LOS ANGELES — Clayton Kershaw delivered a vintage performance for his 200th win, pitching seven splendid innings of three-hit ball as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Mets 5-0 on Tuesday night.

J.D. Martinez homered twice off Tylor Megill (3-1) and drove in four runs, finishing with four hits to help the Dodgers stop New York’s five-game winning streak.

Kershaw (3-1) struck out nine to pass Mickey Lolich for 22nd place on the career list with 2,833 strikeouts. The three-time Cy Young Award winner improved to 200-88 in 405 games (402 starts) over 16 major league seasons — the best winning percentage among the 117 pitchers to win 200 games.

The only one of them with a lower career ERA than Kershaw is Hall of Famer Walter Johnson.

Kershaw allowed three singles and no walks, moving to 11-0 with a 2.03 ERA in 17 regular-season starts against the Mets. Evan Phillips and Brusdar Graterol finished the four-hitter, Los Angeles’ first shutout this season.

ANGELS 5, YANKEES 2

NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani homered on the 100th anniversary of the original Yankee Stadium, following Babe Ruth’s example with a loud two-run drive in the first inning that sent Los Angeles past New York.

In a starry matchup that included three AL MVPs, Ohtani turned on an 88.7 mph sweeper from Clarke Schmidt (0-1) and hit a 116.7 mph shot into the Yankees bullpen in right-center, his fourth homer of the season.

Mike Trout, the 2014, ’16 and ’19 MVP, singled and doubled for the Angels. Reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge hit a sacrifice fly in a two-run fourth for the Yankees after Andrew Wantz (1-0) walked rookie Anthony Volpe with the bases loaded.

PHILLIES 7, WHITE SOX 4, GAME 1

WHITE SOX 3, PHILLIES 0, GAME 2

CHICAGO (AP) — Lucas Giolito and four relievers combined on a one-hitter to give Chicago a split of its doubleheader with Philadelphia.

Brandon Marsh had Philadelphia’s only hit in the second game, an opposite-field double to left on reliever Aaron Bummer’s first pitch of the eighth inning.

Giolito was pulled after throwing 102 pitches in six innings. He struck out seven, walked one and hit a batter. Kendall Graveman retired the side on eight pitches in the seventh, Bummer got two outs in the eighth and Reynaldo Lopez set down the last four batters, striking out three, to earn his third save.

Jake Burger hit his fourth homer in five games, a three-run shot to left field in the first inning off left-hander Bailey Falter (1-2).

In the opener, Josh Harrison homered among his three hits and drove in four runs for the Phillies. Bryson Stott began the game with a single, extending his hitting streak to 17 games and surpassing the franchise record of 16 to start a season, set by Puddin’ Head Jones in 1950. His streak ended in the nightcap.

Relievers Gregory Soto, Craig Kimbrel, Seranthony Dominguez and Jose Alvarado struck out eight while retiring all 12 White Sox batters they faced in the first game. Alvarado got his first save. Zack Wheeler (1-1) gave up four runs in five innings.

Chicago starter Lance Lynn (0-2) allowed five runs on a season-high 10 hits.

BRAVES 8, PADRES 1

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Spencer Strider and three relievers combined on a four-hitter and Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies and Sean Murphy each hit an impressive homer for NL East-leading Atlanta, which beat struggling San Diego.

The Braves have won eight straight, the longest active streak in the majors. The Padres have lost six of seven.

Strider (2-0) held the Padres hitless until Juan Soto singled on his 90th pitch, with one out in the sixth.

Murphy homered into the second deck in left field off Blake Snell (0-3) leading off the fourth.

RAYS 10, REDS 0

CINCINNATI (AP) — Taylor Walls homered twice and drove in four runs and rookie right-hander Taj Bradley dazzled in his second start for Tampa Bay.

Yandy Diaz hit a three-run homer, and Randy Arozarena also went deep for the major league-best Rays (15-3), who have homered in each of their first 18 games.

The 22-year-old Bradley (2-0) struck out nine and walked one in 5 1/3 innings. He has 17 combined strikeouts in his first two career starts, a Rays record.

Cincinnati’s Nick Lodolo (2-1) gave up eight runs on 12 hits in 4 2/3 innings.

TIGERS 4, GUARDIANS 3, GAME 1

TIGERS 1, GUARDIANS 0, GAME 2

DETROIT (AP) — Riley Greene hit a sixth-inning homer and Eduardo Rodriguez pitched eight scoreless innings, helping Detroit sweep a doubleheader from Cleveland.

Rodriguez (1-2) allowed four hits, no walks and struck out 10 while matching the longest outing of his career.

Jason Foley pitched the ninth for his first save, sealing Detroit’s fifth straight win. Cleveland’s Peyton Battenfield (0-1) gave up three hits, including Greene’s opposite-field homer to left field, and three walks in six innings.

In the opener, Kerry Carpenter hit game-ending solo homer off James Karinchak (0-3) with two outs in the ninth inning. Alex Lange (1-0) worked a scoreless ninth for the Tigers.

ORIOLES 1, NATIONALS 0

WASHINGTON (AP) — Dean Kremer pitched impressively into the seventh inning and Austin Hays singled home the game’s only run in the fourth to lift Baltimore over Washington.

Kremer (1-0) allowed only four hits in 6 2/3 innings, striking out six without a walk. Danny Coulombe got the final out of the seventh, Yennier Cano breezed through the eighth and Félix Bautista pitched the ninth for his fifth save.

Josiah Gray (0-4) yielded a run and four hits. The Nationals have managed only one run in the four games he’s started.

RED SOX 5, TWINS 4, 10 INNINGS

BOSTON (AP) — Alex Verdugo singled home the winning run with two outs in the 10th inning on a flyball that barely stayed fair as Boston beat Minnesota.

Umpires needed a few minutes to review Verdugo’s drive, which bounced off the low wall in Fenway Park’s right field just short of Pesky’s Pole, before officially declaring it a hit and the game over.

Reese McGuire had just tied it with a two-run single as the Red Sox rallied after allowing two runs in the top of the 10th. John Schreiber (1-0) got the win despite allowing two hits and a run. Red Sox starter Chris Sale struck out 11 batters in six innings, giving up one run.

Jovani Moran (0-1) yielded three runs on three hits in the 10th.

RANGERS 12, ROYALS 2

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Marcus Semien hit a three-run homer during a five-run sixth inning, Adolis Garcia added another three-run homer in the eighth, and Texas pounced on Kansas City.

Texas (11-6) improved to five games over .500 for the first time since July 16, 2019. The Royals lost their fifth straight and fell to 1-11 at home.

Nathan Eovaldi (2-2) went six innings, allowing two runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out five.

Brad Keller (2-2) allowed three runs on three hits and five walks, including leadoff walks in three of his four innings.

DIAMONDBACKS 8, CARDINALS 7

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Gabriel Moreno hit a three-run homer that capped a six-run fourth inning for Arizona against St. Louis’ Jordan Montgomery.

Willson Contreras homered twice for the Cardinals, including a two-run shot off Andrew Chafin during St. Louis’ three-run ninth. Miguel Castro got the last two outs for his first save.

Montgomery (2-2) allowed seven runs on 10 hits in four innings as his ERA jumped from 2.45 to 4.84.

Kyle Nelson (3-0), the second of seven Arizona pitchers, worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief.

BLUE JAYS 4, ASTROS 2

HOUSTON (AP) — Matt Chapman homered and doubled, and Chris Bassitt carried a shutout in the seventh inning for Toronto.

Bassitt (2-2) allowed three hits and a walk in 6 1/3 innings. Jordan Romano got the last four outs for his seventh save.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Chapman homered in the fourth against Houston’s Jose Urquidy (1-1).

MARLINS 4, GIANTS 2

MIAMI (AP) — Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning and Miami beat San Francisco, which lost starter Alex Wood because of a left hamstring strain in the third.

Edward Cabrera (1-1) limited the Giants to two runs and six hits in six innings. A.J. Puk closed with a scoreless ninth for his third save.

Chisholm’s shot off Jakob Junis (2-1) put the Marlins ahead 4-2.

CUBS 4, ATHLETICS 0

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Cody Bellinger hit an RBI single to break a scoreless tie and ignite a four-run outburst in the eighth inning, and Chicago handed Oakland its sixth straight loss.

The Athletics fell to 3-15, matching the 1951 Philadelphia A’s for the worst 18-game start in franchise history.

Marcus Stroman pitched six scoreless innings and struck out five. Mark Leiter Jr. (1-0) worked a scoreless seventh, and Michael Fulmer and Michael Rucker completed the two-hitter.

Oakland starter Ken Waldichuk pitched five scoreless innings. Reliever Trevor May (2-3) managed to get just one out and was charged with three runs.

PIRATES 5, ROCKIES 3

DENVER (AP) — Jack Suwinski homered twice and drove in three runs, Vince Velasquez recovered from a rough start to pitch six solid innings and Pittsburgh sent Colorado to its season-high seventh consecutive loss.

Connor Joe had a double and a triple against his former team, and Carlos Santana added a run-scoring double for the Pirates, who have won seven of their last nine road games.

Kris Bryant homered and Elías Díaz had a two-run double in the first for the Rockies. Velasquez (2-2) allowed five hits, only one after the first inning. He struck out seven and walked three.

David Bednar worked the ninth for his fifth save.

José Ureña (0-3) gave up five runs in 4 2/3 innings.

BREWERS 6, MARINERS 5, 11 INNINGS

SEATTLE (AP) — Willy Adames drove in the go-ahead run in the 11th inning and Milwaukee defeated Seattle.

Joey Weimer scored on Adames’ RBI groundout against reliever Justin Topa (0-1). Adames finished with three RBIs, including a run-scoring double and a solo homer.

Christian Yelich hit a leadoff home run against Mariners starter Logan Gilbert and made it 2-0 with an RBI single in the third.

Cal Raleigh hit a two-run double for Seattle.

Garrett Mitchell scored in the 10th to give the Brewers the lead, but Ty France tied it back up the next inning with a sacrifice fly.

Bryse Wilson (1-0) got the win.

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The Dodgers are officially a third-place team.

And unless they snap out of what has now become a month-long funk, their slide down the standings might only be beginning.

With a 7-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants on Sunday at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers not only fell behind their cross-state foes in the National League West but also suffered their first home sweep in the rivalry since August 2012 — the last season the Dodgers failed to make the postseason.

Read more: Honeymoon over: Bobby Miller struggles in Dodgers’ blowout loss to Giants

For now, this year’s squad is still safe in the wild-card race, holding a one-game edge over the Philadelphia Phillies for the NL’s last playoff spot. But with 18 losses in their last 30 games, the Dodgers (39-33) are four games out in the division, only 3½ games clear of the fourth-place San Diego Padres, and headed squarely in the wrong direction ahead of series against the Angels and Houston Astros this week.

“It’s not the ideal situation right now,” first baseman Freddie Freeman said. “Every day, we come in with the right attitude, right mindset. And by the end of the day, it’s another loss.”

Starting pitcher Tony Gonsolin was the biggest culprit Sunday.

After beginning the game with three perfect innings, the right-hander faltered in the fourth (giving up two runs on a walk, hit batter, sacrifice fly and RBI single), the fifth (a run on an RBI groundout after giving up two hits) and the sixth (charged with four runs in an inning in which he managed only two outs).

“My execution really just suffered after that third inning,” Gonsolin (4-2) said. “Balls left up in the zone. They got some soft hits that kind of just fell down and some hard hits that helped. Overall, the execution really just wasn’t there.”

Dodgers starter Tony Gonsolin pitches in the first inning against the Giants on Sunday. Gonsolin gave up a career-high seven runs in 5 2/3 innings. (Ashley Landis / Associated Press)

The seven runs Gonsolin yielded marked a career high. His three walks were a continuation of his season- and career-long issues of being “too fine” with his command in critical moments. And though his 2.92 ERA is still the best on the Dodgers’ rotation, his inefficient performances have underwhelmed compared with his All-Star breakout last season.

Story continues

“Today was probably the first day I saw that, as he got up a little bit in the pitch count, the stuff wasn’t as sharp,” manager Dave Roberts said.

Roberts cited several other issues that hampered the Dodgers on Sunday.

In the fourth inning, left fielder David Peralta made the wrong decision on a throw back into the infield, allowing a runner at first base to advance to second on a tag, setting up an RBI single in the next at-bat.

In the fifth, both Peralta and Freeman misplayed balls hit to them, leading to another Giants run moments after the Dodgers had cut San Francisco’s lead in half.

Then, when given one last lifeline in a bases-loaded situation in the ninth, the Dodgers came up empty aside from a run-scoring hit-by-pitch, finishing the day two for 13 with runners in scoring position and stranding 11 on base.

“When you’re not winning games, things get magnified,” Roberts said. “I think if you look back at this two-week stretch, there’s a lot of things we’re just not doing well. We’re not playing clean baseball, fundamental baseball. It goes back to, not just trying to win, but focusing on the little things.”

Freeman downplayed the suggestion the Dodgers might be pressing. He said the team hasn’t reached the point of panic either, even though the club hasn’t been in third place this late into a season since 2018.

“It’s one of these trying points to the season where you gotta grind and keep coming every single day,” he said. “Show up and expect to win. That’s the thing. Our team is way too good to keep going like this and go through this stretch. … We know we’re better than this.”

That’s what the Dodgers are continuing to believe, anyway.

Read more: Emmet Sheehan’s dazzling debut thwarted by Dodgers’ bullpen in loss to Giants

But the longer their losing skid extends, and the further down the standings they drift, the harder it will be for them to explain away their struggles. To keep calm in the midst of an increasingly spiraling season. To maintain confidence in a turnaround they still seem to believe is an inevitability.

“I can’t tell you a specific answer of why this is happening,” Freeman said. “It’s just, we need to stop it and play better. That’s pretty much it. I know you want a specific thing to say. There isn’t. It’s just, we got beat at home, swept three games, and Tuesday we need to start playing better.”

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers walks through the dugout before Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on October 09, 2021 in San Francisco, California. (Getty Images)

(KTLA) — The Los Angeles Dodgers are in Milwaukee this week for a three-game series with the NL Central-leading Brewers, and while team unity is important during long road trips, one Dodger star is keeping his distance from the rest of the team “just in case.”

According to Orange County Register reporter Bill Plunkett, outfielder Mookie Betts rented an Airbnb with some friends while the rest of his Dodger teammates stayed in a legendary 130-year-old hotel in Milwaukee.

The reason, Betts said, is due to long-rumored reports of hauntings and other creepy happenings at the Pfister Hotel.

The Pfister Hotel is one of the most historic buildings in Milwaukee. The famed luxury hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has hosted billionaires, diplomats and more — it’s also rumored to be home to an intrepid spirit or two.

This is the lobby of the Pfister Hotel seen Tuesday, July 7, 2009, in Milwaukee. The Pfister is Milwaukee’s most regal address, having hosted every U.S. president since William McKinley and scores of celebrities. Today, it’s the place to stay for upscale business travelers and out-of-town visitors, including many Major League Baseball teams. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Betts, 30, who has stayed at the hotel in years past, said he opted for the modern setting instead of the historic grounds “just in case” rumors of the specters and spirits turned out to be true.

“You can tell me what happened after,” he joked with Plunkett. “I just don’t want to find out myself.”

An eight-year MLB veteran, Betts has stayed at his fair share of hotels, resorts and high-rises over the years, but the Pfister Hotel has affected his sleep schedule in recent stays.

“I couldn’t sleep,” Betts told the OC Register. “Every noise, I’d be like, ‘Is that something?’”

The Pfister Hotel has been the subject of haunting rumors for decades, and it’s one of the oldest hotels that MLB teams regularly visit for road trips. It’s led to many reports of strange and creepy occurrences from the players brave enough to stay overnight.

Michael Young, former seven-time MLB All Star and one-time Dodger, told ESPN the Magazine that he heard footsteps “stomping” around in his room. He recalled telling his ghostly visitor to “make yourself at home” but keep the noise down.

California’s Most Haunted: spook-tacular places to search for ghosts in the Golden State

Bryce Harper, a two-time National League MVP, said he had a strange experience when staying in the historic hotel, claiming that his clothes he had laid out the night before ended up on the floor and a table was moved across the room.

“I honestly thought there might be someone in my room. I had no idea what the hell just happened, so I actually looked around, and then I checked to see if the door was still latched, and it was,” Harper said. He told reporters that he thought he may have been the victim of a prank by one of his teammates.

In 2018, Cardinals players Carlos Martinez and Marcell Ozuna bunked up together after allegedly spotting one of the Pfister’s unaccounted for guests. Martinez, a pitcher, started the next day’s game against the Brewers and was hammered by Milwaukee’s batters and was pulled after giving up seven runs in only four innings.

So maybe Betts’ extra precautions aren’t that crazy, even if the change of venue simply promises a sounder sleep. If the Dodgers want to maintain their spot near the top of the National League, he and his teammates will probably need to be well-rested.

Let’s just hope Betts and his friends didn’t mistakenly book a stay at one of Airbnb’s most haunted hangouts.

The Dodgers dropped their first game of their series against the Brewers in Milwaukee, but were on their way to winning the second game on Tuesday. The series concludes Wednesday.

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When Vin Scully announced his retirement, we asked our Dodgers Dugout subscribers to tell us what he meant to them. Thousands of readers responded. Scully died Tuesday at the age of 94. Here is a selection of reader responses:

Help with a report about Jackie Robinson

The grandson of Vin Scully attended the same elementary school as my children. One of my sons, Tommy, had to do a report on someone they admired and he chose Jackie Robinson. I approached the mother of Vin’s grandson and asked if she would pass my phone number on to Vin and maybe he could call Tommy and answer a few questions he had about Jackie. Well, sure enough the phone rang about three days later and my husband answered the phone. “Is Tommy there?” the voice on the other end asked. When my husband said, “Yes, and may I ask who’s calling?”, the voice on the other end responded, “Vin Scully!” My husband almost dropped the phone.

I sat next to Tommy as he asked him questions about Jackie and took notes and whispered questions to Tommy for him to ask Vin. Vin spoke loud enough for me to also hear him through the receiver, so it was easy to take notes for Tommy while he interviewed Vin.

Tommy got an A on the paper and I photo-copied it and attached a thank you note and gave it to Vin’s grandson’s mother to pass on to Vin. About a week later, Tommy received a handwritten note from Vin congratulating him on the A paper. What a cool guy.

Maria Marrone

Introduction to baseball

I am 23 years old, so I know I’m younger than most of the people that email you. But when I was 8, we had this very old school radio that had big speakers. One night, I was playing with the radio, pushing buttons and looking for stations and somehow I stopped when I heard a voice. I started listening and the voice kept explaining how Eric Gagne was about to enter to finish this game. I had no idea whose voice that was but I wanted to know why he was explaining a game that no one can see and just listen.

I had NEVER in my life listened to a baseball game, but because I was a girl and wanted to understand I got a notebook and started to write how fast Gagne’s first pitch was and every detail I could write to later understand this game. I remember using tally marks to see if it was a ball or a strike. Fast-forward a good seven years. I had the opportunity to go to my first Dodgers game ever. I was 15, and I got to the stadium entrance and heard Vin Scully say, “It’s time for Dodgers baseball!” I knew that I had found my passion for the rest of my life.

He is the reason the 8-year-old me started liking baseball, and I thank him because if he was not talking when I was playing with that radio, I would never have been introduced to the boys in blue.

Alejandra Sanchez

A missed opportunity

The first-story apartment that I lived in as a little boy in Brooklyn was right next to P.S. 182, which I attended through the second grade. As we played stickball on the cement playground — the “big” kids would let me shag the high-bounce rubber ball — I could hear Vin Scully and Jerry Doggett broadcasting the Dodgers games on a radio next to the Smith-Corona typewriter that my dad, a writer, was pounding away on. We moved to Los Angeles, three seasons ahead of the Dodgers’ arrival in 1958. My dad worked for a small weekly newspaper that had season box seats just to the left of home plate at the Coliseum. Between games of a doubleheader that first season — the Dodgers had seven home twinbills that year, and one ticket was good for both games — I saw Vin talking to someone in the stands near the makeshift press box that the Dodgers used at the Coliseum. Shyly, I approached him and waited for his conversation to end. He noticed me, greeted me in a robust and friendly manner, and autographed a small piece of paper, which I unfortunately lost decades ago. Flash forward to 1974. I am now a young sportswriter, covering the World Series between the Dodgers and the A’s at the Oakland Coliseum, which Vin is announcing. Outgoing and beaming again, he walks near to where I am standing. This time, however, I am too shy to approach, so I don’t ask for an autograph this time. I wish that I had.

Lewis Leader

Listening from afar

I became a Dodgers fan in 1962, drawn to them at the age of 9 by the names of Koufax, Drysdale, Wills, Roseboro, Snider, et al. Trouble was, I lived in Normal, Ill. (still do). I had to work hard to learn as much as I could about my new favorite team and, fortunately, their success in those years drew the attention of the national media. Of course, Vin Scully already was famously being heard on transistor radios throughout Dodger Stadium, and that was among the discoveries I made as I uncovered nuggets of treasure about the Dodgers.

After Sandy Koufax’s perfect game against the Cubs in 1965, Danny Goodman Concessions offered a 45 RPM record of the game’s highlights. I was a regular mail-order customer with my lawn-mowing earnings and allowance and ordered the record. When it arrived, I heard Vin Scully as if I were listening live on the radio. What a thrill to relive the moment over and over again. Three years later, a 33 1/3 LP of Don Drysdale’s scoreless inning streak was produced, highlighting each of the big right-hander’s shutouts on his way to the record. More Scully and more inside exposure to the Dodgers to measure up with my Cub and Cardinal fan friends.

Fifty years later, with a subscription to MLB.TV, I now can watch the Dodgers and hear Vin almost nightly throughout the season. It’s wonderful, but there was something about having to work at being a Dodgers fan from afar and only getting a taste of Scully that will always remain magical.

Jeff Fritzen

Holding it for a good cause

I am a Northern California boy, a San Francisco Giants fan despite a UCLA education and a Santa Monica residence. I remember listening to a Giants-Dodgers game on the radio while driving down the great San Joaquin Valley, coming home from my mom’s house in Davis. The game was tense as I passed Bakersfield and Grapevine, and Vin Scully was really painting a picture with his description of the action. Anyhow, I made it to Santa Monica, and the game was still going. I didn’t have an AM radio in the house and this was long before iPhones and streaming were invented, so the only way for me to hear the end of the game was to stay in the car. This was not an easy decision to make as I’d needed a bathroom since Sylmar! Scully’s call of the game was ultimately too much to resist: I stayed in the car and listened. I don’t remember how the game ended, only that I was in great physical discomfort for the last bit of it.

And it was totally worth it.

Christian Boyce

Thanks for treating my mom like a queen

Shortly after my father passed away in 1994, I thought taking my mom to a Dodger game would lift her spirits. We were walking on the Club level behind the press box on our way to the public restaurant down by the Dodger Club. Who opens the door of the press box but the man himself, Vin Scully. As he is very recognizable, my mom calls out “Hi Vinny.” He turns around and sees this older lady hobbling over. He says “Wait, I’m coming.” I hang back and watch. He asked her name and she says “Marge. My son over there brought me to the game to try and lift my spirits. I just lost my husband.” He said he was sorry for our loss. He took her arm and walked with her very slowly to the restaurant, while I trailed behind them with tears in my eyes. He asked her who her favorite player was and she replied “Bob Feller.” After all she was from Cleveland. We walked in and Vin said to the chef, “Whatever they want for dinner, on me.” We said thank you, thank you and he continued on to the Club. He did the nicest thing I could imagine for her and I will never forget.

Warren Boule

Sharing a moment after a tough loss

I spent days and nights two years ago pouring my heart out on paper trying to pare down a letter to Vin to just a few paragraphs in order to say, “Thanks.” We all thought that year would be his last. What I received in return was an impersonal form letter stating the he simply receives too many letters and mine could not be delivered. I was so upset and bewildered that a true fan could be treated this way, but I had to be realistic and understand that our lives are full of disappointments just like that one.

Speaking of disappointments, you’d have to go back to the year 1976. The Dodgers were in a heated pennant race with The Big Red Machine. My friends and I were seated along the first row of field boxes just beyond the Dodger dugout. With the team trailing by a run in the ninth inning, they somehow loaded the bases with no outs. However, they eventually failed to score the tying run and lost.

I was so animated and distraught in my seat, hands on head, jumping up and down when I twirled around and looked up to Vinny’s booth. Surprisingly, he was looking right at me as I shook my head. At that point, he held out his arms to the sides, shrugged his shoulders as if to say, “What are you gonna do?”

I needed to be consoled in a big way, and who better to accomplish that than Mr. Vin Scully himself? I’ll always remember his uncanny way of connecting to fans through his voice, stories, and unbridled passion for the game we all share.

Gary J. Saldutti

An Ode to Vin

Oh Scully, oh Scully just where will you be

When seventeen comes and we tune in to see

And hear you weave yarns of days that have passed

I just can’t believe you are leaving at last

Just stay one more year to tell us stories

Of Sutton and Drysdale and Robinson please

And of Pee Wee, the Duke and Campy and John

Sixty-seven short years and poof you are gone

I knew it the first time that I heard your voice

The Dodgers were gonna be my only choice

I’m all grown up now, but you bring out the boy

Describing the heartbreak, celebrations and joy.

So please Uncle Vinny, tell us some more

Just tell us who’s batting, just tell us the score!

Tell us of Maury Wills’ 90 foot dash

Or of Gibson’s historical World Series smash.

Or of Finley’s walk off on the Giants that day

Just tell us you’re kidding, just tell us you’ll stay

I’ll sit on your lap and I’ll listen real good

To tales of Piazza smashing with wood

Or Hershiser’s magical eighty-eight run

Or of all of the pennants and trophies we’ve won

Just share with us one more magical day

All that is Garvey, Lopes, Russell and Cey

Just tell us of Marshall and Gagne the king

And Monday up north in quest of a ring.

Just tell of Fernando’s one no-hit night

Or the four straight home runs before Nomar took flight

Tell us of squeeze plays and flares in the sky

Tell of the “wild horse” some thought could fly

Just a little bit longer, just a little bit more

Please tell us of Alston and Tommy for sure

And though you’re the greatest southpaw that we’ve had

Tell of Koufax the great and Kershaw the lad

And maybe a bit of Shawn Green pounding four

Or rookies both present and past we adore

Tell of Guerrero’s homerun setting June

Or tell us of Welch and his October boon

I know that all things must come to an end

But I suddenly feel like I’m losing a friend

The boy just can’t help it, he’s starting to cry

While the grown-up lets out a resolute sigh

So God speed dear Scully from one and from all

Come seventeen we will be missing your call

From Blue Heaven on Earth perched way up above

I’ll still be right here with transistor and glove

Kevin Mahoney

A glimpse into his character

I became a fan of the Dodgers in 1968 at the age of eight. My parents were recently divorced at the time, and Vin became a surrogate father of sorts every night as I listened to the play by play of my favorite Dodgers, Maury Wills, Wes Parker, Claude Osteen and Willie Davis.

Because of Vin’s endearing voice and commercials, I ate Farmer John hot dogs and when I became older, I made sure my first credit card was for Union 76. Of course, I had to sport the small, orange-colored 76 antenna ball on my first car.

I finally had the opportunity to meet Vin Scully when I attended a night game at Dodger Stadium around 1993. Immediately after the game was over, I made my way up to the “Press Box Level” and patiently waited for him to enter the elevator. As he approached me, he saw me and I finally had the long, anticipated opportunity to express my thanks to Mr. Scully for his place in my childhood and baseball life. It was emotional for me as he was larger than life to me. Vin Scully is the Dodgers!

As we finished our very brief encounter, I noticed the elevator was filled with about eight or nine women who worked at the stadium and they were holding the door open for Vin. He graciously greeted every one of them by name and went to the very back of the elevator.

As the door closed, I was given another glimpse of the man, Vin Scully. That night, he taught me to treat everyone, no matter what their station in life or gender, with respect.

I know this: Vin Scully’s legacy will live forever in the hearts of those touched by him.

Jeff Jones

The best sound to fall asleep to

By way of background and context, I am a native Angeleno and lifelong Dodger fan, born downtown at Third and Alvarado, raised and schooled in the San Fernando Valley. I moved to the Midwest for a career in the early ‘80s. Six or seven years ago I was visiting L.A. with my then-teenage daughter. We were attending Mass in the Valley and were a bit early. As we pulled into the lot to park, the prior service was just ending. When I saw a man walking across the lot, I exclaimed, “THAT’S VIN SCULLY!” I hastily parked, got out, and walked up to him before he could reach his vehicle, asking if I could take my daughter’s picture with him. He said, “of course,” but my daughter insisted that I should pose with Vin instead. After the shot, I informed him that as a little boy I would fall asleep at night to his voice coming from the prized transistor radio under my pillow! Without missing a beat, ever-humble Vinny replied, “I tend to have that effect on a lot of people!”

Sometimes I realize I haven’t changed much through the years. Now, while following the boys on MLB, I often relive my youth by falling asleep to the sound of Vin’s voice coming from the iPad sitting beside my bed! Whatever shall I do next year? Like so many others, I will be disconsolate when the voice reaching my ear is no longer his. I am grateful for learning the game from the very best, and for the wealth of memories he has provided.

Jim Tomkovicz

He got me through a terrible time

What does Vin Scully mean to me? Simply put he was my refuge, my comfort. As a child growing up in a home that was broken by mental illness, there were many fearful nights. I cannot count the number of times my sister and I were in the same room fearful of what we heard beyond the door. As I would lay there, I would turn on the transistor radio to drown out the yelling and listen to the baseball game. I loved baseball and I loved the Dodgers. To a young boy growing up in East Los Angeles the Dodgers were all my idols.

Out of that radio I would hear a calming voice describe the game. The voice would take my thoughts far away from my fear, taking me to a place where my imagination and dreams could overcome. With every descriptive word I heard I could believe that it was me out there making that play with Maury or Jim or Wes or Ron or Tommy or Willie or Lou or Don or Sandy. I felt I was no longer in this fearful place but rather in a place where I was safe and doing what I loved. In listening to the voice I could feel that I was far away and yet right there. I could let my imagination go and dream that maybe one of my idols would take me away from this fearful place and be my Dad for after all I know them all so personally through that voice. Somehow as the game would progress all of the bad around me became nonexistent and a small boy could fall asleep and dream of good things.

Through all of my childhood that voice was always with me. I practiced to mimic that voice. I would pretend I was that voice while calling out loud play by play as I played baseball with my friends. I would try to call the game the same way as that calming voice would. My friends would even tell me I should become a baseball announcer.

Through the World Series championships that I was fortunate enough to experience my idols win while being a kid, it was always the voice that made it real. That voice has called Dodger games longer than I have lived. I will miss that voice dearly for I know no other as I do that voice. No other voice could ever have the meaning which that voice had. No other voice could take away the fears of that scared little boy the way that voice did. Without that voice I do not know what that little boy would have done. So you ask what does Vin Scully mean to me, everything! Thank you, Mr. Scully, from that scared little boy then to this person who I am now.

John A Congestio

A very special Christmas

Two days before Christmas 1997, my business partner told me he had an early Christmas present for me. It was to be a surprise – and I had to get in a truck and go with his brother to the “surprise” somewhere north of us in L.A. Being curious and since it was slow because of the season, I got in the truck with his brother, who was a VersaClimber sales rep. My surprise was we were going to install a VersaClimber at Vin Scully’s house!

I had the good fortune that Vin was home. I was told Vin had purchased the machine for his wife and asked that Cary come and install it in his home. Cary knew my love of the Dodgers and decided for this install, he needed a “helper.” Lucky me!

I remember both Vin and his wife were delightful. Both were as down to earth and easy to talk to as talking to your longtime next door neighbor. The Scullys make you feel in person the same as Vin makes you feel when you listen on the radio — like you have known each other forever. Vin put Cary to work on the Climber, and showed me around their beautiful home. My favorite takeaway was something I saw in Vin’s trophy room. He did not call it such, but there was a room that was filled with memorabilia — trophies, awards and photo after photo of Vin with famous athletes, stars, politicians — absolutely unbelievable. My favorite was a photo of Vin Scully standing with a familiar man in a golf tee box, both holding drivers in their gloved hands. What really caught my attention was that the photo was not posed like most of the others — in this one, both men were standing there but looking straight up in the sky. The signature was what made it my favorite memory of that wonderful day: “Vin, they are still looking for your ball! — signed George H.W. Bush.” In explanation, Vin told me a Secret Service man had snapped the photo of them just as Air Force One flew over. The story was as simple and enjoyable as the thousands of anecdotes I have heard him share with us over the years — pure Vin Scully.

Mike McCoy

A great day ‘fore’ a game

I met Vin Scully once, while a friend and I walked an empty cart path during the old Bob Hope Desert Classic golf tournament. “Hey,” my friend said to me as he looked ahead. “Behind that tree. That’s Vin Scully!” As we approached we called out, “Hi Vin.” “How ya doing fellas?” Vin responded. Honestly, how else would Vin Scully respond? He was standing just about where a rocketing drive might start to decelerate down the fairway, or where a slice might scream into the rough. It was the same conversation he’d probably had a million times over the years.

“We love listening to you call games.”

“Well, thanks.”

“Great day isn’t it?”

“Beautiful, couldn’t be better.”

Then the conversation subtly shifted gears. “Heads up,” he quietly cautioned. “Amateur.”

That’s why Vin was behind the tree. He had staked out a vantage point from which he could safely watch tee shots by pros and by amateurs. We jumped in behind him and shared the tree until the group finished teeing off. No damage, no ducking.

“Well, fellas, I gotta get going. Enjoy the rest of the day.” Like he’d known us for years.

“You too, Vin.” That brief encounter confirmed every nice-guy story about Vin I’d ever heard before … and since.

Ray Smith

Keeping a soldier entertained

I am an old-timer, started following the Dodgers and Vin’s voice in 1947, when Jackie Robinson came up. I have lived in several places since then, and Vin’s voice was not always available. Sometimes I could barely hear it as it faded in and out through the static. While stationed in Fort Lewis, Wash., in the early 60s, I found that by removing the back of my small portable radio and attaching a copper wire to the antenna, and then stringing it out of an upper-story window of the barracks and attaching it to the top of the chimney, I could hear his voice quite clearly. I installed it at night and the roof was quite steep, so I had to be very careful. I listened to him in the latrine to keep from bothering the non-Dodger fans. The sound of his voice was wonderful, and still is.

Frank W. Knell

He eased the pain of chemo and leukemia

I grew up a Dodger fan from birth. My mom used to listen on the radio when they were in Brooklyn. So baseball and the Dodgers have always been a way of life for me. In 2007, I was diagnosed with leukemia. I was at USC Norris Cancer Hospital for days and months at a time. I had so much chemo that it was hard to concentrate on anything, it does that to you. But every night I would watch the Dodgers and listen to Vin. It was the only thing I could actually concentrate on. It was so comforting to hear his voice in the midst of the chaos my life was at the time. I was a wife and mom of three small children, it was a very difficult time. But my constant was Vin, listening to him was so soothing to my tired soul. Well, I had a bone marrow transplant and I am cured. So thank you to Vin, for talking me through one of the most difficult times of my life. And thank you to you for letting me share how much Vin Scully means to me!

Dolores Anguiano-Torres

Vin Scully stole my Christmas tree

When I was about 7 (oh, we’re talking 50-plus years ago), I was the classic transistor-under-the-pillow guy who was supposed to be asleep each night by 10. But Vinny was on the air, so there was no rest to be had. The Voice was fed to my brain constantly, to where it was right behind my parents’ in importance. But one night, it crept ahead in that race.

It was December. My mom took a few siblings and me to a Christmas tree lot in West L.A. We hunted all over the lot for the right tree, and we eventually arrived at exactly the best one. Mom told me, “Wait right here while I go get the guy to sell us the tree. Don’t move. Stay with that tree.” And triumphantly she and my brothers marched off. I was, of course, quite proud of the immense honor bestowed on me: Guardian of Dead Tree.

A minute or two into my shift, I heard The Voice from the forest. “Oh, that’s a mahhhhhrrrvelous tree! Ho, what a great tree!” And The Voice — suddenly attached to a red-haired man I didn’t recognize — appeared with his tribe. They grabbed the tree and walked away with it.

Naturally, Mom and sibs returned and were horrified that I had so spectacularly failed in my assignment. “Who—? What—? Where did it go?!”

“I think Vin Scully took it.” I recall being scolded for creating such an incredible fib, but I don’t think I got spanked. Yet, even if I did, I was delighted that The Voice got such a marvelous tree.

Howard Fischer

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CINCINNATI — Clayton Kershaw pitched seven sharp innings, Chris Taylor hit his 10th home run and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Cincinnati Reds 6-0 on Thursday.

Kershaw (8-4) scattered five hits, struck out nine and walked two to help Los Angeles snap its four-game losing streak and avoid a three-game sweep against the Reds, who won the previous two games in walk-off fashion.

Los Angeles improved to 10-3 against Cincinnati dating to September 2021.

The Dodgers scored three runs in the third against starter Graham Ashcraft (3-5).

GUARDIANS 10, RED SOX 3

CLEVELAND (AP) — José Ramírez homered in his first three at-bats — and from both sides of the plate — to power Cleveland past Boston.

Ramírez connected for a solo shot in the first inning off Matt Dermody (0-1), belted a two-run shot — his 200th career homer — in the third and added another solo drive in the sixth when the Guardians hit for the cycle, had eight straight hits and scored five times.

Ramírez came up a second time in the sixth bidding for a rare four-homer game, but struck out swinging. The four-time All-Star third baseman had another chance in the eighth, but grounded to third.

There have only been 16 four-homer games in the majors since 1901.

Will Brennan added a home run as the Guardians won the series and handed the Red Sox their fifth loss in six games.

Aaron Civale (2-1) had his second solid outing for Cleveland after spending 46 games on the injured list with an oblique strain.

BRAVES 13, METS 10, 10 INNINGS

ATLANTA (AP) — Ozzie Albies lined a three-run homer with two outs in the 10th inning and Atlanta rallied to beat reeling New York for a three-game sweep.

Orlando Arcia hit a tying solo homer off Mets closer David Robertson in the ninth to help the NL East leaders win their fifth straight.

New York, which has dropped six in a row for the first time since August 2019, had won a franchise-record 122 consecutive games when leading after eight innings — the longest active streak in the majors.

The Mets (30-33) wasted two home runs from rookie Francisco Álvarez and an early grand slam from Brandon Nimmo as three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander struggled.

Atlanta erased deficits of 9-5 and 10-7 and came back from at least three runs down to win all three games in the series. It marked the first time in Mets history they lost three consecutive games they led by three runs or more.

Albies homered off Tommy Hunter (0-1). Travis d’Arnaud hit a two-run shot against Drew Smith in the eighth to cut it to 10-9. Austin Riley and Marcell Ozuna also went deep for the Braves.

Raisel Iglesias (2-2) struck out Álvarez and Jeff McNeil in a perfect 10th.

RAYS 4, TWINS 2

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Yonny Chirinos pitched well into the sixth inning, Harold Ramírez homered during a three-run fourth and the MLB-best Tampa Bay Rays completed a three-game sweep of AL Central-leading Minnesota.

Chirinos (3-1), recalled from Triple-A Durham before the game, allowed one run over 5 2/3 innings in his first big league appearance since April 29. Jason Adam, the third Rays reliever, worked the ninth for his 10th save.

Tampa Bay (46-19) is 29-6 at home and has won six in a row overall.

Carlos Correa and Michael A. Taylor homered for the Twins (31-32), who have lost a season-high five consecutive games. They have totaled seven runs in the past six games.

Bailey Ober (3-3) retired his first 11 batters, including six straight strikeouts, before losing his perfect game and the lead in a span of three batters.

PHILLIES 3, TIGERS 2

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Zack Wheeler took a no-hitter into the eighth inning, Kody Clemens came through with a game-ending single and Philadelphia rallied past Detroit for its fifth victory in a row.

Brandon Marsh tied it in the ninth with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly for the defending NL champion Phillies (30-32).

Nick Maton hit a go-ahead single in the top of the ninth after Tyler Nevin broke up Wheeler’s no-hit bid on a single with one out in the eighth for the Tigers, who lost their sixth straight and eighth in the last nine.

Bryce Harper’s leadoff double in the ninth against Alex Lange (3-2) sparked Philadelphia’s rally. Craig Kimbrel (4-1) got the win.

The game originally was scheduled for Wednesday night but was postponed due to poor air quality caused by smoke from Canadian wildfires.

ORIOLES 6, BREWERS 3

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Gunnar Henderson hit a two-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning to put Baltimore ahead for good and the Orioles rallied from a three-run deficit to beat Milwaukee.

The Brewers took a 3-0 lead in the first and were in control for much of the game until the Orioles scored six runs over the final three innings against Milwaukee’s bullpen. The comeback enabled the Orioles to avoid a three-game sweep.

Anthony Santander’s one-out RBI double off Peter Strzelecki (3-5) cut the Brewers’ lead to 3-2 in the eighth.

Adam Frazier had a two-run double in the ninth for Baltimore. Ramón Urías started the comeback by hitting a two-out homer off Joel Payamps in the seventh.

Bryan Baker, Keegan Akin (2-1), Yennier Cano and Félix Bautista combined for four innings of scoreless relief. Bautista earned his 16th save in 20 opportunities.

BLUE JAYS 3, ASTROS 2

TORONTO (AP) — Brandon Belt had a tiebreaking single, José Berríos pitched six steady innings to win his third straight decision and Toronto defeated Houston.

Alejandro Kirk added an RBI double as the Blue Jays took three of four from the defending World Series champions and won the season series 4-3.

Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez left after one at-bat because of a sore right oblique.

Berríos (6-4) allowed two runs and four hits. Jordan Romano finished for his 17th save in 20 chances.

Houston left-hander Framber Valdez (6-5) gave up three runs in five innings.

WHITE SOX 6, YANKEES 5, GAME 1

YANKEES 3, WHITE SOX 0, GAME 2

NEW YORK (AP) — Randy Vásquez pitched two-hit ball into the sixth inning for his first major league win, Billy McKinney hit his first home run with the Yankees and New York blanked Chicago for a doubleheader split.

McKinney was called up from the minors Wednesday when star slugger Aaron Judge went on the injured list with a sprained and bruised right big toe.

The White Sox extended their winning streak to a season-high five games with a 6-5 victory in the opener, when Eloy Jiménez hit a go-ahead homer in the seventh off Michael King (1-2).

Jake Burger had a two-run shot off Yankees starter Luis Severino before Luis Robert Jr. and Yoán Moncada also went deep against the right-hander.

After Wednesday’s game was postponed by Major League Baseball because of hazardous air quality from Canadian wildfires, conditions in the Bronx had improved by Thursday’s first pitch.

In the second game, Gleyber Torres hit a two-run homer off starter Mike Clevinger (3-4).

Making his second big league start, Vásquez (1-1) retired 15 straight hitters and was pulled with two outs in the sixth. Ron Marinaccio worked 2 2/3 innings and Clay Holmes got his seventh save as the Yankees avoided a three-game sweep.

Willie Calhoun homered and drove in three runs for the Yankees in the opener.

Gregory Santos (2-0) pitched a 1-2-3 sixth for the win. Kendall Graveman earned his sixth save by getting Anthony Rizzo to ground into a game-ending double play with two on.

GIANTS 6, ROCKIES 4

DENVER (AP) — Brandon Crawford had a pinch-hit RBI double to spark a three-run ninth inning and San Francisco beat Colorado for the 11th straight time.

Michael Conforto and Thairo Estrada homered to help the Giants sweep their seventh straight series from Colorado. Scott Alexander (5-0) won in relief and Camilo Doval finished for his 16th save.

Nolan Jones had three hits for the Rockies, who have lost four straight.

San Francisco is 16-3 at Coors Field dating to Sept. 6, 2021, and has won eight straight in Denver. That streak was in jeopardy until a late rally against closer Pierce Johnson (0-3).

ANGELS 3, CUBS 1

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Jo Adell homered in his first game back in the majors, Reid Detmers posted his first win of the season and Los Angeles defeated Chicago to complete its third series sweep of the season.

It is the first time the Angels, who have won four straight, have swept the Cubs in a three-game series.

Trey Mancini had an RBI double for Chicago, swept for the fourth time this year. The Cubs have dropped four in a row and 10 of 14.

Adell, who led the Triple-A Pacific Coast League with 18 homers before being called up, tied it 1-all in the second inning when he hammered a sinker from Drew Smyly (5-4).

Detmers (1-5) struck out eight in 5 2/3 innings. Carlos Estevez got his 16th save.

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LOS ANGELES — J.D. Davis took batting practice five hours ahead of game time, landing balls in the center field net. He did it again when it counted.

LaMonte Wade Jr. hit a three-run homer, Davis added a pinch-hit grand slam, and the San Francisco Giants routed the slumping Los Angeles Dodgers 15-0 on Saturday night for their season-high sixth straight victory.

It was the Giants’ largest margin of victory over their NL West rival since a 19-3 victory on Sept. 14, 2013. It also matches the worst home shutout loss in Dodgers history, which came in 1898 against Pittsburgh when the team was based in Brooklyn.

With the loss, the Dodgers dropped a home series to the Giants for the first time since losing three of four in July 2021.

“It’s huge to get a series win versus LA and get a chance for a sweep,” winning pitcher and former Dodger Alex Wood said.

Wade and Davis drove in five runs apiece, while Brandon Crawford had four of the Giants’ 17 hits.

San Francisco did most of its damage in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings.

Luis Matos drew a leadoff walk in the fifth, stole second and took third on Bobby Miller’s errant pickoff throw. Matos scored on Crawford’s RBI single, snapping Miller’s streak of scoreless innings at 20⅓.

“The offense was rolling, just putting balls in play against a really good pitcher,” Davis said. “A lot of guys coming back in the dugout were complimenting him on how great of stuff he was and how we needed to make the adjustments.”

Miller (3-1) then hit Casey Schmitt and Wade followed with his fifth homer of the season for a 4-0 lead.

“Not really many guys swing first-pitch curveball off of me,” Miller said. “Hats off to him, it was a really good hit.”

Crawford’s RBI single extended the lead to 5-0 in the sixth. Davis blasted the first pitch from Alex Vesia 441 feet to center with two outs for a 9-0 lead.

“It was 5-0, it was just an opportunity for me to ambush him,” Davis said. “He left a fastball middle away and I didn’t try to pull it, I didn’t try to fillet it to right field, I stayed through it.”

Wood said, “That was a dagger. For sure, it changed the whole game.”

Davis is dealing with a Grade 1 right ankle sprain, so the grand slam gave him a little more time to get around the basepaths.

“Definitely made it easier just to go 30, 40 percent around the bases and jog around than to have to sprint around,” he said.

The Giants tacked on three more in the seventh, with Patrick Bailey’s two-run double and Wade’s RBI single off Nick Robertson. They added three more in the ninth.

Wood (2-1) allowed three hits in five innings, struck out four and walked none. The right-hander came off the injured list earlier in the day after dealing with a back strain.

“Just glad to be back,” Wood said. “I feel really good.”

Tristan Beck earned a four-inning save.

Miller gave up seven runs and seven hits in 5⅔ innings. The right-hander struck out five and walked three in his fifth career start.

Trainer’s room

Giants: IF Wilmer Flores (left foot contusion) and RHP John Brebbia (right lat strain) went on the IL.

Dodgers: LHP Julio Urías (hamstring) threw 40 pitches in a bullpen session. He’ll next face hitters and then go to Single-A Rancho Cucamonga for a rehab assignment. … 3B Chris Taylor received a cortisone shot in his right knee, which shows signs of cartilage wear and tear. He likely won’t be available Sunday, but won’t go on the IL for now. … LF David Peralta, who left Friday’s game with a left hamstring strain, is feeling better.

Up next

Giants: RHP Logan Webb (5-6, 3.15 ERA) has been one of the NL’s best starters since April 22. His 2.53 ERA over that stretch is second-best in the league behind San Diego’s Michael Wacha (1.33).

Dodgers: RHP Tony Gonsolin (4-1, 1.93) is 1-2 with a 3.38 ERA with 14 strikeouts in four career games against the Giants.

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The month of June started with a 5-10 record and a win over NL West rivals, the San Francisco Giants, but it really wasn’t the best month for the Dodgers. Things got better this week when they defeated the Angels in a two-game series with two shutouts. Still, in June it’s only 7-10.

Despite their checkered month, there were some positives for the Boys in Blue, most notably the buzz surrounding rookie starting pitcher Emmet Sheehan, who made his debut against the Giants last Friday night.

Sheehan pitched six scoreless innings and missed a goal in a 7-5 loss in the first of three games against San Francisco.

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Emmet Sheehan had never thrown over Double-A before. He made MLB look easy. His final statement against the Giants:

6 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

The Dodgers needed depth and Sheehan went through 6 innings without a hit. What an incredible performance from the 23-year-old.

— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) June 17, 2023

The Boston College pitcher received praise from around the league, including from his own teammate Walker Buehler.

Despite Sheehan’s great performance, Buehler noticed something in his pitches that night.

“It’s a really crazy shot. Works really well, comes out of his hand really well, but it’s a bit unconventional and I think that’ll be something interesting to look at in the future.”

Walker Buehler on Just Baseball Show

Buehler also mentioned that the idea of ​​opposing batsmen being unfamiliar with Sheehan may have played a big part in his impressive debut, but is keeping an eye on how long that will last.

“You don’t have much luck in the big leagues but not being familiar with a guy and kind of having that funk about you I think is definitely an advantage and will help him for a long time and kind of give him.” That leash for finding out the big leagues, which apparently he did for at least one night, right. So we’ll see how it goes, but obviously it’s the best start anyone could ask for.”

Walker Buehler on Just Baseball Show

As a Dodger fan, I’m very excited to see how Sheehan progresses, and I look forward to seeing if he can match that feat in his next start, later scheduled for either the Freeway series in Anaheim or at home in Houston is week.

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Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports

Both the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels have been struggling with injuries lately, but otherwise the teams are trending in different directions ahead of the two-game Freeway Series that begins Tuesday.

For the first time since 2014, the Angels (41-33) have a better record than the Dodgers (39-33) at the start of their annual match.

From August 4 through August 7, 2014, the Freeway Series included four games played equally at Dodger Stadium and Anaheim. The Angels went into the game with a record of 66-44 while the Dodgers had a record of 63-49. LA was shut out in the Freeway Series opener but responded with three straight wins over the Angels.

This season it’s 11-3 Angels in June. Their hot streak dates back to avoiding a four-game series win over the Houston Astros with a win in the Finals at Minute Maid Park, despite the Angels recently putting Zach Neto, Gio Urshela and Anthony Rendon on the injury list.

Conversely, the Dodgers lost just 5-10 in June and are in a win over the San Francisco Giants that included a historic loss at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers’ troubles date back to the start of a series against the Minnesota Twins on May 15. Since then they are 13-18 and have lost six out of ten series.

The primary reason for the Dodgers’ unexpected slip was increasing injuries in the starting rotation and the inconsistent performance of the bullpen overall. The Dodgers’ pitching team has a 4.66 ERA, which ranks 25th in baseball and is the franchise’s lowest grade since 1944.

“I think looking back over that two-week period, there’s a lot of things that we just don’t do well and we don’t play clean baseball, we don’t play fundamental baseball,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I think it’s about not just winning, but focusing on the little things.

“Catching the baseball, minimizing walks, throwing to the right base, not getting thrown on the bases, making a pickoff play, these are things that haunt us over and over again. And we’re usually a lot better at that, and we haven’t been good for the past few weeks. Those are things we need to clean up.”

Dodgers fall behind in NL West standings

By defeating the Giants, the Dodgers slipped to third place in the National League West standings. The Giants extended their best winning streak of the season to seven games.

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The Dodgers are in the middle of a rough patch that the team hasn’t seen much of lately. After beating rival San Francisco Giants last weekend, LA lost just 5-10 in June and slipped to third place in the NL West. The Dodgers, usually good at home, won that last home game 4-2, including a 15-0 loss to the Giants on Saturday night.

All-Star Freddie Freeman opened up about the Dodgers’ struggles and what he thinks is wrong.

“It’s not the ideal situation right now,” said Freddie Freeman, Dodgers first baseman. “It’s hard to even put into words. Every day we come in with the right attitude. … And every day it’s another loss right now. It’s one of those difficult points in the season where you have to struggle, come every day and hope to win. Our team is far too good to survive this phase.”

According to the Orange County Register

Freeman is right that this team is too good to get through this phase, but it’s the reality the Dodgers are in right now. They haven’t shown any consistency on the field lately and honestly you never know what to expect from the games anymore. LA appears to be the team many believe will start the season after losing a slew of talent over the winter.

However, despite all the problems this team has to deal with, they are still just a few games behind the leaders. If they can clean up their game and get back to basics, maybe they can recover. But this team is not at the same level as in previous years. They have some real gaps in the squad that will need to be filled sooner rather than later. Manager Dave Roberts spoke about the track and how they can get the ship back on track.

“Looking back over that two-week span, there are a lot of things that we’re not doing well,” Roberts said. “We don’t play clean baseball, we don’t play fundamental baseball. I think it’s about not just winning, but focusing on the little things: catching the baseball, minimizing walks, throwing to the right base, not getting thrown at the bases. Making a pickoff play – these are the things that keep haunting us. Normally we are much better at it.”

According to the Orange County Register

The Dodgers were embarrassed by their rivals last weekend. Maybe that’s what it takes to ignite the spark from this team. Maybe the pride comes out and they say enough is enough. Whatever they have to do, they have to implement it quickly, otherwise this season could be lost. Both the players and the front office are to blame and changes need to be made as the trade deadline is fast approaching.

LA has a day off Monday before heading to a two-game series with the Angels. Maybe the extra time off will help this team get back on track.

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Both the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels have been struggling with injuries lately, but otherwise the teams are trending in different directions ahead of the two-game Freeway Series that begins Tuesday.

For the first time since 2014, the Angels (41-33) have a better record than the Dodgers (39-33) at the start of their annual match.

From August 4 through August 7, 2014, the Freeway Series included four games played equally at Dodger Stadium and Anaheim. The Angels went into the game with a record of 66-44 while the Dodgers had a record of 63-49. LA was shut out in the Freeway Series opener but responded with three straight wins over the Angels.

This season it’s 11-3 Angels in June. Their hot streak dates back to avoiding a four-game series win over the Houston Astros with a win in the Finals at Minute Maid Park, despite the Angels recently putting Zach Neto, Gio Urshela and Anthony Rendon on the injury list.

Conversely, the Dodgers lost just 5-10 in June and are in a win over the San Francisco Giants that included a historic loss at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers’ troubles date back to the start of a series against the Minnesota Twins on May 15. Since then they are 13-18 and have lost six out of ten series.

The primary reason for the Dodgers’ unexpected slip was increasing injuries in the starting rotation and the inconsistent performance of the bullpen overall. The Dodgers’ pitching team has a 4.66 ERA, which ranks 25th in baseball and is the franchise’s lowest grade since 1944.

“I think looking back over that two-week period, there’s a lot of things that we just don’t do well and we don’t play clean baseball, we don’t play fundamental baseball,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I think it’s about not just winning, but focusing on the little things.

“Catching the baseball, minimizing walks, throwing to the right base, not getting thrown on the bases, making a pickoff play, these are things that haunt us over and over again. And we’re usually a lot better at that, and we haven’t been good for the past few weeks. Those are things we need to clean up.”

Dodgers fall behind in NL West standings

By defeating the Giants, the Dodgers slipped to third place in the National League West standings. The Giants extended their best winning streak of the season to seven games.

The post Dodgers & Angels Dealing With Accidents, However Trending In Totally different Instructions For Freeway Sequence First Since 2014 appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.