line drive single by Chris Davis, who struck out in his first four times to the plate. With two outs, Schoop lofted a ball to shallow center field. It dropped for a hit, and coupled with an ill-fated diving attempt by Trayce Thompson that caused the ball to carom to left field, both runners scored. It ended a marathon game that lasted five hours, 26 minutes and saw the Dodgers use 23 players, their most in a non-expanded-roster period since using 23 players in a 22-inning loss in Houston on June 3, Hatcher was the ninth pitcher used by the Dodgers, one day after pitching two innings and throwing 31 pitches. Then, in a game that saw starting pitchers Kenta Maeda and Scott Kazmir used as a pinch runner and pinch hitter, respectively, Hatcher had to bat in the bottom of the 14th with the bases loaded against Orioles closer Zach Britton. Hatcher bounced back to the box, and despite a relatively wild throw by Britton was still thrown out at first base to end the game, dashing the hopes for an even more bizarre contest. The Dodgers got their offense from the usual spots of late, with a two-run home run by Justin Turner in the first inning and a two-run bloop single by Adrian Gonzalez in the fifth inning. Chase Utley doubled twice and singled four times in seven at-bats, setting a new career high with six hits the 11th game with at least four hits in his career and scored twice. Utley had the first six-hit game by a Dodger since Shawn Green on May 23, 2002, and at age 37 put himself in some select company: Corey Seager extended his hitting streak to 19 games with a seventh-inning double, putting two goahead runs in scoring position. But three strikeouts ended that inning, setting the tone for both bullpens on Wednesday. Whiff city Dylan Bundy allowed a leadoff double to Howie Kendrick to start the sixth inning, then the aforementioned runners on second and third to open the seventh inning. But in each frame he struck out three batters to get out of the jam. He also got an out in the eighth inning, and that was also by strikeout. The seven strikeouts by Bundy were the most by a relief pitcher against the Dodgers since Rick Reed for the Mets on April 9, But he wasn't alone. Brad Brach, who struck out all three batters he faced on Tuesday, struck out three more on Wednesday in 1⅔ innings. The Orioles had 12 strikeouts in nine innings. The Dodgers bullpen had 13 strikeouts of their own in five innings, including three by Kenley Jansen and two each by Adam Liberatore, Joe Blanton and Luis Avilan, with each working a single inning. From the eighth to the 10th inning, Dodgers relievers struck out seven straight batters.