Diamondbacks Series Starts on Friday - Stadium Giveaways, Pregame Info and Other Stuff!

The next homestand starts on Friday against the Arizona Diamondbacks.   Below are some odds and ends for this upcoming homestand.

The Sonoran Dog will be available for this homestand only against the Diamondbacks at the Extreme Loaded Dog concession areas located on the field, loge and reserve levels. It features a bacon-wrapped super dog with pinto beans, mayonnaise and pico de gallo.

The eighth 2016 issue of the new Dodger Insider magazine, featuring Adrian Gonzalez on the cover, will be available at Dodger Stadium.  (see it on the left).  The Dodgers merged their previously separate Playbill and Dodger Insider magazines into one publication (at least 80 pages per issue) with a new edition available each homestand.  They are distributed at auto gates (one per vehicle) and via Fan Services for those who use alternate transportation.  

---------------

Friday, July 29th at 7:10 PM
RHP Zack Godley vs. RHP Kenta Maeda
SNLA / AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

Friday's game starts at 7:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 4:40 PM, and stadium gates open at 5:10 PM.  It is Friday Night Fireworks, so fans will be able to go down onto the field after the game to watch the spectacle. The night's theme will be Star Wars.  Go here for more information on Friday Night Fireworks.

It is Star Wars Night at Dodger Stadium.  Folks who ordered a special ticket package will get an exclusive Star Wars Night T-shirt with your ticket.  See that on the left.  If not already sold out go here for information.

The Dodgers will offer the Jedi drink made of grenadine, lime juice, rum and triple sec in a Dodger lightsaber (bat) located at the bars in field level sections 49 and 50. The Force comprised of Sprite, lemon juice and a shot of tequila in a Dodger lightsaber (bat) will be available at field level bars in sections 49 and 50. The Wookie Dog is a hot dog topped with BBQ-smothered pulled pork and will be available at the Think Blue BBQ, field level section 51 and Extreme Loaded Dog locations on the field, loge and reserve levels.

Star Wars characters will be on hand in the right-field plaza. Pregame ceremonies will include Star War-themed games, tributes and a character ceremonial first. Disney star Sabrina Carpenter will perform the national anthem.  DJ Adam will provide musical entertainment in the right-field plaza and a stilt walker will be in the left-field plaza from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

• The Military Hero of the Game is former U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant Rudy Castro of Los Angeles. Castro joined the Air Force in 1986 and served as a life-support/survival instructor. He deployed on numerous missions including Operation JUST CAUSE in 1989, the invasion of Panama to oust dictator Manuel Noriega. He served four years of active duty and later rejoined the Air Force as a reservist. As a reservist, he was a combat photographer who deployed overseas multiple times, including a combat tour to Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. He was awarded the Combat Army Badge and the Air Force Combat Action Badge and has completed more than 30 missions documenting America’s humanitarian efforts, combat and the global war on terror. 
• The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) conducts silent auctions throughout the season featuring signed pieces of memorabilia from Dodger players, coaches and alumni. Auctions take place behind the Vin Scully press box on the club level. The items for auction tomorrow include a Kenta Maeda autographed jersey, a Kenley Jansen autographed photo and a Corey Seager autographed baseball. More than 25 items will be up for bid.

---------------

Saturday, July 30th at 6:10 PM
RHP Braden Shipley vs. LHP Scott Kazmir
SNLA / AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

Saturday's game starts at 6:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 4:10 PM, and stadium gates open at 3:40 PM.  The first 40,000 fans in attendance will receive a Reusable Tote Bag.  See it on the right.

Lakers coach Luke Walton will throw the ceremonial first pitch.  Actor, writer and comedian Michael Keegan-Kay will throw an honorary first pitch.

DJ Adam will provide musical entertainment in the right-field plaza, a strolling magician will be in the left-field plaza and a DJ will provide musical entertainment in the right-field reserve from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Dodger first base coach George Lombard and Dodger Special Advisor Don Newcombe will present the 2016 Heart and Hustle Award to Utley. The Heart and Hustle Award recognizes one player on each Major League team who demonstrates a passion for the game of baseball and best embodies the values, spirit and traditions of the game.  Of the 30 winners from each Major League team, one player will be chosen as the final Heart and Hustle Award recipient, as voted on by the more than 5,600 current and alumni player members of the MLBPAA.

• The Military Hero of the Game is former U.S. Navy Specialist Hope Garcia of Pico Rivera. Garcia is an anti-terrorism/law enforcement military police veteran who completed 10 years of service in 2013. As a military police non-lethal weapons instructor and field training officer, she was certified to train, qualify and improve Naval Security Force personnel in their duties as law enforcement and anti-terrorism specialists. She was selected to work with the Criminal Investigative Division and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service while working on her bachelor’s degree in criminal science from Southwest University which she obtained in 2011. Garcia is featured in the documentary film “Served Like a Girl,” a story that explores the special challenges that women veterans face.

---------------

Sunday, July 31st at 1:10 PM
LHP Patrick Corbin vs. RHP Bud Norris
SNLA/AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

Sunday's game starts at 1:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 10:40 AM, and stadium gates open at 11:10 AM.  The first 40,000 fans in attendance will receive a #19 Jim Gilliam Retired Numbers Pin.  See it on the right.

It is Viva Los Dodgers in the Dodgers parking lot prior to the game at the Historic 76 Station.  Festivities begin at 11:10 AM. Entertainment will be provided by Hector Guerra and DJ Raul Campos. Dodger alumni Manny Mota and Bill Russell will sign autographs for fans.

Jim Gilliam’s grandson Shaun Belway will throw the ceremonial first pitch and RCA Records artist Parson James will perform the national anthem.

Dodgers Clayton Kershaw and Adrián González invite fans to join the Dodgers in celebrating faith, family, and fellowship at Dodger Stadium Sunday for the club’s annual Christian Faith Day. Following the game, Dodgers Kershaw, González, A.J. Ellis, Scott Van Slyke, Trayce Thompson, Louis Coleman, Dave Roberts, Turner Ward and Rob Flippo will share their personal testimonies with Pastor Brandon Cash of Oceanside Christian Fellowship. All fans in attendance are invited to stay after the game to enjoy the Christian Faith Day postgame program which also includes a performance by The Dream Center Worship Band.

• The Military Hero of the Game is U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Dean Zarate of Fort Riley, Kansas. Zarate joined the Army in 2009 and was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 2009-10. He was deployed to the Horn of Panjawi, Kandahar Province in Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom 2012-13 and just returned from his third deployment at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, in support of Operation Spartan Shield. Zarate currently serves as a squad leader in the 1st battalion 18th Infantry Regiment. His awards include four Army Commendation Medals, seven Army Achievement Medals and a NATO medal.
• The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) conducts silent auctions throughout the season featuring signed pieces of memorabilia from Dodger players, coaches and alumni. Auctions take place behind the Vin Scully press box on the club level. The items for auction Sunday include a Joc Pederson autographed jersey, a Andre Ethier autographed photo and a Trayce Thompson autographed baseball. More than 25 items will be up for bid.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *