Téoscar Hernàndez hits one of two homers in Game 2 of the Cards-Dodgers series.
I have to admit, I’m getting older. And after my long Opening Day at the Ravine, I was none too excited about going up there last night when it looked like it would rain at any minute. I had already printed out my scorecards, so I stayed home and kept score while watching the game with Stephen on Apple TV+. And it was another triumph for Dodger hitting AND pitching, as we beat the Cardinals, 6-3.
We hit 4 home runs (2 by Téoscar Hernàndez alone), and we got a great quality start from Bobby Miller. He went 6 innings, gave up only 2 hits and struck out a career-high 11. Fantastic!
Tonight is Freddie Freeman Bobble Head Night, so I will be going this evening, come rain or just freezing cold. Go Dodgers!
The game on Monday (Sept. 11) started out to be just as spectacular, but it didn’t end up that way. The pot o’ gold at the end of this rainbow was a meltdown by our apparent closer, Evan Phillips, whereby he gave up 4 runs in the top of the 9th, putting the game against the stinking, smug Padres out of reach, 11-7. We scored another in the bottom of the inning, and we had the winning run at the plate with bases loaded, but Chris Taylor unfortunately aimed his line drive right into the glove of shortstop Xander Bogaerts to end the game.
As my ceaselessly optimistic husband would say, “If you want to make sure the Dodgers don’t score a run, load the bases.”
My boys in blue had a wonderful August, but so far this month, they are not doing so hot. They have a lot of injuries and a partner-beating (allegedly) pitcher, leaving the unreliable Lance Lynn as our only veteran starter. Our young ‘uns (Ryan Pepiot, Gavin Scott, Bobby Miller and Emmett Sheehan) do not a starting rotation make. But manager Dave Roberts is making do with them as best he can, while keeping his fingers crossed that Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler can come back before the playoffs. Good luck to you, Doc! Actually, good luck to us all.
Miguel Rojas is congratulated by his teammates after hitting his first homer as a Dodger last night.
Last night (Wed., Aug. 2, 2023), my wonderful husband and I went to the game together. I didn’t call attention to it or anything, but I noticed every time I did my bugle-call whistle (you know, “da-da-da-duh-da-duh CHARGE!”), whichever Dodger was at the plate would hit the ball! … Like, immediately after my whistle!
First inning, Mookie Betts leads off with a smokin’ double, followed by Freddie Freeman with a run-scoring single. Both IMMEDIATELY after I did my whistle. I swear! You think it’s a coincidence that both Amed Rosario and Miguel Rojas hit their first home runs as Dodgers on the same night? I like to think my whistle played a part, not only in those hits, but in everything that led to the Dodgers’ 10-1 rout of the A’s.
Now, I could be persuaded to believe that it was just a coincidence — that the Dodgers (Mookie & Freddie in particular) are just great baseball players — if not for the fact that I singlehandedly WILLED INTO BEING last week’s epic 9th-inning rebound from a 4-run deficit. (I have witnesses!)
My view July 25 in the 10th inning after 4-run rally in the 9th.
Steve and I — along with writer Mat Gleason and his wife, artist Leigh Salgado — were in seats right behind the visitors’ dugout on Tues., July 25. We were playing the Blue Jays, and our fabulous bullpen sank everyone’s hope for a Dodger victory by letting Toronto increase their 1-run lead to a 4-run lead in the top of the 9th.
I turned to a dejected Steve, the Dodgers now down 7-3, and I said, “Stephen, you know I can will a comeback into being. You’ve seen it firsthand.” I was referring to a monumentally fun 5-run rally in the bottom of the 9th at a Spring Training game a decade ago, when I was the only fan standing at Camelback Ranch, screaming my head off and whistling like a maniac while everybody else stared like I was nuts. A.J. Ellis capped that win with a 3-run bomb. I made the mojo that time, and I could do it again.
I stepped to the empty front row to give myself more room. (Even with special parking, Dugout Club folks like to beat the traffic.) I’m leaning up against the Blue Jays’ dugout, and I start whistling, screaming my lungs out, clapping and, basically, acting like a completely delusional moron.
“Da-da-da-duh-da-duh!” James Outman singles!
“Da-da-da-duh-da-duh!” Rojas, singles!
“Da-da-da-duh-da-duh!” Mookie, singles! Outman scores! And the rest of the inning went almost exactly the way I wanted it to.
We ended up tied at 7, and the 10th inning brought a beautiful Outman double that drove designated runner Chris Taylor home for a walkoff win.
Piewalla's Dodger Blues 