That was a tough loss yesterday. We had our newest potential ace-in-the-making get on the mound to try to finish out the series, but it was not to be. One singular inning was the cause. Walker Buehler, during the second frame, struggled. He just couldn't find the plate. It was like a temporary case of the 'yips' that resulted in walking the bases loaded and throwing a 3-2 'meat-ball' that found it's way into the left field seats for a grand slam. After that, he settles down and proceeded to get the next ten batters out -- four on strike outs. Per Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider:
“It’s on me,” Buehler said. “I’ll fix it, and we’ll be better, and that’s it.”
...Today's game starts at 1:30 PM and Rich Hill will face off against Game 1 starter Mike Foltynewicz.
“It takes a lot of maturity and focus,” manager Dave Roberts said of Buehler’s recovery. “So he did lose his focus, I think, in that point in time, but again, for him in a big game like this to go back out there and throw up a couple more zeroes, that was huge for us, and we had a chance to win the baseball game. So Walker’s coming back and giving us five innings right there, it was big.”
Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2018 at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:
- This Day in Dodgers History: In 1956 Yankees hurler Don Larson threw his World Series Game 5 Perfect Game against the Dodgers, 2-0. He threw 97 pitches, struck out seven and walked none. In 1957 Walter O'Malley officially announced that the Dodgers would be moving to Los Angeles for the next upcoming season. In 1959 the Dodgers defeated the White Sox in Game 6 of the World Series to win their second championship. Larry Sherry came in to pitch 5.2 innings in relief to win the game, 9-3. In 2009 the Dodgers win Game 2, 3-2, of the NLCS against the Cardinals on a come-from-behind walkoff single by Mark Loretta. The victory was set up by an Matt Holliday two-out error on a sinking line drive in left field that gave the Dodgers an opportunity to rally. You can watch Holliday's flub here, and you can watch a condensed version of the game here.
- Happy Birthday, Jim Conway, Jimmy Peoples, Paul Schreiber, Lee Rogers, Enos Cabell, Mike Morgan & Olmedo Sáenz!
- Memorabilia Watch: Check out this fantastic game-sued 1960 Dodger jersey worn by Don Drysdale (link here) at Heritage Auctions. There is also a 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers National League Championship Ring (link here) that was originally given to Dodgers Business Manager John Collins, Sr. Collins began with the club as a 13-year old snacks vendor and rose up the ranks during a 40-year career with Brooklyn.
- Podcast: Dodgers Nation -- Episode 23 – Dodgers Playoffs: Babe Ryuth and Clayton Kurveshaw | Blue Heaven Podcast (Podcast Link).
- Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com; "Honeycutt an unsung hero behind L.A. pitching: Dodgers' longtime coach brings 'entire package' to table."
"The one thing about Honey above everything is that he really cares," Kershaw said. "He feels badly when you're not pitching well, and he does everything he can to help."Buehler is 24. No. 4 starter Hill, at 38, estimates he's had 20 or more pitching coaches in a 17-season pro career.
"Honey's the best pitching coach I've ever had, and I had great pitching coaches," Hill said. "His calm approach and understanding how each guy works, he just keeps things in perspective. He makes things simple to understand for everybody. That's why pitching staffs here have been the best in the game.
- I can't imagine that you missed this moment over the weekend, but just in case you did go ahead and check this out. Per Mark Townsend at Yahoo Sports; "Young Dodgers fan has perfect birthday after catching Manny Machado NLDS homer."
- ICYMI: Per Ben Badler at Baseball America; "Dodgers Sign Cuban Pitcher Osvani Gutierrez."
Gutierrez, 17, is 6-foot-1, 170 pounds with a fastball that has been up to 93 mph. He's a solid strike-thrower for his age despite some effort in his delivery and shows feel for his secondary pitches, with his changeup more advanced than his curveball right now. Pitching in Cuba's 15U national league in 2016, Gutierrez posted a 2.16 ERA in 75 innings with 60 strikeouts and 29 walks, ranking second in the league in innings behind Astros righthander Franny Cobos.
- To no one's surprise, Walker Buehler has been named to Baseball America's 2018 MLB All-Rookie Team. Check it out here.
- I really love this... And only because I hated Dale Murphy too. Per Adam Hughes at Wax Pack Gods; "10 Reasons I Can't Stand Sale Murphy and His Despicable 1983 Topps Baseball Card."
3) Murphy’s 1983 Topps card is the very image of arrogance. There he is in the on-deck circle, twisted toward the camera with his bat extended as if to say, “See, this is how I inflict pain on pitchers across the land.” His short sleeves showcase slender but muscular arms and square shoulders that seem to taunt you. “Does your team have anyone like me?”.And then, just to throw a little more shade your way, Murphy smiles off into the blue sky from his picture-in-picture head shot, teeth and dimple basking in the sunshine. “I’m just better than you all around.”
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