TORONTO (AP) — Texas Rangers infielder Marcus Semien was out of the starting lineup for Saturday’s game at Toronto because of a sore left wrist.
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Semien was going for X-rays.
Semien was hit by a 91 mph fastball from Toronto’s Chris Bassitt in the second inning of Friday’s 6-5 loss. He remained in the game and hit a two-run homer off Louis Varland in the eighth.
Semien had played in 122 of Texas’ first 123 games. The three-time All-Star last sat April 13 at Seattle.
Ezequiel Duran started at second base for the Rangers on Saturday.
The time many Mets fans have waited for is here. Pitching prospect Nolan McLean made his MLB debut on Saturday afternoon against the Mariners and looked impressive.
Facing off against Randy Arozarena to start, McLean struck out the Seattle slugger swinging on four pitches. A sinker just outside started the at-bat before he got Arozarena to swing and miss and a called strike on the outside corner. The final pitch came on a cutter up and away to get Arozarena down on strikes.
After walking Cal Raleigh on five pitches, he got Julio Rodriguez to ground out and then had to face Josh Naylor with a runner on second.
After throwing a curveball in the dirt, a slider called a strike and a slider away had Naylor ahead 2-1. Naylor fouled off a cutter up in the zone before McLean got the left-handed slugger swinging on a curveball down to end the frame.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies closer Jhoan Duran described himself as “100 percent” on Saturday, a day after he left a 6-2 victory over Washington after taking a line drive off his right ankle.
“I’m normal, like nothing happened,” Duran said.
The right-hander, who has four saves in five scoreless appearances since he was acquired in a trade with Minnesota last month, was hit by Paul DeJong’s leadoff shot in the ninth inning Friday. Duran limped off to foul territory and eventually was taken off the field by the Nationals’ bullpen cart.
Manager Rob Thomson said X-rays were negative Friday and declared Duran “good to go” Saturday.
“He actually walked out to the bus pretty good, and then he came in normal,” Thomson said.
Thomson also said the Phillies plan to activate third baseman Alec Bohm on Sunday. Bohm went on the injured list July 19 with a fractured left rib. He is hitting .278 with eight homers and 42 RBIs.
WASHINGTON — Dave Dombrowski had troubling news to share early Saturday evening from the visiting clubhouse at Nationals Park.
Minutes after the Phillies’ 2-0 loss to Washington, Dombrowski announced that Zack Wheeler is being placed on the 15-day injured list with a “right upper extremity blood clot.”
The Phillies’ president of baseball operations was joined by head athletic trainer Paul Buchheit.
“There’s not a whole lot we can say on it at this time,” Dombrowski said, “but I commend Paul and the doctors for finding this because it could’ve been a much more trying situation than what it is.”
The 35-year-old Wheeler has been a bona fide ace since signing with the Phillies in December of 2019. He’s gone 69-37 with a 2.91 ERA and done stellar work in the playoffs. This season, Wheeler has a 10-5 mark and 2.71 ERA.
Asked about the location of the clot, Buchheit confirmed it’s in the region of Wheeler’s right shoulder.
“Zack had been feeling better after his right shoulder soreness, but yesterday some symptoms had changed,” Buchheit said. “He felt a little heaviness. The doctors here were great in helping to diagnose and expediting that diagnosis this morning.”
Buchheit noted that there’s not yet a definitive prognosis or treatment plan for Wheeler. He did not believe the clot was related to Wheeler’s prior shoulder soreness.
“It’s hard to say, but I don’t think so,” Buchheit said. “Talking with our doctors, it’s maybe independent. Again, there weren’t these types of symptoms prior, so I do think they were independent.”
The Phillies plan to evaluate Wheeler further early next week in Philadelphia.
For his teammates, it’s jarring news.
“It’s obviously scary. … Obviously, we’re praying for him, trying to keep in contact with him,” Taijuan Walker said. “But I know that he knows we’re all here for him.”
As far as the starting pitching picture, Aaron Nola will return Sunday and Phillies manager Rob Thomson will scrap his short-term plan of a six-man rotation.
“We don’t know the timeline,” Thomson said. “I’m thinking a lot about Zack and his family because it’s not a hamstring injury or something like that. But I feel good about the depth that we have. If we have to go to a (six-man rotation), it could be (Andrew) Painter, it could be somebody else. We’ve just got to carry on. People have to step up.”
Away from the field, the Phillies are hoping for the best.
“I shot him a text,” Kyle Schwarber said. “Sounded like everything was getting the tests done and things like that. It’s a scary situation, right? … Just want to get him back in here and hear from him. Hopefully, it’s not anything too serious. I don’t know what the prognosis is going to be or what they’re going to have to do. I don’t know if it’s surgery. I don’t think anyone knows right now. … But get him in here and get him healthy. I think that’s the biggest thing.
“Baseball is baseball. When it comes to someone’s health like that, we need him healthy first. He’s got a family, so we want to get him feeling good for them and get him back to speed whenever we can.”
With New York playing in the MLB Little League Classic on Sunday in Williamsport, PA, the team is allowed to roster a 27th man and it will be Acuña.
"We get a 27th man for tomorrow's game and it's got to be a position player," Mendoza said. "So he's here for taxi squad and he'll be active tomorrow as the 27th."
Acuña last played in the majors on July 29 against the San Diego Padres, coming in as a defensive replacement for Starling Marte in the eighth inning. Over 78 games with the Mets this season, the 23-year-old is hitting just .239 with seven doubles, seven RBI, 11 walks, and 12 stolen bases.
Since being sent back down to Triple-A, Acuña has played nine games for Syracuse. He's hitting .263 (10-for-38) with two doubles, two RBI, and one walk.
Mendoza did not share if Acuña will start the special event or just be available off the bench as a substitute.
On managing a pitcher in his MLB debut
Nolan McLean will make his highly anticipated debut Saturday afternoon against the Mariners as New York DFA'd Paul Blackburn to make room for the 24-year-old. Mendoza discussed his philosophy for managing a pitcher in their debut, saying you need to be able to adjust in hopes they "finish on a positive note."
"You want him to finish on a positive note as much as possible, but at the same time, you're managing the game accordingly," Mendoza said. "You have an idea, but the game will tell you what to do. You got to be able to adjust.
"Yeah, you keep in mind that it's his first outing. Like I said, ideally you want to end it on a positive note, but the game will tell you."
McLean has been dominant in the minors this season, going 8-5 with a 2.45 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 127 strikeouts over 113.2 IP with Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse. He said Friday how it's a "dream come true" to make his debut and hopes to give the Mets a much-needed boost to their pitching rotation.
Fighting through adversity
After Friday's tough 11-9 loss, Francisco Lindorsaid the team is "not clicking at the same time" and getting "outplayed" by other teams. With the loss, New York has dropped 14 of their last 16 games and fallen to 64-58 after starting the year 45-24.
Despite the downward trend, Lindor and others still expressed a belief that they can turn it around. Mendoza was asked about the team's struggles and discussed the challenge at hand, saying they need to "find a way" to "put it together."
"Of course it's a challenge, but there's a lot of experience there and there's talent, right?" Mendoza said. "We've been through adversity before and we come on top of it. We've gotten through it before. It's taken a long time this time.
"But again, nobody's going to feel sorry for you, nobody's going to feel sorry for us. We got to find a way, we got to find a way. That's the bottom line. Is it hard to describe? Yes, because of the talent that we got there. And it seems like one day it's this area, the next day it's the other area. We just got to put it together. We haven't been able to do that."
WASHINGTON — Cade Cavalli and the Nationals silenced the Phillies’ offense Saturday.
Taijuan Walker delivered another strong start, but the Phillies fell to a 2-0 loss at Nationals Park. They’ll try to split their four-game series in D.C. on Sunday.
Cavalli pitched seven shutout innings and notched his first MLB win. He scattered seven hits, struck out five and walked none.
Walker logged 6 and 2/3 innings and allowed six hits, two walks and two runs. Across his last three starts, he’s thrown 18 and 2/3 innings and given up only three runs. Walker’s season ERA is down to 3.34.
The Phillies had a baserunning miscue in both of the first two innings. Trea Turner doubled down the right-field line to lead off the game and then tried to steal his third base in two days. Cavalli caught him before throwing a pitch to Kyle Schwarber, stepping off the rubber and easily throwing Turner out at third.
With Brandon Marsh on second base in the second inning, Cavalli fielded Harrison Bader’s hard grounder up the middle and Marsh was unsuccessful in his dash for third. Max Kepler followed by flying out to the left-center warning track.
The Phils also came up short with runners in scoring position the next two innings. Kepler grounded into an inning-ending double play with runners on the corners in the fourth.
Walker was efficient out of the gates, ceding just one baserunner over the first three innings and throwing 30 pitches.
He hit his spots well and followed sound game plans for each hitter. Walker turned to his splitter more than usual, got regular ground balls and looked comfortable.
The 33-year-old righty’s day veered off course in the fifth inning. Dylan Crews reached on a one-out walk and Brady House hit a seeing-eye single into center field. Walker struck out Jacob Young, but James Wood gave Washington the lead by lacing a Walker splitter into the right-center gap for a two-RBI double.
Walker’s outing ended after Jacob Young lined an opposite-field single with two outs in the sixth. Jordan Romano came in to face Wood and struck him out.
Cavalli cruised through the sixth and seventh innings, retiring the Phils in order. Lefty reliever Jose A. Ferrer pitched a 1-2-3 eighth.
Ferrer stayed on the mound in the ninth. J.T. Realmuto ripped a one-out single, but the Phils didn’t have a comeback in store. Marsh grounded out and Bader whiffed at a 1-2 changeup.
Nearly home
The Phils will start quite early on Sunday for the final action of their 10-game road trip. The series finale is scheduled for 11:35 a.m.
Going into that game, the Phillies are 70-53 overall and 5-4 on the trip. Aaron Nola (1-7, 6.16 ERA) will oppose Mitchell Parker (7-13, 5.55 ERA). Phillies manager Rob Thomson said pregame that the club will “probably” activate Alec Bohm.
WASHINGTON — Cade Cavalli and the Nationals silenced the Phillies’ offense Saturday.
Taijuan Walker delivered another strong start, but the Phillies fell to a 2-0 loss at Nationals Park. They’ll try to split their four-game series in D.C. on Sunday.
Cavalli pitched seven shutout innings and notched his first MLB win. He scattered seven hits, struck out five and walked none.
Walker logged 6 and 2/3 innings and allowed six hits, two walks and two runs. Across his last three starts, he’s thrown 18 and 2/3 innings and given up only three runs. Walker’s season ERA is down to 3.34.
The Phillies had a baserunning miscue in both of the first two innings. Trea Turner doubled down the right-field line to lead off the game and then tried to steal his third base in two days. Cavalli caught him before throwing a pitch to Kyle Schwarber, stepping off the rubber and easily throwing Turner out at third.
With Brandon Marsh on second base in the second inning, Cavalli fielded Harrison Bader’s hard grounder up the middle and Marsh was unsuccessful in his dash for third. Max Kepler followed by flying out to the left-center warning track.
The Phils also came up short with runners in scoring position the next two innings. Kepler grounded into an inning-ending double play with runners on the corners in the fourth.
Walker was efficient out of the gates, ceding just one baserunner over the first three innings and throwing 30 pitches.
He hit his spots well and followed sound game plans for each hitter. Walker turned to his splitter more than usual, got regular ground balls and looked comfortable.
The 33-year-old righty’s day veered off course in the fifth inning. Dylan Crews reached on a one-out walk and Brady House hit a seeing-eye single into center field. Walker struck out Jacob Young, but James Wood gave Washington the lead by lacing a Walker splitter into the right-center gap for a two-RBI double.
“I had an opportunity to get out of that one,” Walker said. “I had an open base and Wood is obviously a really good hitter. I’ve just got to get that split a little more off. If I walk him, there’s an open base, and just try to get (CJ) Abrams. I just left it too much over the plate.”
Walker’s outing ended after Jacob Young lined an opposite-field single with two outs in the sixth. Jordan Romano came in to face Wood and struck him out.
“He got a lot of soft contact,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said of Walker. “A lot of soft contact. The split was good, cutter was good. He attacked the zone. I thought it was the best start of the year for him.”
Cavalli cruised through the sixth and seventh innings, retiring the Phils in order. Lefty reliever Jose A. Ferrer pitched a 1-2-3 eighth.
Ferrer stayed on the mound in the ninth. J.T. Realmuto ripped a one-out single, but the Phils didn’t have a comeback in store. Marsh grounded out and Bader whiffed at a 1-2 changeup.
Nearly home
The Phils will start quite early on Sunday for the final action of their 10-game road trip. The series finale is scheduled for 11:35 a.m.
Going into that game, the Phillies are 70-53 overall and 5-4 on the trip. Aaron Nola (1-7, 6.16 ERA) will oppose Mitchell Parker (7-13, 5.55 ERA). Phillies manager Rob Thomson said pregame that the club will “probably” activate Alec Bohm.
A day after Duran took a line drive to the ankle and left the field in the Nationals’ bullpen cart, Phillies manager Rob Thomson said the closer is “good to go” if there’s a Saturday save situation.
How does Duran feel?
“Good,” he said pregame. “A hundred percent. I don’t feel nothing. It’s crazy … like nothing happened.”
Duran received clean X-ray results Friday night and the Phillies’ concern soon evaporated.
“They feel like it hit his ankle, hit a nerve, and he got kind of dead foot,” Thomson said. “He actually walked out to the bus pretty good (last night), and then he came in normal today.”
Bohm likely back for series finale
Two Phillies appear set to return from rib injuries on Sunday.
“We’ll probably activate him tomorrow,” Thomson said. “He’ll be flying in here today.”
Bohm’s last MLB appearance came on July 18. He hit 3 for 21 for Triple-A Lehigh Valley with one walk and two strikeouts. Bohm homered on Wednesday and tripled on Thursday.
Slumping Castellanos sits
Over the Phillies’ last eight games, Nick Castellanos has reached base once.
The 33-year-old right fielder has gone 1 for 33 with zero walks and nine strikeouts. His season OPS has fallen under .700. Castellanos’ 88 OPS+ would be the worst in his career for a full season.
Thomson’s lineup Saturday did not include Castellanos. Max Kepler got the start in right field, Harrison Bader in center, Brandon Marsh in left.
“It was pre-planned,” Thomson said. “He swung the bat pretty good last night; he was a lot better. He was lofting some balls to center field, hit a couple of balls hard. Makes a great throw.
“He’ll be back in there tomorrow. … Moving forward, I’m trying to get a good mix of getting all those guys in there, because Nick’s going to get hot at some point and I want to make sure that I know when that is. And those other guys are swinging the bats well, too.”
When asked Thursday about Castellanos’ struggles, Thomson said he’s “just been off balance a little bit.”
“Not letting the ball travel,” Thomson said. “When he’s scuffling, that’s usually what he’s doing. We all know he’s a streaky guy and he’ll get it back. It’s just a matter of when.”
The Mets continue a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners at Citi Field on Saturday at 4:10 p.m. on PIX11.
Here's what to know about the game and how to watch...
Mets Notes
Top pitching prospect Nolan McLeanwill make his MLB debut. The 24-year-old owns an 8-5 record with a 2.45 ERA and 127 strikeouts over 21 minor league games
Francisco Lindor hit his seventh lead-off home run of the season in Friday's loss, tying Curtis Granderson (2015 and 2016) for the all-time Mets single-season record
Juan Soto has reached base in each of NY's 13 games in August, batting .280 with 12 runs, five homers, eight RBI, nine walks, four stolen bases and a .980 OPS. so far this month
MARINERS
METS
Randy Arozarena, LF
Francisco Lindor, SS
Cal Raleigh, C
Juan Soto, RF
Julio Rodriguez, CF
Brandon Nimmo, LF
Josh Naylor, 1B
Pete Alonso, 1B
Eugenio Suárez, 3B
Jeff McNeil, DH
Jorge Polanco, DH
Francisco Alvarez, C
Dominic Canzone, RF
Cedric Mullins, CF
J.P. Crawford, SS
Ronny Mauricio, 3B
Cole Young, 2B
Brett Baty, 2B
How can I watch the game online?
To watch Mets games online via PIX11, you will need a subscription to a TV service provider and live in the New York City metro area. This will allow fans to watch the Mets on their computer, tablet or mobile phone browser.
Dodgers first base Freddie Freeman walks in the dugout during a loss to the Angels on Tuesday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Lately, the only thing the Dodgers excel at is losing games they should win. When they hit they can’t pitch and when they pitch they can’t hit. They can’t move runners over or get a clutch hit and, of course, the relievers still can’t throw strikes. It all adds up to a good year ... for the Padres.
Alan Abajian Alta Loma
To paraphrase the old adage, you can put lipstick on the Dodgers — for example, so and so is coming back ... or recovering.
But any team that has played as inconsistently as they have at the plate, in the field, and on the pitcher’s mound is very unlikely to survive in multiple playoff short series. It’s virtually certain that type of team will get tripped up along the way. Especially one predicted to win 120 games.
Kip Dellinger Santa Monica
Mr. Plaschke is saying that the Dodgers' failure to trade for bullpen help is the problem with the bullpen. Maybe he should point the finger at the guy (mis)using them.
John Vitz Manhattan Beach
Re: Bill Plaschke’s column on Dodgers at trade deadline — The Dodgers didn’t have an “inability” to improve their bullpen, it was an “unwillingness.” With the talent in their system, the Dodgers could have easily put together a package to get Mason Miller, David Bednar or similar. Impossible to know if there was any meaningful undisclosed trade talk to get better bullpen help, but it sure looks like the Dodgers simply decided not to do it. It also looks like it could be a big mistake.
John Merryman Redondo Beach
Truth be told, the story was about the incredible Angel comeback/sweep of the Dodgers. Once again the columnist focuses on the Dodgers' injuries instead of the Angels' mind-blowing bottom of the ninth rally. Will the "Summer Bummer" continue when the Padres invade Dodger Stadium?
Patrick Kelley Los Angeles
Who ARE these people and what have they done with our Dodgers?
Sarah Tamor Santa Monica
Kershaw finding a way
Most of Clayton Kershaw's career he has been a very successful power pitcher. As he has aged, and his velocity has dipped, Kershaw has become more of a crafty left-hander. Whichever version pitches on the mound, I'm just glad that Clayton Kershaw continues to have success and win for the Dodgers.
Chris Sorce Fountain Valley
How about winning more games?
In response to Ben Bolch's suggestions on how to increase Bruin football attendance, many fans will say, "just win, baby." Our alumni group of eight purchased season tickets in 1976, the same year that Geof Strand began his magical cheerleading run. For a generation, every home game, win or lose, was pure fun. Eight-claps punctuated the fall afternoon days with "every man, woman, and child" on their feet. The Bruin Marching Band provided the music, no amplified DJ production required. It is nearly impossible to return to the past, but hopefully Martin Jarmond, et al., will give Mr. Bolch's ideas serious consideration.
Dave Sanderson La Cañada
Ben Bolch's analysis for the lack of attendance was very good and covered most points; the long drive, helping the students and fans with costs, and the late start times and late setting of start times all have an influence, but there is one other BIG problem, the seats are extremely uncomfortable. They are 100 years old. I am under 6 feet and when I go I have to sit sideways. There is no room for my knees with the seat in front of me. VERY UNCOMFORTABLE!. Also a comment on the start time for the games. Ben was right on that one too. Games with a 7 p.m. start time and we get no coverage on the East Coast, not even on the late news there. It hurts recruiting and image. Start the games no later than 4 p.m.
Marty Meltzer Reseda
Indicator of success?
Ryan Kartje writes that college football preseason polls are useless. That may be true for teams in the middle and below in the rankings but not at the top. In the 11-year history of the College Football Playoff no team outside the preseason top six has won the championship.
Gerry Swider Sherman Oaks
Bad luck or no luck
Just the Chargers’ luck. Constructing a top-10 offense takes a big hit with Rashawn Slater going down for the season. What’s next?
Mitchell W. Cohen East Windsor, N.J.
The Los Angeles Times welcomes expressions of all views. Letters should be brief and become the property of The Times. They may be edited and republished in any format. Each must include a valid mailing address and telephone number. Pseudonyms will not be used.
Max Muncy hits a home run for the Dodgers against the New York Yankees on June 1. Muncy is expected to miss at least several weeks with a right oblique muscle strain. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
In the box score, all was not well. As you already have guessed, the bullpen: Five relievers were needed to cover the final three innings, in which the San Diego Padres put potential tying and/or go-ahead runs on base in each of those innings.
And, on Day 1 of Life Without Muncy 2.0, the Dodgers managed four hits.
With 40 games to play, the Dodgers and Padres are tied atop the National League West. If Max Muncy can play in even a handful of those games, the Dodgers will be grateful.
The Dodgers put their third baseman on the injured list Friday afternoon because of a strained oblique muscle. When Muncy went on the injured list last month because of a knee injury, the Dodgers led the majors in runs. He missed 25 games, in which the Dodgers ranked last in runs.
“Max just has that balance in the lineup, as far as another left-handed (hitter),” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, “but also handles left-handed pitching and has the ability to get on base.
“He’s a threat. Now, without him, other guys have got to step up.”
The Dodgers’ left-handed bats, as of Friday: Ohtani, Freeman, outfielder Michael Conforto (.189) and backup catcher Dalton Rushing (.202).
It should go without saying that Ohtani and Freeman remain imposing. It should also go without saying that opponents might well line up right-handers against the Dodgers, including the Padres throwing Dylan Cease against them Saturday and Yu Darvish on Sunday.
Teoscar Hernández hits a solo home run in the seventh inning during the Dodgers' 3-2 win over the San Diego Padres on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
“We’re going to see a slew of right-handed pitching,” Roberts said. “There are going to be right-handers coming out of the pen.
“Our right-handers have got to be better.”
On that score, the most encouraging development for the Dodgers on Friday was Hernández hitting what turned out to be the decisive home run.
“Teo came to life with a big homer,” Roberts said.
Hernández hit 33 home runs last season, when his OPS was at least .762 in each month of the season. His OPS has been below .762 in each month this season except the first one.
In the Dodgers’ first 29 games, he hit nine home runs. In the 93 games since then, he has hit 10.
“Some days, it's good. Some days, it's bad,” Hernández said. “Some days, it's in between. Hitting is not easy. But I'm going to continue to keep working and try to be consistent for the month and a half, and hopefully in the playoffs.”
The pennant stretch comes first, and Roberts has faith in Hernández.
Said Roberts: “It’s an easy bet that, when the stakes get higher, Teo is going to really show up for us.”
Muncy does that, in getting on base and in circling the bases. In October, when the pitching can rise to the occasion, so can Muncy.
His OPS is higher in the playoffs than in the regular season. He walks way more often. He can elevate the Dodgers’ lineup in October, if the rest of the lineup can step up and help get him there.
Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws to first base to force out San Diego's Ramón Laureano during the fifth inning of the Dodgers' 3-2 win Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Kershaw gave up just two hits and one earned run over six innings. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
When the Dodgers are reeling and roiling and losing their grip on a long hot summer, who is the one player who can stop the fall and calm the nerves and, oh yeah, kick some San Diego Padre butt?
Still, still, still, Clayton Kershaw.
He’s 37 with a battered 18-season body and a fastball the speed of a Zamboni and yet there he was Friday night, carrying an entire worried Dodger nation on his weary shoulders into the opener of a three-game series against the cocky rivals who had just stolen first place.
“We had the right guy on the mound tonight, I think we all know that,” said manager Dave Roberts, smiling for what seemed like the first time in a week. “What he did for us tonight, not only just the compete, but the stuff ... getting us through six innings was huge, setting us up for the rest of the series ... Clayton set the tone ... big, big outing by him.”
It was a blast from the past, only it’s been happening in the present, Kershaw behaving like the staff’s second-best starter, improving his record to 7-2 while lowering his ERA to 3.01 and, as crazy as this once sounded, making an early case for inclusion in the postseason rotation.
“It was a good night,” Kershaw said.
Understated as usual. For all this game meant, it was a great night.
Since July 4 the Dodgers had been worse than even the Colorado Rockies, with a 12-21 record while losing 10 games in the standings to the Padres in a span of 40 days, surrendering first place just two days ago, and set to play the Padres six times in the next two weeks.
They desperately needed somebody to stop the bleeding. And before the game, Roberts claimed that Kershaw was “the perfect guy” to do it.
There was Kershaw, spinning and steering and surfing the ball past the Padre bats with apparent ease, his only mistake a hanging curve that Ramón Laureano hit 400 feet.
There was Kershaw, deftly making plays from the mound, demonstrably pleading for every close strike call, proudly stalking from the mound into a dugout filled with hugs and high-fives.
And there was Kershaw, after his maligned bullpen danced through danger and barely survived, admitting that maybe this game meant a little more.
“When you play everyday, things can spiral pretty quick,” he said. “So maybe just coming home, having an off day to reset, and playing good games ... it just takes one to get going. Hopefully this was it tonight for us.”
Before the game, Roberts acknowledged that the Dodgers just play harder, and with more urgency, when Kershaw is pitching.
“He had a way of elevating people’s focus and play,” Roberts said.
Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw turns to walk back to the dugout after the Dodgers completed a double play against the Padres in the sixth inning Friday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Sure enough, a team that had seemingly forgotten to do the little things did every little thing, from great defensive plays at the corners from Alex Freeland and Freddie Freeman to the eighth-inning sweeper from Blake Treinen that fooled Manny Machado into stranding two runners with a popout.
This is a team that devoutly follows Kershaw ... when they’re not sitting back and admiring him.
“He’s built for these big moments,” said Teoscar Hernández, whose seventh inning homer eventually proved to be the difference. “He is a legend.”
Kershaw was at his best when the Dodgers' best was needed, and in doing so he brought sanity back to the National League West and old-fashioned hardball back to a series that had become cheap and unseemly.
In these two teams’ seven previous meetings this season, the Padres Fernando Tatis Jr. was hit three times, Shohei Ohtani was hit twice, and Roberts and Padres manager Mike Shildt engaged in a brief shoving and shouting match.
The stage was set for more bad blood, but Kershaw, who entered with a career 23-11 record and 2.19 ERA against the Padres, quickly put an end to that. He retired the Padres on a three-up-three-down first inning and efficiently dominated them from there.
“It's a game in August, obviously, it’s not that huge a deal,” Kershaw said. “But the way we were going, it felt like a big game for us and, thankful that we got a win.”
The only possible controversy emerged when Kershaw was removed from the game after just 76 pitches, surprising fans who didn’t have time to give him the proper standing ovation while leaving the game in the shaky hands of the bullpen.
Get used to it. The Dodgers are smartly going to protect the midseason Kershaw in hopes of maximizing the October Kershaw.
“I just think we’ve got to take care of him,” Roberts said. “For Clayton to give us six strong innings of one-run baseball, he did his job, there was no reason to push him more.”
Before the game, Roberts was asked if his struggling team held a players-only meeting. He said that, no, the transparent results of the next week would be the equivalent of any meeting.
“I don’t like to be embarrassed, I don’t think our players do, so this series I’m expecting high intensity and high performance,” Roberts said. “I think in itself, the schedule over the next week, will suffice in lieu of a meeting.”
In an opener that pulled the two teams into a first-place tie, the early results were clear.
CINCINNATI — The Milwaukee Brewers just keep streaking, and now they’ve matched the franchise record for consecutive wins at 13.
The Brewers rallied from seven runs down through two innings Friday night by scoring nine unanswered runs in thumping the Cincinnati Reds 10-8.
Milwaukee opened the 1987 season winning the first 13.
“It’s just a special win,” said Christian Yelich, who had two homers among four hits driving in five runs.
This latest streak in a season in which the Brewers just don’t lose very often or bash their way back to one big win after another has them atop all of Major League Baseball with a 77-44 record. That’s six better than Toronto, and Milwaukee has opened up a nine-game lead inside the NL Central over Chicago.
That success has fed their confidence. Yelich told manager Pat Murphy they were going to win even when trailing 8-1 after two innings. He played with a bat honoring Bob Uecker, the Brewers’ former announcer who died in January at the age of 90, down to his signature home run call.
Yelich said the Brewers have been in this situation before and always find a way to make it close.
“Just with the way that our team is I knew we weren’t going to get our doors blown off,” Yelich said. “You know we’re going to find a way to get our way back into that thing. We just got a roomful of fighters and guys who just don’t care what the scoreboard says or anything like that.”
Uecker, nicknamed Mr. Baseball, broadcast Milwaukee games for over half a century. Murphy said they just have to convince themselves that Uecker is still with them after what he meant to the organization.
“Somehow it seems like he’s watching over us,” Murphy said. “I said he’s not going to miss a game. Well, he was definitely here tonight. Yelly proved it. Special.”
Yelich nearly put his bat away after an opening home run only to keep swinging it the rest of the game. He was supposed to use the bat honoring Uecker last year, and Uecker loved the bat when he saw it. Yelich called this kind of a full-circle moment.
“If you know Ueck, you know like crazy things like that are going to happen when he’s involved,” Yelich said. “It just adds to like how special tonight was.”
Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw delivers during the first inning of a 3-2 win over the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on Friday night. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
On a night the Dodgers had a stadium-wide giveaway promotion for the anime show "Demon Slayer," the club slayed a few recently troublesome demons of its own.
In the opening game of this season’s biggest series to date, they finally found a way not to trip over themselves.
By beating the San Diego Padres 3-2 at Dodger Stadium, the club moved back into a tie with the Padres for first place in the National League West.
They got six strong innings from Clayton Kershaw; plus, in a refreshing change of pace, plenty of crisp, clean defense behind him.
And though a lineup that lost Max Muncy to the injured list with an oblique strain before the game was largely contained by the Padres (who had to go with a bullpen game after scheduled starter Michael King was shelved with a shoulder injury), the Dodgers still managed to break their four-game losing streak thanks to their biggest weakness of late.
For the first time in what felt like several weeks, a scuffling bullpen finally didn’t cough up a late, narrow lead.
The Dodgers (69-53) came into this weekend’s rivalry series reeling in a way that once seemed impossible for this year’s $400-million team.
Since July 4, they were just 12-21. What had been a nine-game division lead then was transformed into a one-game deficit to the Padres, who came to Los Angeles riding high thanks to a monster trade deadline and a recent 14-3 streak.
More dark clouds formed a few hours before first pitch when Muncy (who missed Wednesday’s game with side soreness) was placed on the injured list with a Grade 1 oblique strain, sidelining him for at least the next several weeks.
And though the Dodgers had taken five of seven games from the Padres (69-53) earlier this season, they suddenly felt more like an underdog now, searching for answers to their recently inconsistent offense, unsound fundamentals and untrustworthy bullpen (which had squandered five games in the past two weeks).
“I don't like to be embarrassed. I don't think our players do [either],” manager Dave Roberts said before the game. “So this series, I'm expecting high intensity and high performance.”
The Dodgers delivered on both.
Kershaw set the tone, displaying a vintage demeanor even with his ever-diminished stuff. Before the game, he marched through the clubhouse and hunched over his locker, leafing through a scouting report while teammates carefully tip-toed around him. Between innings, he quietly paced in the dugout while avoiding almost any human contact. And when he was atop the mound, he pounded the strike zone and executed pitch after pitch, yielding his only run in the second inning when Ramón Laureano (one of several sizzling San Diego deadline acquisitions) clipped the outside of the left-field foul pole to open the scoring.
“There's just no one more intense or focused than Clayton,” Roberts said. “He has a way of elevating people's focus and play.”
It certainly appeared that way. Defensively, the Dodgers helped Kershaw out by turning several tough plays around the infield — from Freddie Freeman picking a ball in the dirt the second inning, to Alex Freeland and then Kershaw himself making tough plays in the third and fifth, respectively.
Teoscar Hernández celebrates as he runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Padres in the seventh inning Friday.
San Diego's Manny Machado reacts after striking out in the first inning.
Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts throws to first base to complete the double play after forcing out San Diego's Freddy Fermin at second base.
Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times
At the plate, the Dodgers also managed to capitalize on a bases-loaded, no-out opportunity in the third, after singles from Michael Conforto and Freeland were followed by a popped-up Miguel Rojas bunt that Padres third baseman Manny Machado couldn’t catch with a dive.
The Dodgers didn’t get another hit in the inning, but Shohei Ohtani drove in one run by beating out a potential double-play ball. Mookie Betts then added a go-ahead sacrifice fly.
The score remained 2-1 until Teoscar Hernández belted an opposite-field homer in the seventh, producing a massively important insurance run.
Then, it was up to the bullpen, which was asked to protect the kind of slim late-game lead they’ve squandered all too often during the team’s recent skid.
Ben Casparius pitched a scoreless seventh inning, stranding a two-out double from Jackson Merrill.
Dodgers relief pitcher Jack Dreyer celebrates after the final out of a 3-2 win over the San Diego Padres on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Alex Vesia created a jam in the eighth by hitting two batters and loading the bases on a walk. But the Padres only managed one run, with Vesia getting Luis Arraez to hit a sacrifice fly before Blake Treinen came on and retired Manny Machado on a first-pitch pop-up.
In the ninth inning, surprisingly, Roberts didn’t stick with Treinen — who they’ve been wary of using for multiple innings as he continues to work his way back from an early-season elbow injury.
The move might’ve been questionable. But, at long last, the result didn’t backfire.
Alexis Díaz and Jack Dreyer pitched around a single from Merrill in the ninth.
The Dodgers finally held on to a late lead. And after spending the last 48 hours in second place, the team climbed back to the top of the division standings, exorcising the close-game demons that had so dauntingly haunted them over the last several weeks.
