Sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands.
Clayton Kershaw, having witnessed six straight losses, decided to put the team on his back. He carried the club through nine masterful innings, and even knocked in the only Dodger run to lead the club to a 1-0 victory over the Padres. Overall, he struck out fourteen, allowed three hits and walk nobody in his complete game shutout. Kershaw threw only 101 pitches, and had a perfect game going into the fifth inning. Per Jack Baer and AJ Cassavell at MLB.com:
"That's as dominant as I've seen him," manager Dave Roberts said. "As prepared and as much conviction as he has every fifth day, knowing what we were going through as a team, you talk about great players putting their team on their backs. That's what he did today. He won't say that, but that's exactly what happened."Per Doug Padilla at ESPN:
"You'd be lying if you said you didn't want to be the guy who ended the streak, so that definitely feels good," Kershaw said. "We needed a win, there's no doubt about it, and it wasn't pretty today."Clayton chats about his evening on the mound with Allana Rizzo here. As for the team, they couldn't have been more elated at the days outcome. In fact, they held an impromptu dance party in the clubhouse to celebrate; as evidenced by numerous videos shared on social media (here, here, here and here).
Pic above via Kike Hernandez on twitter. Below are more links to check out:
- This Day in Dodgers History: In 1928 Giants manager John McGraw made one of the more noteworthy managerial calls in the history of the game. He called for an intentional walk against the Dodgers with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth inning to drive in a run. The next batter struck out to end the game at 2-1.
- Just awesome stuff from Vin. Via Ryan Walton at True Blue LA, "Vin Scully did his homework on the history of beards."
"Way back to the dawn of humanity beards evolved, number one, because ladies liked them -- and number two, it was the idea of frightening off adversaries and wild animals. [...] In fact, it was so serious, if you look it up, that there's a divine mandate for beards in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. [...] There became a time when Greek dramatists mined the popular prejudice against clean-shaved men."
- Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "Vin Scully receives respect from unlikely source."
But if you do know to look for it and you do happen to notice it, it will put a smile on your face every time it happens – and it happens before almost every Dodgers home game and has for years. All four umpires will turn and face the Dodger Stadium press box and will either wave or tip their hat to the man who has been dubbed ‘The Voice of Baseball’ – Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully.
- A must read! Via Joc and Champ Pederson at The Players Tribune, "Live Like a Champ."
That’s the way it’s always been with Champ. He brings this happiness out of people all the time. They see how much fun it is to have him around. And what’s more, he’s always done everything with me. He’s in the locker room before games, he’s hanging with all the players. So this time was nothing different. Nothing special. Nothing put on. Champ’s just always been there.
Every person who meets him immediately knows what it means to “Live Like a Champ.” It means you stay positive, even on the tough days. Because let’s be honest, in between the champagne celebrations and the Dodgers games, life isn’t always so easy.
- Via Jack Baer at MLB.com, "Van Slyke progressing slowly from back injury." He is not expected back until late May.
- The Dodgers are juggling the starting rotation for the upcoming road-trip. Via Doug Padilla at ESPN, "Dodgers' rotation shakeup is 'matchup-based'"
The Dodgers are headed out on an interleague road trip following the conclusion of the current home series against the San Diego Padres. A brief two-game set Tuesday and Wednesday at Tampa Bay will be bookended by days off Monday and Thursday.
- Via Steve Adams at MLB Trade Rumors, "Sean Burnett Opts Out Of Dodgers Contract, Will Sign Minors Deal With Braves."
- Via Richard Somdomir at the NY Times, "An Electronic Umpire? Baseball Tried It (In the 1950s!)"
“This was really high-tech stuff,” said pitcher Carl Erskine, recalling the sight of the device during a telephone interview from his Indiana home.
The so-called “cross-eyed electronic umpire” introduced that day used mirrors, lenses and photoelectric cells beneath home plate that would, after detecting a strike through three slots around the plate, emit electric impulses that illuminated what The Brooklyn Eagle called a “saucy red eye” in a nearby cabinet.
- Cheryl Wray at Alabama.com tells us all about the newly opened Negro Southern League Museum in Birmingham, AL.
The museum tells the story of African American baseball in the United States through the lens of Birmingham. It has the largest collection of original Negro League baseball artifacts in the country, and also a state-of-the-art onsite research center.
* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *
* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *
No comments:
Post a Comment