The game was delayed an hour and 50 minutes due to a hail storm. But that did not deter the Dodger bats in the series finale on Thursday. 14 runs on 18 hits, including 5 doubles, a triple and a HR.
The offense was led by the three Dodgers starting in the All Star game.
- Mookie Betts was 2-2 with a BB and sac fly. Both hits were doubles (17). Mookie scored 3 times with 1 RBI.
- Freddie Freeman was 2-3 with a HBP, 1 run, and 3 RBIs
- JD Martinez was 4-6 with 2 runs, 4 RBIs, and a HR (19).
Combined, the three All Stars went 8-11, 6 runs scored, 8 RBIs, reached base on 10 times with a sac fly. I know Badger will not count JDM’s first hit, but I will.
Max Muncy had a 2-6 night, with a double (6) off the wall and a sharp single to right. He got 3 RBIs to break out of his month plus long slump. He was 3-42 before that double, dating back to May 31.
Miguel Vargas also got a key triple. It was his team leading 4th on the season. He was 2-46 before the triple. Will Max and Miggy continue the hits in KC? Stay tuned.
Jason Heyward was 3-5 with 2 doubles (11), 2 runs and a RBI. Jonny DeLuca was 1-2 with a run scoring single. James Outman was 1-4 with 2 runs scored, and a nice running catch on a wet outfield in the 1st inning. David Peralta was 1-4 to continue his hot June – .367/.406/.567/.973 (64 PA).
The one hitter that did not get a hit was Austin Barnes. But he navigated Emmet Sheehan through his first road game, and one being at Coors. As every one of the pitchers note, Sheehan loved pitching to Barnes.
Emmet did not let the weather delay affect him. Jurickson Profar got the leadoff single. He got Ezequiel Tovar did hit into a force out, but Ryan McMahon singled and moved Tovar to 3rd where he scored on the Elias Díaz 407 foot sac fly to Outman.
Sheehan retired the side in order in the 2nd with 2 Ks. In the 3rd, Profar had the only contact on Sheehan’s change on the night with a 105 MPH single. Tovar and Díaz later had soft contact singles, with Díaz bringing home 2. Tovar’s hit was 73.4 MPH and Díaz’s was 72.2. But they all count.
Emmet finished off the 4th and 5th with one single. For the night, Sheehan allowed 3 runs on 7 hits, 0 walks, and 6 Ks. He threw 88 pitches in 5.0 IP. He got his first taste of Coors, and Barnes called for the changeup at the right times.
Sheehan’s pitch repertoire:
- 4-Seam Fastball – 60 pitches – 6 whiffs
- Sliders – 17 pitches – 1 whiff
- Changeup – 11 pitches – 4 whiffs out of 5 swings. The change works better in the higher altitude of Denver, and Sheehan kept the pitch down with late dive.
The bullpen has been getting a lot of heat this season. They were on a little bit of a roll, and then got beat up on Wednesday. However, on Thursday, three pitcher came out of the pen and threw 4 scoreless innings. Yency Almonte and Victor González each threw clean innings with 2 Ks. Justin Bruihl was just recalled today and pitched the final two innings. He did allow a single in each inning, but both were erased on double plays.
This was a complete team game victory. It was especially poignant due to both Arizona and San Francisco losing. The Dodgers have moved into 2nd, and now trail Arizona by just 2.0 games. Arizona is going to have a tougher time now that Merrill Kelly has gone on the 15 day IL with a calf inflammation.
San Diego has lost their 5th game in a row, and are now 8.0 games out of the WC. The Dodgers could have an advantage this weekend. The Dodgers have 3 games at KC, Arizona has 3 games at LAA, San Francisco has 3 games at a hungry NYM. San Diego has 3 games at Cincinnati.
Bobby Miller will face off against KC’s 25 year old RHP Alec Marsh, who will be making his MLB debut. I am looking for Miller to get back on track after two poor outings. Friday’s game will be the end of the actual first half of the season (81st game).
06-29-2023 MiLB Game Summary Report
OKC Dodgers 4 – Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Houston) 2
Justin Hagenman started his 4th game for OKC. He completed 4.0 innings allowing the 2 runs. Staked to a 4-0 lead in the top of the 4th, Justin gave up back to back HRs to open the 4th to cut the lead to 4-2. He retired the side and turned the game over to the bullpen. Hagenman struck out 6 in his 4.0 IP.
Alec Gamboa was recently recalled to OKC (06/28). He followed Hagenman and completed 2.2 scoreless innings. He allowed a single and walk in the 7th, and after the 2nd out, Gus Varland was summoned to get the final out of the inning.
Alex Vesia and Wander Suero pitched scoreless innings to close out the victory, with Suero earning his 8th save, in 8 save opportunities.
All of the scoring was done in the 4th. In the top of the 4th, Devin Mann and Hunter Feduccia led off with singles, and Mann moved to 3rd. Mann scored on a Bryson Brigman force out. Justin Yurchak singled and Drew Avans walked to load the bases for Kole Calhoun. Calhoun tripled to plate all three runs and a 4-0 lead.
- Jahmai Jones – 2-5
- Hunter Feduccia – 4-4, 2 doubles (12)
- Kole Calhoun – 1-4, triple (1), 3 RBI
Amarillo Sod Poodles (Arizona) 12 – Tulsa Drillers 7
Nick Frasso had perhaps the worst outing of his career. He was only able to record 1 out. 6 of the 7 hitters he faced reached base. 4 runs crossed the plate, and Antonio Knowles relieved Frasso with runners on 2nd and 3rd. The first batter Knowles faced slugged a 3-run HR, and Amarillo put 7 on the board after only 0.1 innings.
Ricky Vanasco made his first appearance of Tulsa and surrendered a 2-run HR in the 3rd. Kevin Gowdy followed in the 4th and gave up 2 runs on 4 singles, a SB, and balk.
Trevor Bettencourt was not the answer as he gave up a run in the 6th on a single, SB, single. John Rooney was the lone Drillers pitcher to complete a clean inning.
Tulsa opened the scoring when Imanol Vargas hit a double to score Jorbit Vivas.
Kody Hoese hit a 2-run HR in the 2nd. In the 4th, Diego Cartaya opened the inning by reaching on an error, and scored on a Yusniel Diaz triple (1). Diaz came around to score on a ground out.
Yusniel Diaz opened the 6th with a base on balls and came home on Carson Taylor’s 5th HR. But Tulsa could not get any closer, and are now 0-2 in the 2nd half.
- Jorbit Vivas – 2-4, 1 run
- Carson Taylor – 2-4, 2 runs, HR (5)
- Kody Hoese – 2-4, 1 run, 2 RBI
- Yusniel Díaz – 1-2, 2 BB, 2 runs, 1 RBI
- Imanol Vargas – 1-3, 2 BB, 2 runs, 1 RBI
Great Lakes Loons – Lansing Lugnuts (Detroit) – Game postponed. DH on Friday.
Kendall Williams will start one of the games for Great Lakes.
Visalia Rawhide (Arizona) 6 – Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 4
The Quakes absorbed their first loss of the second half on Thursday night, falling to the Visalia Rawhide by a final of 6-4.
Visalia starter Wyatt Wendell turned in six solid innings to earn the win and Rawhide first baseman Riquelmin Cabral had three hits, two runs scored and an RBI to help Visalia end a three-game skid.
Kenneth Betancourt had two hits and three RBIs, including a two-run double off of Wendell in the fifth, as the Quakes pulled to within three, at 6-3.
Wendell settled down and retired the final six batters he faced though, getting through the sixth inning.
Rancho starter Madison Jeffrey (0-3) allowed three runs (two earned) in two innings of work in the loss.
Visalia closer Alfred Morillo tossed a 1-2-3 ninth for his fourth save of the year.
The Quakes will send Peter Heubeck to the mound on Friday night.
- Simon Reid – 2-4
- Kenneth Bettencourt – 2-4, 3 RBI
- Kyle Nevin – double (11)
- Rayne Doncon – double (14)
- Kenneth Bettencourt – double (9)
- Jorge Puerta – double (11)
- Luis Rodriguez – double (3)
We could have used some of those runs to win yesterday’s game. Good to see the hitters explode like that. The 3 All Stars contributed like, uh, All Stars. Heyward and Peralta look like they’ve finally woken up this season. Even Max helped out. Good to see that some blondes can pitch. I doubt very much that Barnes has anything to do with that. We really need to replace him as it’s getting embarassing. KC should be good for us. They’ve got some pretty looking women…………
Friedman traded AJ Ellis at the deadline to acquire Carlos Ruiz a couple of years ago. Will he do the same with Barnes? He looks completely lost at the plate.
Ellis was traded for off-field stuff.
Barnes was just extended.
How did that workout?
We scored 8.
Barnes has value.
Grove for Bruihl. It’s a revolving door. Any more starter help down there?
Miller is 3-1. 4.13 ERA. Keep taking the ball meat, trust your stuff, throw strikes … but not center cut rook. Major League hitters clobber that cheese.
ok, back to observing stillness. A few minutes at a time in my orbit.
Wish I knew what that value was. Calls a good game. Anything else?
Bring up Feducia, name Barnes as manager and fire Doc.
With pitchcom now being used do you think teams will go to something like an offensive coordinator? If Barnes best attribute is calling games, he can do that from the bench.
Interesting thought. Who says it has to be the catcher pushing buttons on an arm band? Although the pitcher and catcher have the best view of how a hitter reacts to a pitch and select the next pitch accordingly.
“Wish I knew what that value was”
We don’t need to know.
When he is no longer of value, he will be fired.
Good job by Sheehan. Especially at Coors Field. Also, congratulations to our 3 all stars. Now, hopefully they get it right and name Will Smith to the all star roster. Unfortunately, this latest Kersh scare means he probably should not pitch in the AS game.
I maintain the position I have held for years. Ef the All Star Game and all its “look at us, aren’t we special “ activities. I’d rather our players go home and sleep for 5 days.
And this year, Mookie in the Home Run contest? Really? Just because he’s never done it? I’ve never taken a bat to a beehive and I’m not about to just to be able to say I did it. Is the Home Run Derby curse is a thing? I just read an in depth article on that very issue at Sabre.org.
I’d rather Mookie just play a couple of innings and sleep the rest of his time off.
That’s my point of view and I like it!
I like your point of view, too. Except for the beehive thing. That sounds like fun. You’d be so busy running away from the bees that you wouldn’t have time to think about the state of Dodger pitching.
Several years ago I was building a retaining wall at my house in Wisconsin. There were several old wooden railroad ties I had to pull out so I pounded a 6’ pry bar behind the first one and gave it a yank. The rumble I heard was so loud I could feel it. Ground hornets came storming out and they were looking for me. Fortunately we lived on a lake and the water was 15 or so yards from my driveway. I made it, dove in and swam under water, serpentine til I couldn’t hold my breath any longer. I had four stuck to me, two were back to back on my elbow and I felt that pain for a week. It was considerably more painful than Dodger pitching.
Jeff, Where has Kendall Williams been and has there been any traces of improvement since we last saw him?
He was the center-piece of the M. White deal, right?
That was the Stripling deal.
Frasso was the main guy in the White deal.
What STB said about the trade. I was looking for him all season, and could not find a word. Teams are not required to discuss injuries to MiLB players. But I think I read that he had a cranky shoulder coming into ST. I am not positive about that. He is another of those gifted RHP that seem to have “stuff” but not much in the way of command.
Kendall has started 2 games at Great Lakes in June. He completed 4.0 IP in each start. 50 pitches (June 17) and 68 pitchers (June 23). He has allowed 7 hits with a 2.25 ERA. 4 walks and 4 Ks. He is still just 22 (turns 23 August 24).
I hope he gets to AA this season and compete against better talent. Hope
Of coors Muncy made contact with the ball, he’s the cleanup hitter.
A cleanup hitter with hops. Lucky us.
But in Kansas City he will need to mash.
Reminds me of a t-shirt idea:
I wouldn’t do anything for a Klondike Bar,
but I’d do some sketchy shit for some whiskey and bacon.
Yes, he was the Easter Bunny last night and I expect to see him again next year. I would consider that T-shirt but probably wouldn’t buy it. Bacon and eggs sounds better than whisky and bacon.
Hops. Coors. Royals. Crown Royal. Mash whiskey.
I guess if I have to explain it ain’t all that funny.
The idea with the tshirt isn’t necessarily those two at the same time, but I believe there are likely places in this country where that would happen.
This disdain for Austin Barnes is puzzling to me. HE IS A BACKUP CATCHER THAT THE PITCHERS LOVE. Not just LAD pitchers, but the Team Mexico pitchers raved about Barnes. He is an ideal pitcher’s catcher. He is making all of $3.5MM. So the cry is to bring up Hunter Feduccia. I have been an advocate for Feduccia longer than most out there even knew who he was. He too will be a backup catcher.
The Dodgers do not win Game 6 of the NLCS if Walker Buehler could not find his game early in the 2nd inning. After three straight singles to start the 2nd to load the bases, Austin Barnes walked out to Buehler and let him know to just do what Barnes was calling. Don’t think…just pitch. Not the exact words, but that was the meaning. After the game, Buehler gave all the credit to Austin Barnes, and said he just turned the game over to him. Others have said the same thing. Kershaw never brushes off Barnes.
Feduccia cannot do that for the Dodger pitching…right now. Will he ever be at that level? Hard to say. I hope so.
But you want to give up a catcher the Dodger pitchers want, for what 10-15 more hits over the next three months? You are willing to lose an edge the pitchers have for a few more hits. Who do you think wins that battle? The fans or the Dodger pitchers? Maybe if the Dodgers got the extra 10-15 hits out of Max Muncy and/or Miguel Vargas they would not need those AB hits.
It wasn’t that long ago that fans were saying Miguel Vargas was going to walk away with NL ROY. After April, James Outman was headed to Cooperstown. Then there were those that said the Dodgers do not need any RH bat because they have Jonny DeLuca. Michael Busch, another pure hitter who has succeeded at every MiLB level cannot find the same success at MLB. MiLB statistics DO NOT translate into MLB stats.
Austin Barnes’ career MiLB batting metrics were .298/.388/.443/.831. Hunter Feduccia’s career MiLB stats are .266/.365/.429/.794. People want to forget that Barnes was a top ten catching prospect for multiple years. Yes, Barnes is having an absolutely horrid year at the plate, and yet the pitchers are going out of their way to say how valuable he is behind the plate. I just do not think fans understand the relationship between catchers and pitchers, or how important it is. They look at offense and stop there. Maybe I am a little more attuned because my son was a catcher. He was a hit first catcher, but he had several pitchers who loved to throw to him. Multiple teams wanted him to be a ML Bullpen Coach, including one sure to be HOF manager who really loved the way Andy played and thought.
Smith has been getting more play time, and I believe that will continue. The Dodgers need his bat, and since JDM is an All Star as a DH, Will is going to have to watch from the dugout when Barnes is catching.
Teams do not like to trade for catcher’s at the deadline because of their unfamiliarity with the pitchers. Barnes is not going anywhere. Now maybe next winter the Dodgers could find another home for Barnes. It will not be hard to find a home for him. Maybe he will follow Kershaw to Texas. Maybe he will retire and sign with the Dodgers as a roving catcher instructor, with the same salary, and start his ascent to managing. I think he is a better candidate than was David Ross, and Ross has not done too badly.
As long as Austin Barnes is a Dodger catcher, I will support him. I have been supporting him for as long as fans have wanted to get rid of him. And yet, he is still with the Dodgers. I may be a lone voice out there, but when it comes to catchers, pitchers should have the last say.
I yield my bandbox.
Yeah, like I said, Barnes has value.
You said it better of course, but that’s to be expected.
Well said, Jeff.
As you mentioned, the fact remains that if positions 5-8 in the order were hitting better, we wouldn’t care if Barnes was hitting .100.
Here’s what I say: Pitchers love Barnes so we need to keep him for the 1-2 games a week Smith needs a rest. Hitters love him because they don’t look quite as bad on the days he’s in the lineup. If pitchers and hitters love him, you can’t get rid of him mid season. And, if you believe in reversion to the mean (which I subscribe to) he’s going to hit .300 for the second half of the season.
And one last thing, if you were to get rid of him, who’s going to be the guy to break that news to him. Remember, teammates have voted him the toughest guy in the clubhouse.
While I’m blabbing on here, I really hope that Hudson comes back healthy and productive. I really believe there is something to the theory that there is no real leader in our bullpen and I think it’s really important to have someone in that role. Those guys hang out with each other all game long. Negative thoughts can spread very quickly if some sage old vet isn’t there to handle things. Hudson will be that guy if he pitches well.
Boy, I sure hit the wrong note there. Just thought Feduccia has done well all year and deserves a shot. Barnes is hitting barely above 100. OK, so we don’t win the World Series in 2020 without Barnes but that’s 3 years ago. The Dodgers moved on from Kershaw’s favorite catcher, AJ Ellis, and he dealt with it with no problem. Just think its time to move on from Austin Barnes but obviously you don’t. Sorry to rock your boat Jeff.
PS: Time to move on from Trayce Thompson as well.
You Jeff are much more knowledgeable on baseball matters than me and I respect your opinions.
We scored 14 with Barnes behind the plate. And Barnes made 5 outs so the other guys didn’t have to. I’d say that’s the epitome of a team player.
Now you are really shoveling it.
FF, I have no direct knowledge on Austin Barnes. It is really just my opinion on the value of a backup catcher. I do know how he is revered by the staff, and that holds a lot of weight. But my opinion is no better than yours. Not that it matters, but Martín Maldonado is the everyday catcher for Houston. He has not hit .200 since 2020. His career offense is .207/.284/.346/.630. Barnes’ career numbers are .216/.324/.341/.665. Maldonado is always welcomed back to Houston because of how he works with the pitchers.
Don’t let that fool you.
No one is irreplaceable.
I dont know Jeff, not sure I can 100% agree with you. I think his greatest value is his knowledge of the pitching staff being he’s been with the club for 8 years. But he’s hitting what .095? Any value he has defensively is negated by how terrible a hitter he is.
I respect what he did in game 6 of the world series. I agree he’s a good defensive catcher. I also think “calling a good game” is somewhat overrated. Pitchers pitch. And if a pitcher makes good pitches, doesn’t matter who throws down the signs. Especially considering we’ve entered the pitchcom era where pitchers are able to call their own games. It used to be the managers who called most of the pitch sequences. I like Barnes but I do think they can find a backup catcher who is just as good defensively and can hit above .100. Why not make him a coach and find someone who can at least hit the mendoza line.
A list of the top ten “most hated” MLB teams, according to the Twitter data, can be found below:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers – 9016
2. New York Yankees – 8712
3. Houston Astros – 7658
4. New York Mets – 6326
5. Atlanta Braves – 5822
6. St. Louis Cardinals – 4692
7. Philadelphia Phillies – 4552
8. Boston Red Sox – 4270
9. San Diego Padres – 4124
10. Kansas City Royals – 3642
KC is the only small market team.
I assume the poll was taken in SD or SF.
Royals fans must be thrilled. They haven’t been 10th place in anything for a long time.
They’ve finished 10th in AL Central a few times running.
So?
Not that he would have been considered as a LAD potential, but KC traded Aroldis Chapman to Texas for a LHRP, Cole Ragans, and 17 year old OF in the DSL, Roni Cabrera.
I thought the Dodgers would have traded Barnes for him because of how many people think the team needs less harmony and more fire.
I was really opposed to and maddened by the AJ Ellis trade. If there were differences with Honeycut then I would have chosen Ellis over Honeycut. If it were about Ellis lack of offense then that was s stupid trade.
Dodgers activate Hudson from the 60-day IL.
Robertson optioned to OKC.
Venasco dfa to make room for Hudson. He was the guy we just traded for while giving up somewhat promising Luis Valdez. So we basically gave up Valdez for nothing.
Hudson for Robertson. Good trade.
Venasco. Meh.
What was Valdez promising?
He was promising to protect you from hornets.
You guys have again teamed up to make me laugh.
Mookie’s on a roll tonight
He’s finally playing like an All Star. How about Heyward!
Why, thank you Bums. I can’t speak for Badger, but I’m happy to work for an audience of one.
Me too.