Daily Clips

May 25, 2017

LOS ANGELES DODGERS DAILY CLIPS THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017

DODGERS.COM Leake dominates as Cards even series- Ken Gurnick and Jenifer Langosch Hill laments 'unacceptable' 7 walks- Ken Gurnick Pederson still sore after collision with Puig- Joshua Thornton Maeda, Wacha to duel for series win- Joshua Thornton Yasmani Grandal batted with the wrong helmet in Wednesday night's Dodgers game- Andrew Mearns Let's watch Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay throw out a first pitch- Gemma Kaneko LA TIMES Rich Hill looks rusty after layoff in 6-1 loss to Cardinals- Andy McCullough Here's hoping the Dodgers aren't messing up potential cornerstone Julio Urias- Dylan Hernandez Dodgers considering using Hyun-Jin Ryu in relief- Andy McCullough Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw passes Mariano Rivera, lowers career WHIP below 1.000- Andy McCullough OC REGISTER Rich Hill digs hole Dodgers can’t escape in 6-1 loss to Cardinals- Bill Plunkett Dodgers Notes: Kenta Maeda returns to rotation hoping to pick up where he left off- Bill Plunkett On deck: Cardinals at Dodgers, Thursday, 7:10 p.m.- Bill Plunkett ESPN Leake leads Cardinals to 6-1 win over Dodgers- Associated Press Joc Pederson sidelined day after outfield collision with Yasiel Puig– ESPN.com TRUE BLUE LA Dodgers fall on Rich Hill’s wild night - Eric Stephen Jordan Sheffield goes six strong for Loons – David Hood Chris Taylor makes first career OF start - Eric Stephen Why I became a fan of the Dodgers – Eric Stephen Clayton Kershaw dominant, lowers career WHIP under 1- Eric Stephen DODGERS INSIDER Hill tries to look forward after walking career-high seven in 6–1 loss – Rowan Kavner Taylor set to make his outfield debut- Rowan Kavner DODGERS PHOTOG BLOG 5/24/17-Something Current-LAD-1,STL-6 by Jon SooHoo and Jill Weisleder/© LA Dodgers - Jon SooHoo NBC SPORTS Leake Drains Dodgers as Cardinals Cruise, 6-1 – Michael Duarte and The Associated Press LOS ANGELES SENTINEL L.A. Dodgers Foundation Partners with Bank of America to Teach Better Money Habits- Lauren A. Jones Darby Park Earned Two Dodgers Dreamfields- Amanda Scurlock

LOS ANGELES DODGERS DAILY CLIPS

THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017

DODGERS.COM

Leake dominates as Cards even series By Ken Gunick and Jenifer Langosch LOS ANGELES -- Mike Leake fired a four-hitter for eight innings while the Cardinals capitalized on seven walks issued by Dodgers starter Rich Hill and a two-run error by left fielder Cody Bellinger in a 6-1 win Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. The win was the Cardinals' 10th in their last 11 road games and pulled them to within a half-game of the division-leading Brewers. Leake (5-2) reclaimed the National League ERA lead from Clayton Kershaw at 1.91, striking out five without a walk. All nine of his starts this year have been quality starts, and he completed a turn through the Cardinals' rotation in which the starters allowed three runs over 38 1/3 innings. "I don't want them to flinch and doubt that this isn't the staff they should be," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "Those are hard numbers to keep matching, but when I watch them go about their business, they're not doing anything out of the ordinary. They're executing, and they're getting in big spots and making really good pitches. It's been a good run, but I think it should set the template and the expectation." Hill (1-2) was removed after four-plus innings having issued a career-high in walks, with three of them scoring, in his second start since returning from the disabled list for chronic blisters. Hill walked four in a 36-pitch second inning, when Kolten Wong put the Cardinals on the board with a two-run single. Kolten Wong smacks a two-run single to left field to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead in the top of the 2nd inning "I think he got a little frustrated with the strike zone with pitches up he thought were strikes and felt he was getting squeezed and I think that led to his inconsistency," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, noting that Hill had several exchanges with plate umpire Rob Drake. "After that, fastball command, not there. Curveball command, not there. Getting behind hitters. We saw a little of this in Spring Training, but since the season started very uncharacteristic." After the Cards capitalized on Bellinger's error in the fifth to take a 5-0 lead, Yadier Molina homered off Sergio Romo in the seventh inning to make it 6-0 and extend his hitting streak to 13 games. "We got the win. That's all that matters," Molina said, when asked about his recent individual success. Yadier Molina launches a solo home run to left field to extend the Cardinals' lead to 6-0 in the top of the 7th inning Hill is scheduled to face the Cardinals again next week in St. Louis.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Winning with little ball: The Cardinals scored three runs in the fifth inning on a walk by Stephen Piscotty, a bunt single by Matt Carpenter to defeat the Dodgers' defensive shift and a Jedd Gyorko single that Bellinger misplayed into a two-run error, with Gyorko scoring on Molina's sacrifice fly. Gyorko had three hits and is batting .331. "I just took my eye off it," Bellinger said of the ball that scooted past him. "I was looking up and I forgot who was running, just to see who was going home and just that split second, it got away from me. I apologized [to Hill], you know we understand that's baseball and I just got to keep my eye on the ball a little bit longer." Jedd Gyorko rips a single to left field and two runs come in to score after Cody Bellinger misplays the ball, extending the Cardinals' lead I got it: Making his outfield debut replacing the injured Joc Pederson in center field, Chris Taylor had an immediate baptism, sent to dead center by Dexter Fowler to make a leaping catch at the wall leading off the game. Chris Taylor makes a leaping catch while crashing into the wall in center field to retire Dexter Fowler in his first start in the outfield QUOTABLE "I'm not surprised because it's been an eight-year process for me to get to where I'm at. So it's not a surprise for myself, but I'm sure it is a surprise for others." -- Leake, on finding himself atop the NL ERA leaderboard SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Hill's seven walks were the most issued by a Dodgers pitcher since Scott Kazmir walked seven on May 20, 2016, at San Diego. With runners on first and third, Rich Hill strikes out Randal Grichuk looking to end the top of the 3rd inning WHAT'S NEXT Cardinals: The Cardinals will wrap up their stay in Los Angeles with a 9:10 p.m. CT game on Thursday in which Michael Wacha will seek his eighth straight six-plus-inning start to open the season. Wacha, who threw six scoreless innings his last time out, is 1-2 with a 3.57 ERA in four career starts against the Dodgers. Dodgers: The Dodgers aren't sure they will get Pederson (neck strain) back for Thursday's 7:10 p.m. PT series finale, but the starting pitcher will be Kenta Maeda, who comes off the DL (hamstring) hoping to pitch as well as he did in his last start, when he went 8 1/3 innings May 10 in a 5-2 win over Pittsburgh. Hill laments 'unacceptable' 7 walks

By Ken Gurnick LOS ANGELES -- If it's any consolation to the slice of Twitterverse that excoriated Rich Hill Wednesday night, he's not arguing with you. "Bad outing," said Hill, who walked a career-high seven while losing to the Cardinals, 6-1. "I take full responsibility for that. Gave them the game. It's unacceptable. It's really a tough thing to swallow." Manager Dave Roberts said Hill felt plate umpire Rob Drake was squeezing him on pitches at the top of the strike zone. Roberts also said he would "dig into" the possibility that Hill's notorious middle finger blister was at the core of his curveball inconsistency, although Hill said his finger was fine. "The finger is no issue," he insisted. "No, I was just terrible. Honestly. It's just embarrassing. I mean, there's no issue with the finger. I'm completely healthy. That's all I can really say about that." Blister or not, Hill (1-2, 4.76 ERA) was clearly chafed on the mound. He questioned Drake's calls several times, and before the start of the third inning, Drake intercepted Hill at the mound before he could start his warmup throws to try to defuse the clash with a brief talk. Roberts was clearly annoyed that his veteran came so unglued. "I know he's an emotional pitcher, but you've got to compose yourself in some capacity and still execute pitches," said Roberts. "It wasn't about execution, it was continue to focus on executing and not get too frustrated by the strike zone. I'm just so accustomed to seeing Rich with command of curveball. He can really manipulate, and today he had no feel. Changing arm angles, but couldn't find any consistency tonight." Jedd Gyorko rips a single to left field and two runs come in to score after Cody Bellinger misplays the ball, extending the Cardinals' lead So in addition to the emotion, Roberts suspects Hill's finger might be at least partially responsible, even though Hill was pitching on two days of extra rest, as the club continues to shuffle starting pitchers around. Hill made 82 pitches, 40 strikes and 42 balls. "Just my intuition watching his curveball command," Roberts said of his suspicions. "I didn't hear anything outside of we got through it. I'm just trying to wrap my head around it, and I think even some curveballs that were borderline at the top of zone, knowing the shape of his curveball, those aren't finished curveballs. I just want to dig into that a little more." Roberts was also at a loss to explain how Hill had so much trouble in the second, third and fifth innings after opening the game with a five-pitch first inning and retiring the Cardinals in order with a pair of strikeouts in the fourth, only to open the fifth with a four-pitch walk to Stephen Piscotty. Roberts did speculate on why Hill might have been wound as tightly as he seemed to be. "When you don't feel you're as sharp as you can be or have been in the past, every pitch that's close you feel you need and when you don't get those pitches it kind of ramps up your frustration a little more," he said. "We all know what Rich can be in recent history. At the forefront is keep the blister at bay and

now pitch well. I'm confident he will. This guy is ultra-competitive. He's got them again in St. Louis and he'll be ready to go." Pederson still sore after collision with Puig By Joshua Thornton LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson on Wednesday said he was feeling better but was still a little sore a day after sustaining a neck strain and assorted injuries in a violent collision with teammate Yasiel Puig during a 2-1 win over the Cardinals. "I think that was expected," he said, "but we're going to take that day by day." Chris Taylor, a career infielder, made his first Major League start as an outfielder on Wednesday, replacing Pederson in center. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Pederson went through a concussion protocol and was still being monitored, but he didn't think Pederson will spend time on the disabled list. Roberts said Pederson would only be available in an emergency situation Wednesday night. "We're continuing to monitor the concussion piece," Roberts said. "As of now, he's sort of passed all of those tests. Hopefully he'll be back. Even optimistically, he'll be back in there tomorrow." Hyun-Jin Ryu leaps on a one-hopper to the mound and throws to first base to get the out in the top of the 3rd inning Ryu's role up in the air Alex Wood, Brandon McCarthy and Clayton Kershaw were announced by Roberts as the starting pitchers for the Dodgers' three-game series against the Cubs this weekend. Still absent from the rotation is left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu, for whom Roberts said the Dodgers are trying to "find a spot." Ryu last started on Thursday, when he allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings against the Marlins. Roberts left open the possibility of Ryu coming out of the bullpen as a long reliever, but said a move like that would not be permanent. "Just making sure Ryu feels fine, physically, mentally and emotionally," Roberts said. "We're trying to figure out where we can get him back in the mix."

Maeda, Wacha to duel for series win By Joshua Thornton Dodgers right-hander Kenta Maeda is slated to come off the disabled list to start Thursday night's rubber match at Dodger Stadium against Michael Wacha and the Cardinals. Maeda, one of seven starting pitchers the Dodgers have used this season, was placed on the DL with hamstring tightness one day after throwing 8 1/3 innings against the Pirates on May 10. In that start, he threw a career-high 104 pitches while holding the Pirates to two runs on five hits. Maeda made a rehab start for Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga on Friday, tossing four innings while allowing one run on six hits. He threw 63 pitches. Wacha, whose 2.84 ERA is good for fifth in the National League, is coming off a start in which he threw six shutout innings, giving up four hits in a no-decision against the Giants. He made that start on 11 days' rest, and was pulled after only throwing 86 pitches as the Cardinals try to ease the burden on his arm in his first full season following Tommy John surgery. The right-hander has pitched at least six innings in all of his starts this year. Wacha is 1-2 with a 3.57 ERA against the Dodgers in four career starts. Things to know about this game • Maeda posted one of the lowest average exit velocities among starting pitchers last season, at 85.3 mph. Even so, his three most recent outings -- from April 28-May 10 -- each were among his five best in terms of single-game average exit velocity allowed. Since April 28, Maeda's overall average of 78.6 mph is easily the best among Major League starters. • Maeda's only start against the Cardinals was a 7-2 Dodgers win on July 23 last season. He boasts a 3-1 record against NL Central teams in five starts, holding a 2.87 ERA. • Wacha has held opponents to a .143 average (4-for-28) with runners in scoring position this season. Yasmani Grandal batted with the wrong helmet in Wednesday night's Dodgers game By Andrew Mearns Being a switch-hitter is usually a huge advantage for a baseball player. It does, however, typically force switch-hitters to own two different styles of helmets, since most leave the ear not facing the pitcher uncovered. The Dodgers' Yasmani Grandal is one such switch-hitter who owns multiple helmets. Unfortunately, in the first inning of his team's 6-1 loss on Wednesday night against the D-backs, he grabbed the wrong one. Grandal had no idea.

Whoops. The at-bat didn't work out, either, as Grandal grounded out to Matt Carpenter at first base. Amusingly, this wasn't even the first time that Grandal has made that mistake. He also did it in 2015: Maybe to avoid future issues, Grandal should take a page from Shane Victorino's book and just use a dual-flap helmet. It worked out pretty well for Victorino, anyway. Let's watch Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay throw out a first pitch By Gemma Kaneko Baseball and "The Bachelor/ette" franchise have long had a very close relationship. Bachelor Ben went on a date at Wrigley Field, and Bachelorette Kaitlyn took prospective beaus to Citi Field. This season's Bachelorette, Rachel Lindsay, visited Dodger Stadium to throw out a ceremonial first pitch before the Dodgers' 2-1 victory over the Cardinals on Tuesday: firstpitch Listen to the cheers in the video above, and note the conspicuous absence of some dude yelling "whaboom." Fans of the show, do what you will with that information. (Meet us on "The Bachelorette" messages boards, where we'll all heave one big sigh of relief.)

LA TIMES

Rich Hill looks rusty after layoff in 6-1 loss to Cardinals By Andy McCullough The disdain dripped from Rich Hill’s voice. He is an introspective man, but this was not self-deprecation. It was self-loathing, the only emotion he could muster after plummeting the Dodgers into an early deficit in a 6-1 loss to St. Louis. “I was just terrible tonight,” Hill said. “Honestly, it was embarrassing.” Appearing after an eight-day layoff, Hill looked lost on the mound, when he wasn’t infuriated with the umpiring. He issued a career-high seven walks as he allowed five runs in four innings. Manager Dave Roberts pulled Hill after two runs had scored in the fifth. Hill boils with intensity on the mound. On Wednesday, his emotion caused Roberts to leave the dugout to try to steady the pitching. Hill flings curveballs with imagination and verve. His lackluster execution Wednesday prompted Roberts to wonder if Hill’s blisters had returned. Hill stressed that his finger did not compromise his outing. His delivery did, he explained. With his body not cooperating, he planned to spend the weekend tinkering with his mechanics to recapture mastery of his pitches. “I take full responsibility,” he said. “I just gave them the game.”

After a stirring extra-inning victory Tuesday, the Dodgers (27-20) looked feeble against Cardinals starter Mike Leake. He yielded four hits and a sacrifice fly by Cody Bellinger in the seventh inning. By then, Hill had already combusted. Here's hoping the Dodgers aren't messing up potential cornerstone Julio Urias Hill considers himself a creature of habit, requiring extensive sessions to maintain the feel of his fastball and curve. His team’s current strategy, which tries to fit six or seven starting pitchers into a rotation meant for five, forces deviation from routine. It also stems from a place of caution. Hill has undergone multiple operations on his left arm. He fits in with his fellow starters. Alex Wood required elbow surgery last summer. Brandon McCarthy underwent an elbow reconstruction in 2015. Hyun-Jin Ryu wrecked his shoulder that same year. None of these men, the Dodgers reason, should attempt to throw 200 innings. In the ideal world, the blueprint carries these pitchers into October after avoiding excessive strain in the regular season. On nights like Wednesday, the team must watch a pitcher like Hill look rusty and aggravated, unable to command his pitches or find a rhythm. “We saw a little of this in spring training, but since the season started, very uncharacteristic of Rich,” Roberts said. “I don’t know if it was blister-related. We’ll talk about that.” The Dodgers adapted before the game, when infielder Chris Taylor got penciled into the lineup as an outfielder. The assignment stemmed from the previous night’s brutal collision between Yasiel Puig and Joc Pederson, which left Pederson temporarily sidelined with a strained neck. A day later, the accident served as fodder for humor. Soon after Puig entered the clubhouse, he spotted Pederson talking to reporters. “Joc! I’m too strong for you,” Puig said. “Puig was really soft,” Pederson replied. “The wall was really hard.” Pederson had passed a concussion protocol Tuesday. His forehead bore a scab Wednesday. Roberts maintained optimism about Pederson avoiding the disabled list, but did not provide a timetable for his return. The situation accelerated the percolating plan to use Taylor in the outfield. As a middle infielder for most of his career, Taylor felt comfortable reading the ball in center field, the most physically demanding of the three positions. The game found him immediately. On the second pitch of the night, Taylor thudded into the wall to snag a drive from St. Louis outfielder Dexter Fowler. An out secured, Hill breezed through the first. The inning lasted five pitches. The next inning required 36. Hill walked three of the first four batters in the inning before Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong slashed a two-run single.

As the walks piled up, Yasmani Grandal separated Hill from a discussion with plate umpire Rob Drake, as Hill felt he was being squeezed on curves at the top of the strike zone. Grandal visited the mound twice. So did first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. So did pitching coach Rick Honeycutt. “I know he’s an emotional pitcher,” Roberts said. “But you’ve still got to compose yourself in some capacity and execute pitches.” The advice did not help. Neither did a conversation with Drake before the top of the third inning. Hill walked Cardinals first baseman Matt Carpenter and gave up a single to third baseman Jedd Gyorko. Roberts came to the mound to counsel Hill to stow his anger. Hill slipped out of trouble and completed the fourth without incident. In the fifth, though, his control slipped. A leadoff walk by outfielder Stephen Piscotty opened the door. Up next, Carpenter bunted for a single. The end was approaching. The final pitch Hill threw was an 89-mph fastball. It was a strike, at least. But it arrived at the belt of Gyorko. He raked a single into left. Bellinger overran the baseball, letting two runs to score. Gyorko came home in the next at-bat, when Ross Stripling allowed a sacrifice fly. By then, Hill had already landed on the bench. “It’s unacceptable,” Hill said. “It’s a tough thing to swallow.” Here's hoping the Dodgers aren't messing up potential cornerstone Julio Urias By Dylan Hernandez The plan was for Julio Urias to be here. He’s not. Instead of preparing to start Thursday for the Dodgers, Urias is scheduled to make his next appearance for the organization’s triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City. This could be a simple case of a 20-year-old prospect requiring a short break from major league competition to refine his delivery. There’s another possibility and it’s far more disconcerting: The Dodgers are messing up a potential franchise cornerstone. Watching Urias labor through his two most recent starts, it was impossible not to wonder if the purported geniuses in the front office were overthinking when mapping out his season. The Dodgers transformed their future ace into an experimental subject and, if his 5.40 earned-run average is an indication, the experiment is failing. This isn’t a knee-jerk reaction to a recent event. The concern was raised in this very space back in spring training. With only a few weeks remaining in camp, Urias was unaware of how the Dodgers wanted to use him in the upcoming season.

“I don’t know what the plan is,” Urias said at the time. Positive intentions were behind the confusion. The Dodgers wanted to protect Urias’ arm, which pitched 127 2/3 innings last season between the majors and minors. To avoid a significant increase in workload that could jeopardize his health, management was prepared to have him miss part of the season: the beginning, the middle or the end. The Dodgers wanted to avoid the final option. With Urias being the team’s most talented pitcher other than Clayton Kershaw, they wanted him available in the postseason. They attempted a bizarre midseason shutdown two years ago, disrupting his rhythm and perhaps slowing down his development. The most likely choice was to delay the start of his season. But the Dodgers didn’t want to fully commit to that, which would have required them to postpone the start of spring training for him. Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw passes Mariano Rivera, lowers career WHIP below 1.000 “Because of not knowing how guys would get through spring,” said Andrew Friedman, the team’s president of baseball operations. Friedman constructed a rotation consisting of pitchers with frightening medical histories. In addition to protecting Urias, they had to protect themselves from the possibility of multiple injuries to their starting pitchers. This required Urias to train over the winter as if he would be part of the opening-day roster. He said he threw bullpen sessions earlier in the winter than in the past, but was slowed down in spring training, where he was placed on a throwing program that resembled that of a long reliever. Urias continued throwing at the team’s spring-training complex and made his first three starts of the season in triple A. Between the exhibition season and the minor leagues, Urias wasted innings that he could have pitched in the major leagues. The major league portion of his season started with promise, as Urias posted a 1.06 ERA in his first three starts. But he was pounded over his last two starts, a sudden loss of command resulting in his giving up a combined 13 runs in 6 1/3 innings. With six other starting pitchers available, the Dodgers demoted Urias to triple A on Sunday. Friedman said he was “extremely confident” Urias’ unorthodox training regimen had nothing to do with his recent slump. “This is something where his delivery got a little bit out of whack and it’s hard to fix that on the fly in the big leagues,” Friedman said. Though Urias’ agent, Scott Boras, wanted his client to work out his problems in the major leagues, he understood why the team sent him down. “There are more than five goldfish in the fish tank,” Boras said.

Will Urias be as understanding? He followed the team’s unusual instructions without complaint, but the moment something went wrong, he was punished for it. The Dodgers are counting on Urias to have the mental strength to overcome whatever frustrations and disappointments he encounters early in his career. And perhaps they are right to do so. Little has fazed Urias up to this point. At the same time, why place unnecessary obstacles in his way? The last time the Dodgers had a pitching prospect of this caliber, they did what they could to have him on a regular schedule. They limited his innings in certain starts, occasionally offered him extra innings between starts, but otherwise didn’t do anything too radical with him. Even then, the pitcher in question didn’t find his footing until well into his second season in the major leagues. That pitcher was Clayton Kershaw. Dodgers considering using Hyun-Jin Ryu in relief By Andy McCullough The Dodgers revealed their rotation for this weekend series against the Chicago Cubs: Alex Wood will start Friday, Brandon McCarthy will go Saturday and Clayton Kershaw will handle the finale. That means that Hyun-Jin Ryu (2-5, 4.75 ERA), who has not pitched since May 18, will not make a start until Monday in St. Louis at the earliest. Ryu gave up seven hits but held the Miami Marlins to two runs in 5 1/3 innings last week. It was not enough to earn him an opportunity to pitch this week, not with Kenta Maeda being activated from the disabled list Thursday. With Ryu on extended rest, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated the club has considered using him as a long reliever. Ryu has never pitched out of the bullpen in his major league career, though he did make a handful of relief appearances in Korea. “If that were to happen, it wouldn’t be permanent,” Roberts said. “We have an excess of quality starting pitchers. So to try to get innings for guys is tough. I think he’s open to doing whatever he can to help our ballclub.” Ryu can refuse any assignment to the minor leagues. He has already spent time on the 10-day disabled list with a minor injury. But he is considered the sixth-most-reliable member of the Dodgers’ six-man rotation. Which means Ryu may get squeezed as the Dodgers navigate roster management. Ryu appeared in only one game in 2015 and in 2016 as he recovered from shoulder surgery. Some rival scouts do not believe his arsenal would make a significant leap if he shifted into the bullpen. “If it were to happen, it’s something he’s never done,” Roberts said. “So you’ve got to appreciate that. And there’s a potential routine change, and you’ve got to be sensitive to that. There’s a lot of variables. So it’s not an easy thing. We really want to talk through it and make the right decision.”

Roberts engaged in a lengthy conversation with Ryu after Ryu threw a flat-ground session before Wednesday’s game against the Cardinals at Dodger Stadium. “Just making sure Ryu feels fine physically, mentally, emotionally, and he’s in a good place,” Roberts said. “We’re trying to figure out when we can get him back in the mix.” Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw passes Mariano Rivera, lowers career WHIP below 1.000 By Andy McCullough Clayton Kershaw faced 29 batters on Tuesday night. Only three reached base. In the process, he completed a remarkable feat: He lowered his career walks plus hits per inning (WHIP) below 1.0. He ended the night at 0.996, passing former Yankees closer Mariano Rivera and pushing into a tie for second place with Hall of Famer Ed Walsh. Kershaw was unaware of the achievement. Still, he offered a characteristic response. “Well,” he said, “one bad outing, and that will go right back up.” Kershaw leads the National League with a 0.823 WHIP. He led the league in the statistic in each season from 2011 to 2014. He finished third, by a slim margin, behind Zack Greinke and Jake Arrieta in 2015. Last season, Kershaw posted a career-best 0.725 WHIP but did not qualify for the earned-run average title. For context, only 220 pitchers have produced a single season with a WHIP below 1.0, meaning fewer than one base-runner per inning. Red Sox ace Chris Sale resides nearby with a 1.0496 WHIP. Pedro Martinez finished his career with a 1.0544 WHIP. Trevor Hoffman posted a 1.0584 WHIP. Sandy Koufax? 1.106. The only pitcher ahead of Kershaw is Addie Joss. He pitched for the Cleveland Bronchos from 1902 to 1910. He dealt with illness for much of his career and died of tuberculosis in the spring of 2011. Joss also worked as a newspaper columnist at the Toledo Blade and designed an electric scoreboard. A collision, a wild pitch, a walk-off double and 10 K's by Kershaw. How the Dodgers won in 13 innings » As for Kershaw, he saw little reason to celebrate. His mind already was churning toward his next start, this weekend against the Cubs. “I’m not worried about the career stuff,” Kershaw said. “Eventually, you’ll get to look back on it all. But hopefully I’m right in the middle of all that stuff.”

OC REGISTER

Rich Hill digs hole Dodgers can’t escape in 6-1 loss to Cardinals By Bill Plunkett LOS ANGELES – Like Bigfoot, Rich Hill’s potential to be a dominant starter for the Dodgers has been occasionally glimpsed. But it has yet to be captured. The recurring blisters on the middle finger of his pitching hand are largely to blame for that elusiveness. But Hill insisted that much-publicized digit was no more culpable than the other four on his left hand as he walked a career-high seven in just over four innings, digging a hole the Dodgers couldn’t escape in a 6-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night. “It was a bad outing. That’s it. It was terrible,” Hill said. “I accept full responsibility for that. Just gave them the game. That’s unacceptable. “I take full responsibility for being terrible tonight.” Hill said the blister issues were “no issue” even though Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said “my intuition” made him wonder if that was responsible for the number of curveballs that were just “not finished.” “I’m just so accustomed to see Rich have such good command with the curveball,” Roberts said. “The curveball he can really kind of manipulate. Today, he really had no feel. He tried to find it by changing arm angles but really couldn’t find any consistency tonight.” There were no signs of trouble as Hill retired the Cardinals in order on only five pitches in the first inning. But he quickly lost his way after that, walking six of the next 12 batters. Hill absolved his middle finger of guilt but said he “can’t really pinpoint” why his command was so unreliable, offering only some minor mechanical adjustments he needs to make before his next start (against the Cardinals again next week). A stew of ingredients were probably at play including Hill’s lack of big-league competition this season. He has pitched just 17 innings over four starts while dealing with the recurring blister and had a full week off before this start. He also did not see eye to eye with home plate umpire Rob Drake. Hill was visibly upset with the strike zone at times and even spoke with Drake before the third inning. Hill said he watched replays of some pitches – curveballs that he felt caught the top of the strike zone – from the second inning and told Drake he still felt they should have been called strikes. “After that first inning, a very easy inning, it was encouraging,” Roberts said. “Once he took the mound for the second, I think he got frustrated with the strike zone. There were some pitches up that he felt were strikes and he felt he was getting squeezed a little bit. I think that led to a little bit to his inconsistency going forward. After that, fastball command not there, curveball command not there, getting behind hitters.

“I know he’s an emotional pitcher, but you’ve got to compose yourself in some capacity and try to execute pitches.” Hill walked the bases loaded in that second inning, gave up a two-run single to Kolten Wong, then walked the opposing pitcher to load the bases again. He escaped that and another two-walk, bases-loaded situation in the third inning without further damage. But another walk started the fifth inning. After a bunt single, Cody Bellinger misplayed a Jedd Gyorko single that would have loaded the bases yet again. Two runs scored when the ball got past Bellinger and Hill’s night was done after allowing half of the 22 batters he faced to reach base (seven on walks, four on hits). Whatever issues Hill had with Drake during the walk-a-thon, fewer than half of Hill’s 82 pitches (40) found the strike zone, a lack of precision that couldn’t be blamed entirely on Drake’s decision-making. “I was just terrible tonight,” Hill said. “Honestly, it was embarrassing.” Facing the team with the lowest ERA in the majors over the past five weeks, the Dodgers’ fate was decided by Hill’s stumbling start. Cardinals starter Mike Leake (1.91) leap-frogged Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw (2.01) to take over the National League ERA lead by allowing just one run over eight innings Wednesday. Leake retired 17 of the first 19 batters he faced. Sound familiar? Tuesday night’s Cardinals starter Lance Lynn retired 21 of 23 Dodgers while holding them to one hit through the first seven innings. Over 22 innings in the first two games of this series, the Dodgers are batting .100 (7 for 70) with 25 strikeouts against Cardinals pitching. Their only damage Wednesday came in the seventh inning when Corey Seager led off with a double (the third of four hits allowed by Leake), went to third on a ground out and scored on a sacrifice fly by Bellinger. Dodgers Notes: Kenta Maeda returns to rotation hoping to pick up where he left off By Bill Plunkett LOS ANGELES – Ask Dodgers right-hander Kenta Maeda about the hamstring tightness that sent him to the DL and the playful sarcasm in his answer is not lost in translation. “Fine,” he said through his interpreter, a twinkle in Maeda’s eye. “But thanks for being concerned.” Maeda went on the DL two weeks ago, ostensibly for that troublesome hamstring – a day after he took a shutout into the ninth inning of a game during which he covered first base three times with no apparent difficulty. The pause was due more to a blockage – the seven pitchers the Dodgers were trying to stuff into their rotation – than any leg issues and came at a rather inopportune time for Maeda.

Before going on the DL, Maeda had turned in his best three starts of the season, allowing six runs on 13 hits while striking out 21 in 20-1/3 innings. He will be activated from the DL and rejoin the Dodgers’ rotation Thursday against the St. Louis Cardinals. “I think it’s going to be important that I pitch well the first time when I am back to get back into that rhythm of pitching well, building back again some of the routine,” Maeda said. Maeda probably deserved a timeout earlier in the season. After his first four starts, he had an 8.05 ERA. Opposing hitters were batting .316 with a 1.007 OPS against him. Manager Dave Roberts had a meeting with Maeda following that fourth start in Arizona, during which the Japanese right-hander allowed four home runs in five innings. Roberts’ message to Maeda was to remember “what makes him good” – and it wasn’t fastball velocity. Roberts felt Maeda was throwing his four-seam fastball too much in search of added velocity. He encouraged him to rely more on his two-seam fastball, focusing on placement down in the strike zone rather than velocity and using it to pitch inside to left-handed hitters. Roberts also suggested Maeda break out the cutter he had worked on in spring training. Maeda’s best three starts of the season followed. “I changed my mentality a little bit in terms of pitching,” Maeda said. “The biggest thing, though was I started throwing my cutter more. It increased my weapons to attack hitters. “I think I was relying too much on my four-seamer, throwing it hard and not focusing enough on getting hitters out quickly. I think, looking back, I’m now relying on moving the ball more and making sure I’m more efficient. … I’ve come to realize I am not a power pitcher.” CRASH COURSE A day after crashing into 250-pound Yasiel Puig traveling 20 mph (according to StatCast), center fielder Joc Pederson was not in the starting lineup and said his head and neck were still sore – the result of landing and hitting the outfield wall at an awkward angle, Pederson said, not from the impact with Puig. “Puig is really soft. The wall is really hard,” Pederson said, making sure Puig heard him. “My neck and head are still sore. That was to be expected. I think we’re just going to take it day to day.” Roberts said he was optimistic Pederson could be back in the lineup as soon as Thursday. In the meantime, Chris Taylor made his first major-league start in center field – a position he played in spring training briefly, looking uncomfortable. The Puig-Pederson collision was just one of the two outfield incidents in Tuesday’s game. Pederson and left fielder Cody Bellinger also tangled on a fly ball to the warning track earlier in the game. Roberts was asked if the two collisions reflected a communications problem in the outfield. “The one in left-center, there could have been more communication on Joc’s part,” Roberts said. “The one in right field was tough. Both guys were going all out, selling out.”

PITCHING PLANS After Maeda starts Thursday, the Dodgers will send Alex Wood, Brandon McCarthy and Clayton Kershaw to the mound for the weekend series against the Chicago Cubs (with Kershaw scheduled to matchup against Jon Lester on Sunday). That would give left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu at least 10 days off before his next start – and it could be more. Roberts would not say when Ryu will make his next start. Roberts acknowledged that a long relief role for Ryu has been “discussed.” “I know Ryu is open to whatever helps our ballclub,” Roberts said. “If that were to happen, it wouldn’t be permanent. We have an excess of quality starting pitchers so to get everyone innings is tough.” Left-hander Julio Urias will make his first start since being demoted to Triple-A for the OKC Dodgers on Saturday. On deck: Cardinals at Dodgers, Thursday, 7:10 p.m. By Bill Plunkett CARDINALS at DODGERS When: Thursday, 7:10 p.m. Where: Dodger Stadium TV: SportsNet LA (where available); MLB Network THE PITCHERS DODGERS RHP KENTA MAEDA (3-2, 5.03 ERA) Vs. Cardinals: 1-0, 3.18 ERA At Dodger Stadium: 9-6, 3.41 ERA Hates to face: Dexter Fowler, 2 for 5 (.400) Loves to face: Randal Grichuk, 0 for 2, 1 K CARDINALS RHP MICHAEL WACHA (2-1, 2.74 ERA) Vs. Dodgers: 1-2, 3.57 ERA At Dodger Stadium: 1-1, 2.45 ERA Hates to face: Yasmani Grandal, 3 for 8 (.375), 1 HR

Loves to face: Adrian Gonzalez, 2 for 15 (.133), 5 Ks

ESPN Leake leads Cardinals to 6-1 win over Dodgers By The Associated Press LOS ANGELES -- Mike Leake isn't shocked to see his name atop the National League ERA leaderboard. The St. Louis Cardinals emerging ace gets why it's a surprise to others, though. Leake allowed four hits over eight innings and dropped his ERA to 1.91, helping the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-1 on Wednesday night. "No, I'm not surprised because it's been an eight-year process for me to get to where I'm at," Leake said. "It's not a surprise for myself, but I'm sure it's a surprise for others." Leake (5-2) struck out five and walked none while allowing an earned run. He's yet to allow more than three runs in a start this season. "He's got a lot of movement on his ball," Dodgers rookie Cody Bellinger said. "He was hitting his spots. He has been effective all year, and he has got a good thing going. We just didn't execute well tonight." Yadier Molina hit a solo home run in the seventh inning to extend his hitting streak to 13 games. Molina matched Kolten Wong for the Cardinals' longest streak this season. Jedd Gyorko had three hits and also drew a walk during a two-run second inning that gave the Cardinals the lead for good. Dodgers starter Rich Hill walked seven and allowed five earned runs in four-plus innings. He threw two more balls (42) than strikes (40). Hill (1-2) walked four during a 36-pitch second inning. "It was a bad outing. It was terrible," Hill said. "I accept full responsibility for that. I just gave them the game. That is unacceptable." Hill retired the side in the first inning but was putting guys on base with regularity afterward. "After that first inning, a very easy inning, it was pretty encouraging," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "But, once he took the mound in the second inning, I think he got a little frustrated with the strike zone." Hill has battled blister problems since last season but said he's healthy and that his finger wasn't an issue.

"I can't really pinpoint it right now," Hill said of his problems. "Mechanically I was a little off, just kind of jumping all over the place. I am really going to work on some things this week to get right for the next outing." Chris Taylor made his first start in center field for the Dodgers, replacing Joc Pederson, who was out with a stiff neck following a nasty collision with Yasiel Puig on the warning track Tuesday night. Pederson has passed all concussion protocols so far, but the Dodgers are still monitoring him. "Puig was really soft," Pederson said. "The wall is really hard." TO THE PEN HE GOES? Hyun-Jin Ryu is not on the disabled list but he's not been pitching lately, either. The Dodgers are trying to figure out what to do with him. It was Korean night Wednesday at Dodger Stadium and T-shirts with his No. 99 were distributed. He threw on flat ground Wednesday, and the Dodgers are considering moving Ryu -- who has always been a starter -- to the bullpen. "I'm just making sure Ryu feels fine physically and mentally and emotionally is in the right place," Roberts said. "Trying to figure out when we can get him back in the mix. ... We've discussed (the bullpen). I know Ryu is open to do whatever can help our team. If that were to happen, it wouldn't be permanent. We have an excess of quality starting pitchers. To try to get innings for guys is tough." CALL TO THE PEN Leake had thrown 98 pitches through eight innings and said he could've tried to finish the game but understood when Cardinals manager Mike Matheny opted to use reliever Tyler Lyons in the ninth. "More than anything else, we don't have any off days any time soon," Matheny said. "I would imagine if he would've had a zero up there it might have been a little different. I know they all want to throw complete games, I get it. But it might be a day to save a few pitches, let somebody else finish it out and get ready for the next one." UP NEXT Cardinals: RHP Michael Wacha (2-1, 2.74) pitched six scoreless innings against the Giants in his last start. He has pitched at least six innings in all seven of his starts this season. Dodgers: RHP Kenta Maeda (3-2, 5.03) will come off the DL with a hamstring injury to make his start. He pitched a rehab start Friday. In his last start, May 10 against Pittsburgh, he pitched 8 1/3 innings and allowed two runs in the win.

Joc Pederson sidelined day after outfield collision with Yasiel Puig By ESPN.com Joc Pederson was out of the lineup Wednesday night for the Los Angeles Dodgers, a day after a frightening outfield collision with Yasiel Puig on the warning track at Dodger Stadium. Pederson said his neck was feeling better. He was diagnosed Tuesday night with a neck strain. Puig was in the lineup against the St. Louis Cardinals, batting eighth and playing right field, a day after the Dodgers' 2-1, 13-inning win in which Pederson was hurt. Just before crashing into Pederson, Puig sprinted from right field to right-center and caught Yadier Molina's long fly ball to end the 10th inning. Puig's left elbow appeared to knock Pederson on the side of his head, and Pederson's hat and glove went flying as the center fielder slammed face-first into the outfield wall. Puig momentarily remained on his feet, raising his glove to show he had caught the ball, before grabbing his chest and dropping to the track. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the game that Pederson had taken a forearm to the jaw.

TRUE BLUE LA Dodgers fall on Rich Hill’s wild night By Eric Stephen Everything in the middle game of the series was just a little off on Wednesday, with Rich Hill and the Dodgers falling to the Cardinals, 6-1 on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. Chris Taylor was playing the outfield for the first time in his major league career, so wouldn’t you know the second pitch of the game was an extra-base hit waiting to happen to the center field wall off the bat of Dexter Fowler, only Taylor proved up to the task by tracking it down and leaping to rob Fowler. In the bottom of the opening frame, switch-hitter Yasmani Grandal batted left-handed against the right-handed Mike Leake, which was normal. But what was out of place was that Grandal was wearing the wrong batting helmet, the one protecting his left ear instead of right. But what was most off was Hill, who was fighting the strike zone for most of his outing. He needed 36 pitches to get through the second inning, one that saw him walk four batters and allow one hit, a two-run single by Kolten Wong with bases loaded. Hill made it to the fifth inning down only two runs despite his wild night, but then the wheels came off. He walked a batter then allowed two singles to open the frame, with two runs scoring on the second hit after the ball got by Cody Bellinger in left field.

The walk was Hill’s seventh of the night. He had never walked more than five in a start before Wednesday, and hadn’t even done that since 2006. Hill allowed five runs in his four-plus innings, with four strikeouts to go with those seven free passes. It was every bit the opposite of his last start, striking out six while walking none in five strong innings. That was a week ago. Leake, by contrast, was very much on, and held the Dodgers at bay all night. Leake allowed just three hits, and kept the Dodgers off the scoreboard until the seventh inning. Leake’s eight innings tied him with three others for the longest outing against the Dodgers in 2017. One of the other three pitchers was Lance Lynn, in the first night of this series. Consequently, the Dodgers have three runs on seven hits in 22 innings so far against the Cardinals. Up next The Dodgers finish things up with the Cardinals on Thursday night, with Kenta Maeda activated from the disabled list to start the series finale, another 7:10 p.m. PT start. Michael Wacha starts for St. Louis. Wednesday particulars Home run: Yadier Molina (4) WP - Mike Leake (5-2): 8 IP, 4 hits, 1 run, 5 strikeouts LP - Rich Hill (1-2): 4+ IP, 4 hits, 5 runs, 7 walks, 4 strikeouts Jordan Sheffield goes six strong for Loons By David Hood The Dodgers’ farm teams were held winless on Wednesday evening, though the Loons offer a chance to salvage the slate when their suspended game resumes on Thursday. Player of the day Though the outing has yet to be made official (play resumes Thursday at 7:35 AM P.T.), Jordan Sheffield had his strongest performance of the season Wednesday night. Sheffield went six innings, his deepest outing of the year, and struck out five while walking none over six innings. Sheffield lowered his ERA to 3.38 and has struck out 24.6% of the Low A hitters he has faced. Triple-A Oklahoma City Oklahoma City squandered a five run lead in the late innings, getting walked off by the Albuquerque Isotopes (Rockies) 9-8. Brandon Morrow had retired the first two hitters in the ninth inning via strikeout before coming undone. Morrow proceeded to walk a batter, hit a batter, and then commit a two run throwing error to blow the save. Josh Ravin also struggled in relief, allowing four runs in the eighth inning before being relieved after two-thirds of an inning pitched.

O’Koyea Dickson hit home runs eleven and twelve on the season as part of a three run, three RBI night. Kyle Farmer also hit his first AAA home run, going two for four with a double. Alex Verdugo also had a multi-hit game, going two for five with a double. Double-A Tulsa The San Antonio Missions (Padres) spoiled the heroic efforts of Jacob Scavuzzo in defeating the Drillers 4-3. Scavuzzo knocked in all three runs for Tulsa on a pair of home runs in four at bats. The Drillers offense was largely held in check, with Tim Locastro’s lone double the only other extra base hit on the evening. Isaac Anderson allowed four runs over five innings, suffering his fifth loss of the season. Michael Johnson kept the game tight with pair of scoreless innings in relief, striking out three. Class-A Rancho Cucamonga The Quakes could not hold an early five run lead, falling to the Modesto Nuts (Mariners) 7-6. Adam Bray pitched an uneven five innings, allowing six runs on ten hits, including two home runs. Andrew Istler took the loss after allowing a run in the eighth inning, his only inning of work. Brandon Montgomery paced the offense by going three for four with a double and run scored. Ariel Sandoval was the only other Quakes player to have a multi-hit game, going two for three with a walk. Class-A Great Lakes The Midwest League rarely needs help in suppressing offense, but strong pitching an inclimate weather held both the Loons and the Dayton Dragons (Reds) scoreless before rain ultimately stopped play in the fourteenth inning. Jordan Sheffield set the tone for the Loons with his strong six innings, and Angel German followed him with four strikeouts in two and a third innings. The Loons have thus far only managed four hits in thirteen innings, with two coming from Oneil Cruz. Transactions Triple-A: Los Angeles sent LHP Adam Liberatore to Oklahoma City to begin his rehab assignment, while the Dodgers placed 1B Ike Davis and LHP Logan Darnell on the seven day disabled list. Double-A: The Drillers activated RHP’s Tim Shibuya and Isaac Anderson from the disabled list, while placing RHP’s Scott Barlow and Karch Kowalczyk on the disabled list. Wednesday scores Albuquerque 9, Oklahoma City 8 San Antonio 4, Tulsa 3 Modesto 7, Rancho Cucamonga 6 Great Lakes 0, Dayton 0 (game suspended in 14th inning) Thursday schedule 7:35 a.m.: Great Lakes (TBD) vs. Dayton (Jesse Adams)

5:05 p.m.: Tulsa (Ivan Vieitez) at San Antonio (Michael Kelly) 6:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Jair Jurrjens) at Albuquerque (TBD) 7:05 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Ryan Moseley) vs. Modesto (Reggie McClain) Chris Taylor makes first career OF start By Eric Stephen Joc Pederson sits as expected one night after suffering a stiff neck among other things in a violent collision with Yasiel Puig and the right field wall. That opens up the opportunity for Chris Taylor to make his first career outfield start. Taylor starts in center field in place of Pederson on Wednesday, one day after manager Dave Roberts said that Taylor was close to adding outfield to his utility belt. “We’re past the point of just an emergency situation. I keep my eye on him out there. He’s working hard out there to get reads,” Roberts said Tuesday. “He’s getting more comfortable. The training wheels are coming off, so we’ll probably see him out there shortly.” Shortly indeed. Taylor started playing some outfield during spring training, and made three starts in center field for Triple-A Oklahoma City. But Wednesday will mark his first major league experience at any outfield position. Yasiel Puig, who suffered sore ribs in the 10th-inning collision with Pederson, is back in the lineup on Wednesday. He remained in the game on Tuesday night as well. “Once he said he could come back in and play, and I got verification from the training staff, I didn’t want to ask too many more questions,” Roberts said Tuesday. Why I became a fan of the Dodgers By Eric Stephen So we have a new look all across SB Nation, all of the sites, over 300 of them. With that new look is a rebranding of sorts, including a new slogan: Come Fan With Us. That’s why we’re all here in the first place, right? To that end, here is my story. I am the youngest of five children, with a lot of distance between me and my siblings. My sisters are 18 and 17 years older than me, and my brothers are 15 and 10 years older. I was the accident. My parents also divorced when I was two, and once my youngest brother Greg moved out after graduating high

school when I was eight, it was basically just me and my mom at home, so in many ways I was an only child, with a lot of time to myself. With that time, I gravitated toward sports, and baseball took an early hold. The first World Series I can remember watching was 1984, when I was eight, then I started collecting baseball cards in 1985, which was my first full season watching baseball. Growing up in Palm Springs, I had sports choices. We had USC and UCLA (I eventually chose USC because my brother Kelly got a masters degree there), Raiders and Rams (I gravitated toward Marcus Allen, then Bo), Lakers and Clippers (the Showtime Lakers were the thing), plus Dodgers and Angels. The Angels had local ties, in that they would spend part of their spring training in Palm Springs every year, and owner Gene Autry was a fixture in the desert. Choosing the Angels would have been a perfectly understandable decision, and really I never thought of it as mutually exclusive. Me (maybe age 5?) and my cousin. But ultimately, I looked up to my brothers. I wanted to like what they liked, do what they did. They were Dodgers fans, which was passed down to them from our uncles, all of my mom’s brothers. So I really didn’t have much of a choice. That 1985 season was a special one for the Dodgers. Fernando Valenzuela was still at the peak of his powers, and Orel Hershiser was just coming into his own. Pedro Guerrero captured my heart by hitting 15 home runs that June. I spent my free time learning more about that team, and about baseball. I remember going to my grandma’s house after school to catch the end of Game 6 of the NLCS against the Cardinals, not fully comprehending the ramifications of the decision to have Tom Niedenfuer pitch to Jack Clark rather than that “that so-and-so” Andy Van Slyke. All I know is that my reaction at age 9 was very similar to Guerrero, who slammed his glove to the grass in left field. The season’s end notwithstanding, I was absolutely hooked on the Dodgers, and have spent the better part of the last three decades still following them with the same voracious appetite. I hope that spirit comes through here at True Blue LA. Clayton Kershaw dominant, lowers career WHIP under 1 By Eric Stephen LOS ANGELES — There’s a reason that, if given the choice, one should never miss a Clayton Kershaw start. Tuesday night provided one of the reasons why, with Kershaw at his best in the Dodgers’ series opener against the Cardinals. One year to the day that Kershaw was the last Dodgers pitcher to throw a shutout, he came within two outs of another on Tuesday, but a wild pitch that Yasmani Grandal couldn’t find allowed Randal Grichuk to score from second base, tying the game at 1-1.

Though he didn’t get the ending in the manner he might have wanted, Kershaw accomplished something pretty special along the way. Kershaw didn’t pitch a no-hitter on Tuesday. The man has one no-hitter in 273 starts. Simple logic tells us it’s probably not going to happen, yet we find ourselves wondering if each start will provide the next one, until the first hit or first runner reaches base. Yadier Molina ended the no-hit bid rather early on Tuesday, with a solid single to center field with one out in the second inning. He also got caught trying to steal second for some reason, and when Kershaw retired the next 10 batters he was through five innings facing just the minimum 15 batters. A leadoff double by Aledmys Diaz gave the Cardinals hope in the sixth inning, with the Dodgers clinging to a one-run lead, and he was advanced to third base with one out. But Kershaw struck out Lance Lynn and Dexter Fowler to end the threat. Still leading 1-0 in the eighth inning, Kershaw struck out the side, giving him 10 on the night, the 53rd double-digit strikeout game of his career. A leadoff single by Grichuk opened the ninth, then he advanced on a ground out, setting up the tying wild pitch. Kershaw finished his night needing just 104 pitches to complete the ninth, his longest start of the season. “The curve ball was as good as it’s been all year. The slider I felt was very sharp,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Everything was working tonight. He deserved a chance to finish that game.” By allowing just the three baserunners on Tuesday, Kershaw also moved into very rare territory, lowering his career WHIP below one. He has 1,346 hits allowed and 485 walks in 1,831⅔ innings, good for a WHIP of 0.99964. “I’m not worried about the career stuff,” Kershaw said. “Eventually, you’ll get to look back on it all. Hopefully, I’m right in the middle of all that stuff.” The only other two pitchers in major league history with a sub-1.000 WHIP are Addie Joss (0.9678) and Ed Walsh (0.99955), and they pitched in the dead ball era. So yeah, if you notice that Kershaw is going to be pitching and you can find your way to the game, make sure you do. Even if it doesn’t end like you may have thought.

DODGERS INSIDER Hill tries to look forward after walking career-high seven in 6–1 loss By Rowan Kavner

It took Rich Hill just five pitches to get through the first inning Wednesday night. That was not a sign of things to come. A 36-pitch second inning followed as he walked the bases loaded, and while he mitigated the damage by holding the Cardinals to two runs in the inning, he could never quite find his command in a 6–1 loss. Hill, who was coming off a one-run outing, surrendered five runs on four hits with a career-high seven walks in four-plus innings. Command has rarely been an issue for Hill. He’d never allowed more than five walks in a regular season game, and he hadn’t allowed even five walks in a game since 2006. But of his 82 pitches Wednesday, only 40 were strikes. Even his oft-reliable curveball, which he typically throws for a strike roughly two-thirds of the time, couldn’t find the mark. “The curveball, he can manipulate,” said manager Dave Roberts. “Today, just no feel.” Roberts said Hill felt he was getting squeezed with the strike zone, but he didn’t have the control of the pitches he can typically rely on. Knowing the shape of Hill’s curveball, many of which weren’t finished, Roberts surmised that perhaps the blister problem Hill dealt with earlier in the year was related. “Just my intuition, watching the lack of curveball command,” Roberts said. But Hill insisted that wasn’t the case. He said there was no issue with the finger or any specific explanation for the struggles. “I just gave them the game,” said Hill, who thought he was mechanically off a bit. “Unacceptable. It’s really a tough thing to swallow. I look forward to this week and just getting ready for the next game.” Meanwhile, the Dodgers had few answers for Cardinals starter Mike Leake, who demonstrated why his ERA and WHIP now sit at 1.93 and 0.99 for the season, respectively. The Dodgers entered with only three players hitting better than .250 against Leake for their careers, and those three were all injured (Justin Turner, Andre Ethier and Andrew Toles). Leake went eight innings, allowing four hits and one run, which occurred on a sacrifice fly from Cody Bellinger after Corey Seager doubled earlier in the inning. Despite the loss, the Dodgers still have the chance to win the series Thursday with Kenta Maeda returning from the 10-day disabled list to make the start. And Hill will get another crack at the Cardinals soon, scheduled to pitch in St. Louis next week. Roberts trusts his starter will look more like himself for that matchup. “This guy is ultra-competitive,” Roberts said. “After this start, I know he’s got them again in St. Louis, and he’ll be ready to go.”

Taylor set to make his outfield debut By Rowan Kavner 05/24 Cardinals at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.: Logan Forsythe 3B Corey Seager SS Yasmani Grandal C Cody Bellinger LF Adrián González 1B Chris Taylor CF Chase Utley 2B Yasiel Puig RF Rich Hill P For the first time in his Major League career, Chris Taylor is starting in the outfield. Manager Dave Roberts hinted that Taylor, who was taking fly balls before Tuesday’s series opener against the Cardinals, could find himself in the outfield soon. One night later, he’s starting in center field. “I like the speed component,” Roberts said. “In center field, the angles are more true. Albeit a small, small sample, he’s played it the most. So, his comfort level is probably at its highest in center field.” Roberts is looking for ways to get Taylor’s bat in the lineup, and with Joc Pederson out with a strained neck following his collision with Yasiel Puig on Tuesday night, Taylor’s getting his chance in the outfield. Roberts said because Taylor is accustomed to playing in the middle infield, he believes the angles are easiest for Taylor to judge in center field than either of the corner outfield spots. “Whether you’re playing shortstop or you’re behind the plate or you’re a young center fielder, you’ve still got to take charge of the outfield and your priorities,” Roberts said. Communication will be vital for Taylor, particularly after Tuesday night’s collisions between Pederson and Cody Bellinger in left-center field and Pederson and Puig in right field. Puig got out of the latter collision relatively unscathed and is in the lineup Wednesday, while Pederson is getting the day off. Roberts said Pederson is still available in an emergency situation, but he’d like to stay away from him and give him the day to rest. He’s confident Pederson will be able to avoid the disabled list. “Even optimistically, maybe being back in there tomorrow,” Roberts said. Other Notes: · A day after undergoing ACL surgery on his right knee, Andrew Toles is celebrating his 25th birthday Wednesday. · Rich Hill is on the mound making his fourth start of the season, coming off a five-inning outing May 16 against the Giants, when he allowed one run on six hits with six strikeouts.

· Looking ahead when the Cubs come to town this weekend, Roberts said the Dodger starting pitchers will be Alex Wood, Brandon McCarthy and Clayton Kershaw, respectively. · Wednesday is Korea Night at Dodger Stadium, with pregame performances from Luna Lee, playing the gayageum, and The Goreu Korean Traditional Art Company. Actress Arden Cho will sing the national anthem and actor Ken Jeong will introduce the lineups.

DODGERS PHOTOG BLOG 5/24/17-Something Current-LAD-1,STL-6 by Jon SooHoo and Jill Weisleder/© LA Dodgers By Jon SooHoo https://dodgersphotog.mlblogs.com/5-24-17-something-current-lad-1-stl-6-by-jon-soohoo-and-jill-weisleder-la-dodgers-6fc84592a99

NBC SPORTS Leake Drains Dodgers as Cardinals Cruise, 6-1 By Michael Duarte and The Associated Press Los Angeles let this one leake away. Mike Leake allowed four hits over eight innings and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 6-1, and even up the best of their three-game series on Wednesday night at Chavez Ravine. Leake (5-2) lowered his ERA to a National League-leading 1.91, leapfrogging Clayton Kershaw who took over the crown the night prior against the Redbirds. "I did a good job of keeping the ball down tonight," said Leake. "I wanted to go back out there for the ninth, but we have no rest coming up, so it was wise to wait and go to the bullpen tonight." The new NL ERA leader allowed just one run on four hits with no walks and five strikeouts in a season-high eight innings. Entering the game, most thought that with Leake and Dodgers' starter Rich Hill on the mound, that the game would be similar to the pitcher's duel seen the night prior. However, Hill (1-2) did not hold up his end of the bargain. The L.A. left-hander allowed a season-high five runs on four hits in just four innings as he lost his second game of the season.

"It was a bad outing," said Hill. "I take responsibility for that. Mechanically I was a little off and the ball was jumping all over the place. I really need to work on some things this week to get ready for the next game." Hill issued seven walks in the game, a career-high, and the most issued by any Dodgers' pitcher this season. Kolten Wong drove in the first two runs of the game for the Cardinals and Jedd Gyorko had three hits and drew a walk in the two-run second inning that gave the Cardinals the lead for good. "We were behind the eight-ball tonight," said Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts. "Rich [Hill] just didn't really have any consistency tonight." Yadier Molina hit a solo home run in the seventh inning to extend his hitting streak to 13 games. Molina's streak ties Kolten Wong for the Cardinals' longest this season. Chris Taylor made his first start in center field for the Dodgers, replacing Joc Pederson who was out with a stiff neck. Corey Seager snapped his 0-for-10 hitless streak with a double in the seventh inning. Cody Bellinger drove in the only run of the game for the Boys in Blue, but comitted a costly error in the outfield when he let a ball go under his glove, allowing a run to score. UP NEXT Former roommate of Dodgers' pitcher Ross Stripling takes the mound for St. Louis tomorrow when RHP Michael Wacha gets the start. Japanese right-hander, Kenta Maeda is expected to come off the disabled list and start for the Dodgers.

LOS ANGELES SENTINEL

L.A. Dodgers Foundation Partners with Bank of America to Teach Better Money Habits By Lauren A. Jones “Money is an asset,” said former Dodgers pitcher, Dennis Powell addressing a standing-room only audience of families at Helen Keller Park in Gardena, CA. “Sometimes we don’t realize that money is the key to our future.” The concept may sound simplistic but in many communities, however, individuals do not understand basic financial terms and banking procedures. Participants in the Reviving Baseball in the Inner City (RBI) program recently gathered with their parents for the Better Money Habits seminar hosted by the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation in conjunction with Bank of America. The financial literacy session is just one of the many opportunities designed for kids ages 5-18-years-old to learn baseball or softball as well as life skills.

“The Dodgers Foundation is using sport to provide families with the tools we think they need to better themselves and better their children,” remarked Nichol Whiteman, executive director of the L.A. Dodgers Foundation. Through the program, participants are gifted with a local field, equipment and access to a myriad of educational, health and wellness resources including, college tours, books, free eye exams, and coaching from Dodger alumni like Powell. “There was nothing like this around when I was growing up,” said Powell, who was born in Moultrie, GA and signed to the L.A. Dodgers in 1985. “My parents didn’t even teach us about financial institutions, so I had to learn the hard way, which was through mistakes and not knowing how to read the fine print.” Powell shared with the crowd the importance of making your money work for you not just, “sticking it under the mattress or letting it sit in a bank account where it isn’t accumulating any interest.” He was not the only speaker to emphasize the importance of paying yourself; Bank of America’s project manager, Maria Arias, could identify with not getting the proper financial education from her parents and says that is no excuse. “My dad has a sixth grade education,” said Arias. “He dropped out of school to help his family earn money, so growing up we didn’t have financial literacy or even know what that was. We depended on our community resources and for us it was the church.” While many communities have church programs that provide resources like financial advisement, marriage counseling, and even nutritional courses, there are not many that target multiple generations. Through the financial program, the goal of the L.A. Dodgers Foundation and Bank of America is to not only show children the importance of seeking out and utilizing community resources, but teaching and exposing their parents and family members as well. “It’s been a blessing to this community to have a financial program being brought here,” said Michael Ealey, Helen Keller Park service supervisor. He says the economic strife that has fallen upon many families has left some in dire circumstances. On the ground level, many of these families are unable to provide basic necessities to their children and are living check-to-check. Ealey says there were a few homeless families that joined the program this year. With the help of the Dodgers, the park was able to find them sponsors. “You can see that it has brought some pride to their family, that their kid has a uniform, that they are showing up to something in the community and fitting in just like everyone else,” said Ealey. “Without the Dodgers organization that wouldn’t be possible. It’s like the highlight of their struggle that they’re going through in this season of their lives.” The RBI program has really revived the neighborhood in ways that he says could have never imagined. “We’ve had more kids in our baseball program this year than we have had in the past eight years,” said Ealey. He recalls throwing his first baseball at that same park over 50 years ago. “I went on to get a scholarship at Grambling State University, so my opportunity to come back and work here interfused with the Dodgers’ program to bring baseball fever back is surreal.” It is the success stories like Ealeys’ that the RBI program strives to produce.

“We want the kids at all different levels to walk away knowing that money and finances are within their control, that they have the tools that they need to feel confident to plan their financial future and that it’s fun,” said Arias. Though the RBI program is designed to teach baseball, in reality, a very small percentage of players actually go on to play in the major leagues where the average annual salary in 2017 is reportedly $4.47 million according to USA Today Sports’. Even the players who do go on to play professionally, often still mismanage their earnings due to a lack in basic financial literacy. “There are a lot of players that don’t quite understand the financial side, so they entrust someone else to control their affairs,” said Powell. In summation, the message of the evening from both the Dodgers Foundation and Bank of America was that, regardless of a person’s background, financial literacy is ultimately a life tool that should be learned at an early age and its’ importance reinforced in every community. Darby Park Earned Two Dodgers Dreamfields By Amanda Scurlock The baseball diamonds at Darby Park in Inglewood will shine brighter than ever before. The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) continued to impact the youth of the inner city by giving the park two of their signature Dodgers Dreamfields. Dodgers first basemen Adrián González and pitcher Alex Wood, along with local dignitaries, dedicated the two fields on Saturday May 20 with a baseball clinic and a Dodger Day festival. González and his wife, Betsy, contributed in the renovation and donated to the Dodgers RBI youth development program. The donation covered uniforms, equipment, and the registration fees for all participants. “We’re so happy to be here, so thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this Dreamfield,” González said. “For us, it’s all about you kids and the families being able to come out to the park and play the game of baseball that we love.” The event brought out Inglewood mayor James Butts and several councilmembers, including George Dotson, Alex Padilla, and Ralph Franklin. Mayor Butts, four councilmembers and City Manager Artie Fields partnered to create the Dreamfields. “This is the culmination of an actually $280,000 grant that the RBI foundation of the Dodgers committed to the city of Inglewood to renovate our baseball fields,” Butts said. “This is truly emblematic of everything that’s going on in Inglewood.” LADF Executive Director Nichol Whiteman shared how she and Inglewood Recreation, Parks, and Library Services Director Sabrina Barnes collaborated and created a vision of spreading Dodgers RBI to three parks in Inglewood and making more Dreamfields in the city.

“It is really exciting to see that vision come through today,” Whiteman said. “Since 2014, we’ve grown Dodgers RBI from 2,700 players to 7,800 players.” The LA84 Foundation, the Ahmanson Foundation, and city of Inglewood Department of Parks, Recreation, and Library Services partnered with González and his wife to make the Dreamfields possible. “Not only did they support the construction of the two Dreamfields here at the park, they actually paid for all the kids to play RBI, which is huge,” said Dodgers RBI Analyst James Lopez. Darby park is getting major upgrades according to Mayor Butts. The Lakers are renovating and repainting the gymnasium; the city of Inglewood is rebuilding the tennis courts. In two weeks, reconstruction on the track will begin. “All our parks and the city of Inglewood is really coming along and beautiful,” said Willie Agee, chairman of the Parks and Recreation Commission. “I want to thank all of the people that came out here with these kids, participating in this grand opening and thank the Dodgers organization for doing this renovation.” This marks the 46th and 47th Dodgers Dreamfield. The Dodgers Foundation is only three away from their goal of 50. So far, the foundation has invested $7.7 million in refurbishing baseball fields with the hope they will inspire inner-city youth to value and participate in America’s favorite pastime. “This park has needed repair for a while,” said Dotson. “This is what happens when everybody does the right thing, from the mayor, to the council, to the people who are working for the city.”