Could Justin Ruggiano be our next great pinch-hitter?
He's been on quite a tear of late for the Dodgers. He's had three off-the-bench opportunities since coming over from Seattle, and has successfully driven in a run each time. Obviously that's far too small of a sample size to extrapolate further. Still, you gotta like what he'd done at the plate for us so far. He's getting an opportunity to contribute, and has made the most of it.
Last night might have been his most important pinch-hit so far. With the game locked up in a 1-1 tie in the 5th inning, Ruggiano came in to hit with two men on base. On the very first pitch he lined a double to left that scored the runners and gave the Dodgers an import two runs. (You can watch it here)
Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter. BTW, the Dodgers "Magic Number" is now at 17. Below are more links to check out:
- Via Dan O'Neill at STL Post-Dispatch, "Greinke brings Gibson's amazing '68 season into focus."
- Fantastic! Eric Stephen at True Blue LA recalls the first Dodger game he remembers watching: "Sock day at Dodger Stadium, 30 years later."
Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal was scratched from the starting lineup in Monday night's series opener against the Angels with a sore left shoulder in the same spot that caused him to miss three games in late August. Also sitting was shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who was set to have an X-ray on a jammed knuckle on his right hand.
- Via JP Hoornstra at Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, "Corey Seager pumps Julio Urias up while Dodgers pump the brakes."
“His command was unbelievable,” Seager said. “He threw it where he needed to at all times and his changeup was really working for him. People were missing by two feet. He threw it 20, 30 percent of the time and literally people couldn’t hit it.”
...
“They should be (excited). He’s coming and it’s going to be impressive.”
- Via Chris Mitchell at FanGraphs, "Projecting Corey Seager."
- Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "Dodgers pitching prospect Pablo Fernandez to miss postseason."
They shut him down and sent him home to rest, nothing else I’ve heard further,” said Quakes pitching coach Bill Simas prior to Monday afternoon’s game. “I think it was just some tightness [in his elbow], I don’t think it was anything major.”
- Via Michael Clair at MLB.com, "Will Ferrell inducted into the Hall of Fame (kind of) before world premiere of 'Ferrell Takes the Field'"
Ferrell's plaque, which was presented by the Dodgers' Adrian Gonzalez and the Padres' Wil Myers (whom Ferrell "carried" on the field during his appearance with the Padres during Spring Training), honors his nicknames, "Cactus Rose" and "Mr. Clutch" and forever commemorates the 92-mph fastball that he fouled off.
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