Blog Kiosk: 7/10/2016 - Dodgers Links - Toles, McCarthy and Liberatore

It was "Pups in the Park" day at Dodger Stadium and the four-legged canine guest in attendance were entertained with a fantastic victory.  Brandon McCarthy went five innings; giving up three runs on three hits, three walks and six strike outs.  Per Ken Gurnick and Jack Baer at MLB.com:

"It felt very weird and it was a struggle, but at least I'm happy to get through five [innings], keep the game close and give the offense and bullpen a chance to win it," said McCarthy, who had surgery April 29 of last year.

As McCarthy said the bullpen was solid.  Per Doug Padilla at ESPN:

 “I know all of us would like to get deeper into games and it’s something we want,” McCarthy said. “There are a lot of guys dealing with a lot of different situations, so it’s not a group of five horses that are healthy, happy and have been here all year. It’s guys that are a little bit of hodge-podge, so it’s on all of us to get deeper into games. The bullpen has been outstanding in picking us up, but we need to do our share in the second half to make sure we take some of the load off them.”

In fact, Dodgers reliever Adam Liberatore broke a franchise record last night.  He threw his 24th consecutive scoreless inning; breaking John Candelaria's record.

“He told me congrats, and I really didn’t know what he was talking about,” Liberatore said. “It seemed like a really weird thing to say in that situation. I’m getting pulled and the guy is saying congrats. I was like ‘What?’”

In the dugout, he soon learned what all the fuss was about, getting a game ball and the adoration from his teammates. The moment was made better for the Pittsburgh native when he learned of Candelaria’s involvement in the record.

“I know that name a little bit so that’s cool,” Liberatore said of the former Pirates and Dodgers pitcher.

The photos above via Jill Weisleder/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics by Jill and Jon SooHoo from yesterdays game; including more dogs.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History:  In 1943 a Dodgers clubhouse dispute almost leads to a players strike.  Teammates were at odds with management due to a suspension of pitcher Bobo Newsome.  Durocher suspended Newsome for insubordination and his teammates threatened to not play.  Eventually Branch Rickey intervenes and the game against Pittsburgh is played.  In 1984 Fernando Valenzuela and Dwight Good combine to strike out six consecutive AL batters in the All-Star game in Candlestick Park.
• Video: SportsNet LA goes behind the scenes as the Dodgers visit the Roberto Clemente Museum. (Link Here)
• Baseball America shared their "Midseason Top 100 Prospects" list and it includes six Dodger players.  Check out the complete list here.  The players are Cody Bellinger (#24), Jose De Leon (#25), Alex Verdugo (#44), Grant Holmes (#60), Frankie Montas (#82) and Willie Calhoun (#98).
• The Dodgers just announced a ticket promotion that is related to Corey Seager's appearance during the All-Star Game Home Run Derby.  Go here for information.  You can purchase discounted tickets for a ballgame on Sunday, August 14th against the Pittsburgh Pirates.  Fans will be offered a $10 discount toward ticket purchases and an additional $5 off for every round Seager advances, for a maximum of a $25 off discount.  The Dodgers’ ticket promotion will launch following the competition on Monday, July 11 at 8:00 p.m. and it will be valid through Wednesday, July 13 at 5:00 p.m. PST, while supplies last.  BTW, it is Magic Johnson garden gnome day on August 14th.
• Via Doug Padilla at ESPN; "Andrew Toles has embraced opportunity with Dodgers."

“There is a little more pressure not to mess it up, basically,” Toles said when asked about his second chance. “But besides that I’m just going to play baseball.”
...
“For me, I don’t know the whole story, but I know that [Friedman] is fond of him as a person, as a player,” Roberts said. “With what he went through in the past, it’s a great story to see him here in the big leagues. I know that we’re excited to have him. He’s dynamic. He can run, he can defend, he can hit, so it will be fun to throw him out there and see what he can do.”

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com; "Kersh, Joc won't return immediately after break."
• Via Doug Padilla at ESPN; "Dodgers host stranded youth team from Mexico."
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com; "Urias to get bullpen experience in Triple-A."

"We definitely want him to rest and kind of control his innings," said manager Dave Roberts. "The front office and development are collaborating. We're going to send him to Oklahoma City and keep him there. He will be out of the bullpen, but not exclusively. He'll also start, but we'll limit the pitch count and he'll also pitch out of the 'pen and assimilate to that. It only makes sense. It's something he wants and he feels comfortable about."

• Murray Chass tells us of an upcoming Baseball anniversary, here.  On July 12th the owners and players agreed to the first labor contract that included free agency.
• jbox at Gas Lamp Ball shares his day at the All-Star Game FanFest.  Go here to check it out.

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