Hyun-jin Ryu-6-2 vs. Phil Hughes-3-5

The Dodgers return to New York to play the Yankees for a two game interleague series which begins tonight. The Dodgers haven’t played the Yankees in New York since game 6 of the 1981 World Series. The Dodgers have played the Yankees twice since, taking two of three at Dodger Stadium in 2004, and losing two of three in Los Angeles in 2010.

If you remember the last game against the Yankees back in 2010, was the infamous 48 pitch Jonathan Broxton implosion game where the Dodgers blew a three run lead in the top of the ninth, to eventually lose in extras. Then manager Joe Torre, of course another former Yankee, was unable to see his own reckless use of his bullpen. Now his protégé another former Yankee who can’t use a bullpen properly either, Don Mattingly returns to his old stomping grounds. Mattingly of course played for the Yankees from 1982-1995.

Ryu and A.J.-Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The Yankees have been able to do something that the Dodgers haven’t, overcome all of their injuries. Now here’s an example of a team not using injuries as an excuse, and winning anyways. The Yankees have had a ton of injuries this season, mostly to their lineup. Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and Curtis Granderson are all injured. Also injured is Mark Teixeira, who is battling a wrist injury. There’s like half of their lineup. The Yankees have been winning with a solid pitching staff and a good defensive position player roster. The Yankees rank ninth in the majors in pitching, (staff ERA of 3.71), and they rank third in overall team defense. The Yankees have only made 25 errors all season. In comparison, the Dodgers have made 48 errors. The Yankees issues are on offense in which they are only hitting .240 as a team, but they have hit 72 home runs, compared to the Dodgers 50.

The Yankees had had to pick up and use guys like Lyle Overbay, and Vernon Wells, so I am not exactly sure what kind of lineup we will see from them. They still have second baseman Robinson Cano, Closer Mariano Rivera who is supposedly in his swan song season, and old friend Hiroki Kuroda, who we will see tomorrow.

The Yankees come into the series with a 38-31 record in third place in the A.L. East three and a half games out of first place. While the Dodgers come in still sunk in last place with a 29-39 record, seven games out of first place. Of course the Dodgers still haven’t announced who will start against Kuroda tomorrow night. They have three options. Chris Capuano is one. If he isn’t healthy, then they could call up Matt Magill, or they could use Jonathon Sanchez. None of those are great options.

For tonight’s game, they will give the ball to Ryu, who is having a solid season. He received a no-decision in his last start against Arizona, when he pitched six frames, allowed three runs on eleven hits and whiffed two. Ryu is 6-2 with a 2.85 ERA this season and 75 whiffs against only 25 walks in 85 innings pitched. Ryu is 2-1 with a 4.10 ERA away from Dodger Stadium.

The Yankees will counter with Phil Hughes. The 26 year old Mission Viejeo California native has had an up and down year. The right hander is 3-5 with a 4.89 ERA. He has 65 whiffs and 22 walks in 70 innings. Hughes is 28-14 with a 4.60 ERA lifetime at Yankee Stadium. In 307 innings there, Hughes has whiffed 268. Believe it or not but five Dodgers have faced Hughes before. Probably from their American League days. The Dodgers are hitting .375 ( 9 for 24) against Hughes. Adrian Gonzalez is hitting .357 ( 5 for 14) with a double. Nick Punto is 3 for 5 with two doubles and three RBI. No home runs though.

Hi Phil. We have never seen you before-Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Gonzalez of course has five home runs in 15 career games at Yankee Stadium. Andre Ethier is heating up to, and is 10 for his last 24. The Yankee fans will get their first looks at Yasiel Puig, who is now hitting .479. it remains to be seen how sore Hanley will be after fouling a ball off of hi snards on Sunday. With the games in the A.L. park there will be use of the DH in both games. Perhaps Hanley can DH and get some extra rest for little Hanley.

This should be interesting. It would be nice to see the Dodgers beat the Yankees in New York, but you know I have little confidence in this year’s squad to do anything other than find some way to lose. It’s just what they do in 2013.

I know these two games aren’t going to turn the season around, but can we just win for pride? Look Dodgers, you can go back to losing as soon as you leave New York. Until then you better win these two games, otherwise it will be mighty embarrassing on a national forum.

You can catch the game on KCAL 9 at 4:05 PM. Don’t forget to watch some Think Blue t.v. before the game, but afterwards hop over here to check out our recap of the game. Go Blue!

Diamondbacks 8 20 0

F/12

WP- Collmenter (3-0)

LP- Belisario (3-5)

HR- Hernandez (3)

There were no brawls, but the Dodgers and D-backs series finale sure had the two teams locked in a tie for most of the game. We expected to see a pitcher’s duel between ace Patrick Corbin and rookie Hyun-jin Ryu, but it was anything but. Both Corbin and Ryu struggled, and neither one of them was involved in the decision.

Are Gibby and Mattingly friends again?
Photo: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers rallied for four runs in the bottom of the fifth, but the offense could do little else after that. Arizona plugged away, and once they got deep into the Dodgers bullpen in the top of the twelfth inning they reared their fangs. Ronald Belisario and Brandon League had to be used in the twelfth inning, and the D-backs pounced on Belisario and League once they got the chance. Arizona put up a big four runs in the twelfth, and the Dodgers failed to rally back enough to overcome the deficit.

A.J. Pollack lines out to Jerry Hairston Jr. who is in left field. Gerardo Parra continues to annoy as he singles past a diving Juan Uribe at third base. Paul Goldschmidt singles as well, and the D-backs have back-to-back singles in the top of the first against Hyun-jin Ryu. The southpaw is calm and collected out on the mound. Ryu is almost Zen like. He collects a comebacker hit by Cody Ross, turns and throws to second where Mark Ellis is to complete the inning ending double play!

Nick Punto flexes his warning track power to lead-off the bottom half of the first. The shortstop hits a deep fly ball to center field, but Cody Ross is there. Mark Ellis grounds out sharply to third. Adrian Gonzalez strikes out, and the Dodgers go down in order.

Miguel Montero flares a single over Uribe’s head and into left field to begin the second inning. Martin Prado grounds into a 4-6-3 double play, and the Dodgers are able to erase another D-back hit. Didi Gregorius pops out to end the frame.

With one out in the bottom of the fourth, Juan Uribe singles up the middle even though Gregorius attempts to roll around to get the ball. Andre Ethier flies out. Hernandez quietly pops out, and the Dodgers can’t muster anything much off the 9-0 Corbin.

Patrick Corbin can apparently hit as well as pitch. He strokes a one-out single to center field in the top of the third.

Hyun-jin Ryu was not dominant, but he made up for it with his bat. Photo: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

A.J. Pollack draws a walk, and the D-backs have another two runners on board. Parra grounds into a force out. Pollack is out at second, but Corbin advances to third on the play. Ryu pitches out of the jam again, and he gets Goldschmidt to ground out to second. MEllis makes a nice play to throw Goldy out at first.

Alex Castellanos, who is playing for the injured Puig, hits a long single to left field to lead the inning off. Ryu successfully bunts Castellanos into scoring position with the sacrifice. Punto hits a comebacker, and the D-backs catch Castellanos in a pickle between second and third. With Mellis batting, Punto is cut down at second by Montero on an attempted steal or maybe a busted hit-and-run play.

In the fourth, the slithery snakes single four times in a row. Cody Ross singles on a hard hit ball to third base. Uribe tries to launch it to first, but he is late. Montero singles on a shallow fly ball to center. Ethier tries to dive to catch it to no avail. Prado singles to left field, and Hairston guns a throw to the plate. Ramon Hernandez is unable to catch the ball, and Ross scores. Gregorius follows with a single which scores Montero. Then the D-backs score a third run off Ryu when Prado comes home on a ground ball double play hit by Cliff Pennington. Corbin lines out to end the inning, but the damage is done as the D-backs take a 3-0 lead.

Patrick Corbin quickly retires the Dodgers on 11 pitches in the bottom of the fourth. Gonzo strikes out for a second time.

The Dodgers turn yet another double play to end the inning in the top of the fifth. Parra annoyingly singles, but Goldschmidt grounds into a D.P.

Patrick Corbin had an uncharacteristic meltdown for a four run fifth inning. Photo: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers strike back in the bottom of the fifth to tie up the game. Juan Uribe, who’s on a personal mission this season, leads off the inning with a double. Ethier grounds out, and Uribe takes third on the play. Uribe scores on a ground out to second by Hernandez, 3-1. Then Alex Castellanos shows us a peek of his potential as he smacks a ground-rule double to left field. A passed ball by Montero with Ryu batting allows Castellanos to take third. Ryu then wallops a ball past a diving Parra, and the big Korean pitcher ends up at third with a stand-up triple! It was amazing to see Ryu run! He’s a fantastic athlete. Castellanos easily scores, and it’s 3-2. The barrage against Corbin continues as Punto singles to center field. Ryu brings in the tying run! Mark Ellis singles to center for the fourth consecutive Dodger hit. Gonzalez brings home Punto with another single! Hairston’s deep fly ball is a bit short, and the Dodgers take the lead after bringing nine men to the plate versus Corbin.

Cody Ross promptly singles to lead-off the top of the sixth. Miguel Montero strikes out, and that’s Ryu’s first strikeout of the game surprisingly. Martin Prado draws a walk. Then Hernandez and Honeycutt go out to talk to Ryu who seems to be struggling tonight. Gregorius singles to left field, and the D-backs have loaded the bases up with one out. Ryu gets a big strikeout out as Pennington swings on a high fastball. Pinch-hitter Willie Bloomquist pops out to Gonzalez, and once again Ryu pitches out of the jam! He’s been walking the tightrope all night.

Patrick Corbin ended up going 5 innings and allowed 4 runs on 8 hits with 2 strikeouts and no walks on 65 pitches.

Hyun-jin Ryu pitched 6 innings and allowed 3 runs on 11 hits with 2 strikeouts and 2 walks on an even 100 pitches.

Will Harris will take over in relief of Patrick Corbin in the bottom of the sixth for Arizona. Uribe strikes out. Ethier

Dodger pitchers have the best batting average in the league amongst pitchers. Photo: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

pops out. Hernandez draws a two-out walk. With Castellanos batting, Hernandez steals second without a throw. Castellanos ends up striking out.

Chris Withrow will make his Major League debut for the top of the seventh inning in this one-run lead game. He is the first member of the Dodgers 2007 draft class to reach the MLB level. Withrow’s first two pitches to A.J. Pollack are 98 and 97 m.p.h. Pollack ends up striking out for Withrow’s first K. Parra lines out to right field where Skip Schumaker is playing now. Goldschmidt dribbles an infield single up along third for a two-out hit. Cody Ross singles up the middle, and that’s Ross’s third hit of the night. Montero flares a little single to left field, and Goldschmidt brings home the tying run. Withrow throws hard, but he is still not fooling some of these Arizona hitters. Withrow walks Prado to load the bases up, and Don Mattingly finally decides to make a change. Paco Rodriguez will pitch to Gregorius with the bases loaded and two outs. Paco strikes out Didi on a breaking ball to get out of the inning! Great pitch by Paco.

Tony Sipp will pitch the bottom of the seventh for the D-backs. Shumaker grounds out, and Kirk Gibson will go to the pen again. Another righty Brad Ziegler comes in to pitch to Nick Punto. Punto hits a scorcher, but Prado snags it. Mark Ellis grounds out to third, and the Dodgers are shut down in order.

Paco is still in for the top of the eighth. He allows the dreaded lead-off walk to Pennington. Kubel strikes out. With Pollack in the batter’s box, Pennington starts to go and is caught back at first on a good throw by Hernandez and tag by Gonzo. Pollack grounds out to third, and the game remains tied 4-4 as we head to the bottom of the eighth.

Jun 12, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Chris Withrow (44) and catcher Ramon Hernandez (55) talk on the mound during the seventh inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

David Hernandez, who served up three runs last night, is in for the Snakes. Gonzalez flies out and he goes 1-for-4 on the night. Hairston also flies out. Uribe grounds out, and Hernandez sets the Dodgers down 1-2-3.

Kenley Jansen will pitch the top of the ninth for the Dodgers. Kenley collected a save in last night’s tumultuous game. Kenley whiffs both Parra and Goldschmidt consecutively. Cody Ross grounds out to end the perfect inning by Kenley.

Hernandez is still in for the bottom of the ninth for the D-backs. Andre Ethier smacks a lead-off single to right field to start things off. Hernandez is still in the game, and he is bunting. Of course the bunt never works, and Hernandez strikes out bunting. Hanley Ramirez will pinch-hit for the pitcher’s spot. Ramirez grounds into the inning ending double play and we head into extra innings.

J.P. Howell comes in to pitch in the top of the tenth, and he pitches a nice 1-2-3 inning.

Josh Collmenter will pitch the bottom of the tenth. Schumaker strikes out. Punto flies out to center. Mark Ellis lays down a bunt down the third base line, and he legs out an infield single on the drag bunt! Adrian Gonzalez strikes out again. That’s his third whiff of the game.

Howell is still in to begin the top of the eleventh. Pennington leads off with a double off the left field bullpen fence. Collmenter can’t lay down a successful bunt, and like Hernandez strikes out bunting. Mattingly will go to the pen once again to bring in Ronald Belisario. Beli becomes the sixth Dodger pitcher of the game. Pollack grounds out, and that will bring up Gerardo Parra with Pennington at third and two outs. Belisario walks Parra, and now he’ll have to face Goldschmidt. He hits a slicing fly ball to left field, but Hairston makes a nice catch to preserve the tie.

In the bottom of the eleventh, Hairston pops out against Collmenter for the first out. Uribe flies out. Ethier flies out to the center field warning track for the last out.

We head to the top of the twelfth inning, and Belisario will start it off. Cody Ross doubles to center field, and he seems to taunt Andre Ethier after he slides into second base. Montero singles on a ground ball to Mark Ellis, and the D-backs have runners at first and second with nobody out. Prado hits a ground-rule double over the head of Hairston in left, and the D-backs take a 5-4 lead. Gregorius is intentionally walked to load the bases up. That’s Mattingly’s cue to make his signature double switch. Even though the damage is done. Brandon League comes in, and he promptly allows a base hit to Pennington. The Snakes now lead 6-4. Pollock’s chopper is turned into a force play at the plate. Parra singles, and two more runs score. League serves up runs so quickly, it’s hard to keep up. Then he walks Goldschmidt to reload the bases.  Ross grounds out to mercifully end the inning. All four of those runs are charged to Belisario.

Heath Bell comes in for the bottom of the twelfth. Ramon Hernandez proceeds to hit a solo homerun to left field,

Cody Ross celebrates annoyingly. Photo: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

but the Dodgers are still down 8-5. Yasiel Puig singles. His shoulder must not be that bad. Skip Schumaker draws a walk. Punto grounds out, and he is called out even though he tries to slide head first into the first base bag. Puig scores on a groundout by MEllis, and the Dodgers are down to their last at-bat. Gonzalez draws a walk. The Arizona bullpen may not be that great, but it’s still better than the Dodgers. Tim Federowicz grounds into a force out to end the game.

The Dodgers fall to 28-37, and they continue to fare horribly against divisional opponents.

Tomorrow the Dodgers have a much-needed off day before embarking on a nine-game road trip. Friday night they will open a three-game set with the Pirates at PNC Park.