The Dodgers paid tribute to Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully on Friday, and a crowd of 52,320 roared its approval during an hourlong ceremony on his appreciation night before Los Angeles’ 5-2 victory against Colorado.
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Kershaw (12-3) was brilliant, forcing out hitters like a forked flash of lightning, as he regained his MVP form, earning his first victory since June 20th.
The Rockies lost 14-1 on Saturday night, their 82nd defeat of the season and third in a row that assured the team of its sixth straight losing season.
The 2014 MVP said he’s feeling close to 100 percent and it showed on the field as he struck out six and walked none in seven scoreless innings on Saturday.
“He had a hard time commanding the ball which is usually what it comes down to in this league”, Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. “He’s got the total package”.
With six strikeouts and no walks on the night Kershaw has 23 strikeouts against only one walk since his return from the disabled list, and a 0.86 ERA in those four starts. Kershaw has 168 strikeouts in just 20 starts this season. “I’ve got to take more approaches that way”. “I’m trying to live”.
The grand salami (yes, that’s what it’s called), was the fourth of Reddick’s career and the seventh for the Dodgers on the season. He finished 2 for 4. Josh Reddick hit a grand slam, his second home run as a Dodger and third hit of the night, to cap the Dodgers’ scoring.
“I’ve been a little more lucky this month”, Reddick said of his September turnaround.
“Just gotta keep grinding”, Reddick said. “That was one thing that got me through”. A two-run single by Pederson with the bases loaded boosted them to a 2-0 edge.
“He is doing big-time stuff”, Weiss said. “When you’re playing good in all three phases of the game, it makes it really fun to come to the ballpark”. Those two solo-shots gave the Dodgers a commanding 4-0 lead. “It’s a fun game to pitch”.
Anderson also defeated the Dodgers on August 3, allowing two runs and six hits in seven innings.McCarthy returns from a stint on the disabled list because of stiffness in his right hip to make his first start since August 13 in place of Rich Hill, who has been scratched because of concerns about a blister. “The pitches have to be better”. Justin Turner (three singles and two walks) was on base in each of his first five plate appearances and Joc Pederson (a two-run single, two walks and a hit by pitch) did it four times.
Rookie Pat Valaika, from nearby Valencia, hit his first major league homer in the eighth off Jesse Chavez for Colorado’s run. “There’s some thunder in that bat”.
“It was 6-to-nothing at one point, so I figured our chances were slim”, said Kershaw of the Giants-Padres score during the game. But we’ll save it for tomorrow, I guess.
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Clayton Kershaw: Seven shutout innings. Turner went 3 for 3, drove in two runs and drew two walks. Gray would then settle down, striking out both Josh Reddick and Andrew Toles to erase the damage. “Fastball command is No. 1 in pitching and without that, it’s pretty tough”. Oddly enough, Colorado’s ace lasted just four innings, needing 106 pitches to do so. Hill will start either next Saturday or Sunday at San Francisco. “It’s good for your players to see that, the young players especially”.
