Daily Clips

September 22, 2016

LOS ANGELES DODGERS CLIPS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2016 DODGERS.COM: Yasiel Puig decided to show off nearly every tool he had in the Dodgers win-Matt Monagan Kazmir's return a de facto postseason audition-Jack Baer Dodgers thump Giants, trim magic no. to 5-Ken Gurnick and Chris Haft Look at this: Puig does it all vs. Giants-Ken Gurnick Roberts gets his turn in Vin's booth-Ken Gurnick LA TIMES: Yasiel Puig leads Dodgers to 9-3 win over Giants-Andy McCullough One Dodgers great thinks this club has the look of '88 champions-Dylan Hernandez Dodgers turn to veterans Brett Anderson, Scott Kazmir in hopes of clinching division-Andy McCullough OC REGISTER: Yasiel Puig, Dodgers chase lefty Matt Moore from game early, rout Giants-Bill Plunkett Dodgers won't, but rest of us can look ahead to NLDS vs. Nationals-Jeff Miller Dodgers Notes: Brett Anderson, Scott Kazmir to audition for postseason roster spots On deck: Rockies at Dodgers, Thursday, 7 p.m. -Bill Plunkett Whicker: Dodgers will need more Rich Hill in playoffs-Mark Whicker DODGER INSIDER: Vin His Own Words: An extended 2014 interview-Jon Weisman (Attachment) #VinTop20: No. 4, Returning after 9/11-Jon Weisman It’s vintage Puig in Dodgers’ romp over Giants-Jon Weisman As Dodgers sift pitching options, Kazmir to start Friday-Jon Weisman Arrive early Friday for Vin Scully Appreciation Day-Cary Osborne TRUEBLUELA.COM: Yasiel Puig homers in Dodgers rout of Giants-Eric Stephen Scott Kazmir to start on Friday for Dodgers-Eric Stephen Dodgers’ magic number to clinch NL West is 5-Eric Stephen ESPN LA: Dodgers raise their spirits by pounding Giants' lefty-Doug Padilla Dodgers rout Giants 9-3 to extend NL West lead to 6 games-AP With time running out, Dodgers will test rotation options-Doug Padilla From stare-downs to pitching duels, Dodgers getting early taste of postseason-Doug Padilla Vin Scully's career was seriously amazing -- here's proof-ESPN Staff BBTN: Pennant Chases, Front Office Maneuvering, Howie Rose (Podcast)-Buster Olney NBC SPORTS: No Moore! Dodgers Destroy Giants 9-3 to Win Series, Magic Number at 5-Michael Duarte Vin Scully Writes Letter to Fans, Dodgers Will Hand it Out on Friday Night-Michael Duarte FANGRAPHS: Kenta Maeda, Then and Now-Eno Sarris TODAY’S KNUCKLEBALL: A Tribute to Vin Scully-Jeremy Dorn USA TODAY SPORTS: Yasiel Puig hand-delivered his spectacular Vin Scully cleats to Vin Scully-Andrew Joseph

LOS ANGELES DODGERS DAILY CLIPS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2016

DODGERS.COM

Yasiel Puig decided to show off nearly every tool he had in the Dodgers win By Matt Monagan It's been relatively quiet on the Yasiel Puig front this season. Whether injured, down in the Minors or just not playing on an everyday basis, we've been robbed of the beautiful magic the Dodgers outfielder brings to the game. So, during the Dodgers' 9-3 win over the Giants on Wednesday, he decided to make up for lost time and give us everything he has at once. Arm: In the top of the first inning, he made a beautiful, Statcast™-measured 257-foot throw from deep right field to try to nab Denard Span at home plate. Unfortunately, Carlos Ruiz couldn't hold onto the ball. Maybe it was too beautiful to be harnessed inside a glove? Maybe it needed to be free forever? Power: In the bottom half of the first, he hit a three-run home run to give the Dodgers a 4-1 lead -- and tossed his bat aside like he was throwing kindling into a dinger-breathing fire: Fielding/Running: Finally, in the fourth inning, he made a great runing catch and did a mini Bo Jackson run up the wall. The play delighted Vin Scully, who exclaimed "Viva Cuba!" and "Viva Yasiel!" as Puig ran off the field: Kazmir's return a de facto postseason audition By Jack Baer LOS ANGELES -- Scott Kazmir (neck) will make his return from the disabled list on Friday against the Rockies, a day after the return of Brett Anderson (blister) as the two veterans unofficially begin tryout mode for the fourth starter position on the first-place Dodgers' potential postseason roster. Kazmir threw a 35-pitch bullpen on Tuesday, a usual pre-start routine, and is expected to make his return after spending nearly a month on the DL with neck inflammation. Manager Dave Roberts said that he expects the southpaw to throw around 90 pitches, but that plan could change as they monitor him during the start. "With Kaz, he's been dealing with injuries the second half of the season. Talking to [pitching coach Rick Honeycutt] and talking to Scott, myself, he feels good," Roberts said. "He's in a good place. We have to see what we have in him. He's a guy we have high expectations for, we have all season. It's been a tough year for him, but where he's at, we're confident that he can regain his form and pitch well for us."

A blister formed during Kazmir's 60-pitch simulated game on Sunday, but the left-hander insisted Wednesday that it won't be an issue during his start. The blister is located on his left ring finger and was covered during the bullpen session in a precautionary measure. A strong first start from Kazmir would put him squarely in the conversation for the Dodgers' fourth-starter spot for the postseason, behind Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill, and Kenta Maeda. Anderson is also an option and is in a similar situation to Kazmir. Anderson will make a start Thursday vs. the Rockies with the hope that he can show he's postseason-ready. Anderson allowed 11 earned runs across two starts earlier this year, but Roberts has said the lefty has improved enough that he feels his return should be more in line with track record. "He hasn't been right his last couple of turns with the blister and the ball's not sinking," Roberts said before Wednesday's matchup with the Giants. "As I understand it, his last start, he was right and the ball was doing what it was supposed to be doing. We feel he gives a very good chance to win tomorrow night. After tomorrow, we'll see where the next start takes us going forward for him. I think the same thing for Kaz." Also in the mix is rookie Brock Stewart, according to Roberts. Ross Stripling has also performed to a satisfactory level this season, but Roberts feels his talents will be used in the bullpen for the postseason. Both pitchers are on unspecified innings limits. "The thing I like about Ross, in either a starting role or that role, is his pitch mix," Roberts said. He has different weapons to get hitters out, lefty or righty. I think he can throw a strike when he needs to. When you're playing in October and it gets hot and stressful and you still have to have the confidence to execute a pitch ... I believe that four-pitch mix, he can execute a pitch." Dodgers thump Giants, trim magic no. to 5 By Ken Gurnick and Chris Haft LOS ANGELES -- Presented with a chance to regain some of their long-lost momentum, the Giants reacted as they have done with virtually every opportunity in recent weeks. They couldn't capitalize. San Francisco took the field Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium knowing that the Mets and Cardinals, their rivals in the National League Wild Card competition, already had lost. A victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers would put the Giants back on top of the NL Wild Card standings. But instead of delivering an aggressive response, San Francisco offered only an ineffectual retreat in the form of a 9-3 loss. The Giants therefore remained tied with the Mets and Cardinals atop the NL Wild Card perch, each with 80-72 records. "Well, yeah, they could have gained, too. It works both ways," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy, who maintained an upbeat perspective. "You have to savor being in this position. There are too many times I

haven't been in this position. We're in it. It's going to be a fight here these last 10 games and we have to come out every day trying to win every game." The Dodgers, meanwhile, reduced the magic number to win the NL West to five, leading the Giants by six games. "It's nice to have that separation, but this is a crazy game and nothing is certain until the number is zero," said Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner. "You're not going to see us relaxing and taking things for granted, we've got to keep winning, get hot, build momentum going into the playoffs. The last thing you want to do is get flat and play bad baseball over the last week and limp into the playoffs." Los Angeles raked Giants starter Matt Moore for five first-inning runs, including Yasiel Puig's three-run homer. Moore lasted two batters into the second inning and matched a career worst by officially working one inning. He allowed more hits (seven) than he did in his previous two Dodger Stadium appearances this year (five). The left-hander fell to 4-5 since joining the Giants in an Aug. 1 trade. "It's a bad day to have a bad day," Moore said. MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Momentum changer: Two batters into the game, the Giants had a run in and a runner at second on a walk, a single and a passed ball and error by catcher Carlos Ruiz. But Kenta Maeda put out the fire by getting Buster Posey on a groundout and striking out Hunter Pence and Brandon Belt. "Kenta and Chooch [Ruiz, catching Maeda for the first time], initially it was trying to get to know each other," said manager Dave Roberts. "They got through that first inning. Initially, Kenta was too fine around the edges, but once he got in his groove, he was doing his thing." Span can: Giants center fielder Denard Span didn't play in the series' first two games, but he helped the Giants attempt to generate the offense they needed in the finale, singling twice and drawing a walk. This halted a slide for Span, whose batting average had slipped from .276 on Sept. 1 to .261 before this game. Reliever tryouts: Left-handed starters Julio Urias and Alex Wood pitched in relief for the Dodgers, which is what they would do if they make the postseason roster. Urias, a likely postseason choice, allowed one run in two innings. Wood, an outsider making his first appearance since May 29, returned from elbow surgery with a 1-2-3 inning. "Nice to get the first one out of the way," said Wood. "I felt great, and hopefully they'll keep giving me opportunities to show what I can do. When the doctor said I could come back sometime in September, that's all I wanted to hear." More of a look at Moore: Some Giants, especially Moore, thought that Los Angeles' big first inning could have been avoided had they been able to turn a double play on Corey Seager's ground ball following Howie Kendrick's leadoff single. Another mini-turning point in the Giants' minds was a subsequent walk to Turner, who was ruled to have checked his swing on a 2-2 pitch. A Turner strikeout would have been another difference-maker. But Moore thought he should have escaped the inning anyway.

"It seemed like there was a lot of small stuff going around," Moore said. Criticizing himself, Moore said that he shouldn't have walked Turner despite the unfavorable call on the checked swing: "I have to be better in that moment." WHAT'S NEXT Giants: San Francisco opens a four-game series at San Diego, beginning with a 7:10 p.m. encounter at Petco Park on Thursday. Jeff Samardzija, who may have as many as three starts remaining, gets the call in the series opener. Samardzija needs one victory to reach 12 for the season and establish a personal single-season best. Dodgers: It's Brett Anderson in Comeback II, with a 7:10 p.m. PT first pitch against Colorado on Thursday. After recovering from spring back surgery, Anderson made only two starts and allowed 11 runs in four innings before going back on the disabled list with a finger blister. He still has an outside chance of sneaking into the postseason rotation. Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on MLB.TV. Look at this: Puig does it all vs. Giants By Ken Gurnick LOS ANGELES -- How can a .254 hitter with 43 RBIs at this point in the season be a potential game-changer in October? When he's Yasiel Puig, as he showed Wednesday night in the Dodgers' 9-3 win over the Giants that cut the magic number to win the National League West to five. Puig slugged a three-run homer, made a dazzling, over-the-shoulder running catch, nearly threw a baserunner out at the plate and generally resumed his tormenting of the Giants in the finale of a series that opened with the outfielder making San Francisco ace Madison Bumgarner come unglued just by looking at him. "That's the guy we all know he can be," said third baseman Justin Turner. "He has the potential to be a game-changer. He's an exciting player on both sides of the ball. When he's confident, having fun, playing the game the right way, he makes a big difference. That's why we all wanted him back in September. He can be a key player for us." He wasn't in the first half of the season, but Puig has responded to an August demotion to Triple-A like it was the wake-up call management intended. Teammates have noticed, and even Puig noticed how they came to his defense Monday night when Bumgarner told Puig not to look at him and the benches cleared. "I really appreciate the way the team welcomed me since my return, and I try to show I'm grateful for the opportunity," said Puig. "It was nice for them to wait for me after the catch."

The Dodgers were comfortably ahead in the fourth inning, 8-2, when Puig outran Joe Panik's liner, leaping to make the catch on the warning track and stopping his momentum with a one-foot climb against the out-of-town scoreboard. "It starts with the buy in, the unselfishness, and he talks about being a better teammate," manager Dave Roberts said. "He's not in the lineup every day, so there are sacrifices. But he's in a good place mentally. For him to get rewarded, to see teammates embrace him, that feels good. You see something happen you didn't instigate, to see the team come to your defense, you've got to feel that's important." Roberts said Puig has made some plate adjustments. He's batting only .205 since returning, but that includes four homers and nine RBIs. With Puig's input Wednesday night, the Dodgers jumped on left-handed starting pitcher Matt Moore, who fell one out shy of no-hitting the Dodgers when they last met. The Dodgers are 20-21 against left-handed starters. "It's nice to get it out of your guys' heads and you can write a different story tonight," joked Turner, who conceded that the offense wasn't ready for Moore's new cut fastball when he beat them Aug. 25. "There's been a lot of talk about us against left-handed pitching," said Roberts. "It was good for us to break out. Confidence from our guys hasn't wavered, but for us to break out against a left-hander, definitely adds to the confidence of our guys." Roberts gets his turn in Vin's booth By Ken Gurnick LOS ANGELES -- Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully said this week that one of the most touching tributes he's received during this farewell season is the parade of players and officials who visit him in the press box, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts added his name to the list on Wednesday. "I got to talk to the man and take my picture with Vin," said Roberts, covered by Scully as a Dodgers player, a visiting player and coach, and now as the 12th Dodgers manager during Scully's tenure. "It was good. He had some pretty cool stories. But the amazing thing about Vin, as I think with anyone that has come in contact with him, is that he's just obviously an amazing storyteller and such a part of not only baseball but the Dodgers, Brooklyn and Los Angeles. "But the amazing thing about Vin is what he tried to do, turn it around on me and thank me for the trek up there to the fifth floor. I quickly turned it back around and said it was all about him. Anyone that's in contact with Vin, he always has a way of making people feel special. This is his time and the end of an amazing chapter in his life. His wife Sandy was up there; she always is. The next chapter of their life is coming." Scully, 88, said this week that the visits have been "just one of the loveliest things that's ever occurred in my life." Scully retires at the end of this season, his 67th as the Dodgers' broadcaster.

LA TIMES

Yasiel Puig leads Dodgers to 9-3 win over Giants By Andy McCullough The sign of capitulation took the form of a manager with three World Series rings this decade and an unceasing amount of angst these last three months. In the second inning Wednesday of a 9-3 Dodgers victory, San Francisco Giants Manager Bruce Bochy lurched up his dugout steps at Dodger Stadium, shuffled to the mound and held out his hand. Matt Moore, a left-handed pitcher who devastated the Dodgers inside this ballpark less than a month prior, handed over the baseball and shuffled out of sight. A division race may have disappeared with him. The chase for the National League West is not over. Not yet, not with 10 games left in the regular season. But the Dodgers own a commanding six-game lead, and any combination of five victories of their own plus losses by San Francisco will seal a fourth division title in a row. “We’ve put ourselves in a pretty good spot,” Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts said. “We want to continue to keep pressing on. We’re in a good place. But it can always get better.” To reach this position of strength, the Dodgers (86-66) maintained a 92-win pace while the Giants decayed. The home club captured a series in thrilling fashion. On Monday, Yasiel Puig induced a temper tantrum by San Francisco ace Madison Bumgarner that led to Bumgarner’s premature departure from the game and a ninth-inning comeback. Two days later, Puig sideswiped Moore with a three-run homer to highlight a five-run first inning and usher him closer to the exits. After flirting with a no-hitter during his last appearance here, Moore collected only three outs. The Dodgers pasted a six-run bill on his tab, which granted plenty of room for Kenta Maeda, who logged five innings of two-run baseball. Maeda earned a tidy sum Wednesday. For making his 30th start of the year, he received a $1.5-million bonus. His eight-year contract contains an annual guarantee of $3 million, but Maeda has already pushed that figure to $11.15 million in 2016. When he records one more inning, he’ll have 170 on this season, which translates to another $250,000 bonus. Maeda did not long for run support. On Aug. 25, Moore toyed with the Dodgers. He procured 26 outs before he allowed his first hit of the evening, a well-placed bloop from Corey Seager. The Dodgers often flail against left-handed pitchers. On that night, the team also appeared befuddled by Moore’s sudden reliance on a recently developed cut fastball. “He made an adjustment,” third baseman Justin Turner said. “And we didn’t do a good job of making adjustments last time we faced him.”

The course corrected itself Wednesday. Moore yielded a hit before he recorded an out — Howie Kendrick led off with a single. Turner ignored a trio of two-strike pitches to take a walk. Adrian Gonzalez redirected a cutter into left field for an RBI single. Puig was not in the lineup when Moore dissected the Dodgers last month. He was toiling with Oklahoma City, riding minor league buses and awaiting a return to the ballpark that feted him like a star. In the years since his debut, Puig has merited that adulation on an intermittent basis. On Wednesday, he basked in it. “When we get the opportunity,” Puig said, “we have to be ready to play.” Puig declined to chase a first-pitch curveball that hit the dirt. He tattooed an inside fastball on the next pitch. Puig hustled around the bases, pressing on Gonzalez’s heels as he crossed the plate. Puig pointed skyward and found his dugout teeming with happiness. “He’s a game-changer,” Roberts said. Maeda provided an extra bit of cheer. He came up after infield singles by backup catcher Carlos Ruiz and reserve outfielder Enrique Hernandez. Maeda punched an elevated fastball into center field for a single. Hernandez got caught in a rundown between second base and third, but not before Ruiz came home. “Last time [Moore] had every single pitch going for him,” Hernandez said. “Tonight he was kind of missing his spots, making a lot of mistakes. We made him pay for it.” Moore did not exactly unravel in his second inning. He hit Kendrick with a pitch. He gave up a groundball single to Seager. There were runners at the corners with none out. Bochy had seen enough. His bullpen has vexed him for months, but Bochy trusted his relievers rather than Moore. The results were predictable. Turner delivered a sacrifice fly in the second. Kendrick roped a two-run double in the third. Andrew Toles came off the bench with an RBI double in the fifth. Bochy offered even more capitulation in the bottom the sixth inning. He removed several starters, including catcher Buster Posey and outfielder Hunter Pence, in a series of wholesale changes that actually delayed the game for a couple minutes. The implication of the substitutions was clear. The division race did not end on Wednesday. It only felt that way. “We’ve got to keep our foot on the pedal,” Turner said. “The important thing is to stay hot and build some momentum as you’re rolling into the playoffs.” One Dodgers great thinks this club has the look of '88 champions By Dylan Hernandez There are 10 games remaining in the regular season and the Dodgers are closing in on their fourth consecutive division title.

Normally, this is around the time Los Angeles starts to wonder if this will be the Dodgers’ year. Except this isn’t a typical September. Around the city, there is a noticeable lack of buzz. Expectations are tempered. “It’s like our ’88 team,” Orel Hershiser said. You had the same thought, didn’t you? How could you not? The Dodgers aren’t supposed to be in this position, similar to how the Hershiser-led 1988 edition of the team wasn’t supposed to win the franchise’s sixth championship. Remember Vin Scully’s famous call when Kirk Gibson blasted the most dramatic home run in baseball history in the opening game of the World Series that year? “In the year of the improbable …” What would be more improbable than the Dodgers winning the World Series this season? They have a rookie manager in Dave Roberts. They have a patchwork rotation and Clayton Kershaw remains at less than full strength. They are in the same league as the Chicago Cubs, who will enter the postseason with more than 100 victories to their name. The Dodgers don’t look like a World Series team. But Hershiser’s Dodgers didn’t, either. The Cy Young Award winner and World Series most valuable player in 1988, Hershiser sees something else in common between the teams: How they responded in times of crisis. Less than two months into the 1988 season, the Dodgers lost shortstop Alfredo Griffin to a broken hand. Pedro Guerrero was traded. Fernando Valenzuela injured his shoulder and was sidelined for the majority of the final two months. “All the different things, and people keep filling in,” said Hershiser, now a Dodgers broadcaster. Dave Anderson stepped in at shortstop while Griffin was sidelined. Rookie Tim Belcher became a key part of the rotation. This season, the Dodgers were struck by a potential calamity in late June, when Kershaw landed on the disabled list. The Dodgers were trailing the San Francisco Giants at the time. The Dodgers were 14-2 when Kershaw started and 29-35 in their other games.

With contributions from rookie starters Julio Urias, Ross Stripling, Brock Stewart and Jose De Leon, the Dodgers surged past the Giants. In the process, they gained an identity that reminded longtime observers of their team in 1988. “When they didn’t collapse when Kershaw got hurt and they started winning and playing the game at the level they were capable of playing, that’s when they got that reputation,” Hershiser said. Hershiser is encouraged by how the Dodgers have improved throughout the season in various areas, from their relief pitching to their offense. “When the offense was bad in the first half, everybody was like, ‘They don’t grind out at-bats, we’re not having enough quality at-bats,’” Hershiser said. Hershiser pointed to the Dodgers’ series-opening victory over the Giants on Monday. Trailing by a run, they collected four consecutive hits in the bottom of the ninth inning to claim a 2-1 victory. “Really good grind-it-out at-bats,” Hershiser said. Looking ahead to October, Hershiser said he isn’t bothered by the team’s season-long problems against left-handed pitchers. The Dodgers entered Wednesday batting .210 against left-handers, which was the worst mark in baseball. But Hershiser warned that statistics can be misleading, pointing to how Roberts sometimes used games against left-handed pitchers to give days off to his top left-handed hitters, including Adrian Gonzalez and Corey Seager. “Now, when the games have significant value, you’ll see a different lineup,” Hershiser said. “I think you’ll see the lineup that just needs to play.” That was the case Wednesday. Giants left-hander Matt Moore, who came within an out of pitching a no-hitter in his previous visit to Dodger Stadium, failed to record an out in the second inning. “When players say cliches about, ‘It doesn’t matter what happened in the past when we get to this point in the season,’ it really is true,” Hershiser said. He cited the Dodgers’ record against the New York Mets in 1988 as an example. The Dodgers dropped 10 of their 11 regular-season games against Mets, only to take the National League Championship Series in seven games. As for the lack of excitement in L.A. about the current Dodgers, Hershiser attributed that to something other than their ability. “One of the main reasons people don’t say, ‘This is a great team,’ is because these guys are not household names,” Hershiser said. “We don’t have those Hollywood-buzz guys.” A World Series will change that. Hershiser knows.

Dodgers turn to veterans Brett Anderson, Scott Kazmir in hopes of clinching division By Andy McCullough After a summer spent relying upon rookie pitchers, the Dodgers will turn back to two veterans as the team tries to clinch the National League West title. Brett Anderson and Scott Kazmir will return to the starting rotation this weekend against Colorado, with Anderson set for Friday and Kazmir slated for Saturday. Neither Anderson (0-2, 24.75 earned-run average) nor Kazmir (10-6, 4.59) has started for the Dodgers since August. The team put them on the disabled list Aug. 23, Anderson because of a blister on his left hand and Kazmir because of thoracic spinal inflammation. Anderson made a five-inning rehabilitation start with triple-A Oklahoma City last week. Kazmir threw 60 innings in a simulated game. The Dodgers chose to start them over rookie options like Ross Stripling, Brock Stewart and Jose De Leon. Roberts offered a vote of confidence for the readiness of Anderson and Kazmir. With Kazmir, these next two weeks could double as an audition for the playoff rotation, if Clayton Kershaw and Rich Hill are unable to pitch on short rest in an NL division series. “We have to see what we have in him,” Roberts said. “He’s a guy that we had high expectations for. It’s been a tough year for him. But with where he’s at, we’re confident he can regain his form and pitch well for us.” The Dodgers signed Kazmir to a three-year, $48-million contract in the off-season. He can opt out of the contract after this season. Mired by stiffness in his neck and back, Kazmir was unable to properly rotate his head to see the plate while pitching for several weeks before landing on the disabled list. He has a 4.78 ERA in the second half of the season. Anderson sat out the first four months of the season after undergoing back surgery in March. He gave up five runs in one inning in his first outing back; he gave up six runs in three innings in his next game. Roberts said that Stewart and De Leon were still “in the mix” to start games during the last two weeks. The team views Stripling, who has 4.52 ERA in 14 starts and a 2.45 ERA in six relief outings, as a potential reliever on the playoff roster. “We’re still trying to sift through these decisions,” Roberts said. “And see how these guys perform.”

OC REGISTER

Yasiel Puig, Dodgers chase lefty Matt Moore from game early, rout Giants By Bill Plunkett

LOS ANGELES – Left ... over? The Dodgers’ crippling allergy to left-handed pitching finally abated Wednesday night against the left-hander who made them look most feeble. San Francisco’s Matt Moore fell one out short of pitching a no-hitter against the Dodgers four weeks ago. This time, he retired just two of the 11 batters he faced and the Dodgers went on to beat the Giants, 9-3. With the win, the Dodgers took two of three in the series. The two rivals play again on the final weekend of the season in San Francisco. By then, the games should be meaningful only to the Giants – if that. The Dodgers’ magic number to clinch their fourth consecutive NL West title is down to five. The Giants, meanwhile, remain in a three-way tie with the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets for the two NL wild-card spots. “It’s a crazy game and crazy things happen,” Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner said. “We have to keep our foot on the pedal until that (magic) number is zero.” Demoted to Triple-A in August, Yasiel Puig got his chance to rejoin the Dodgers for the September push, largely because of the Dodgers’ struggles against left-handed pitching. They rank last in the majors in nearly every statistical category against left-handers and had gone 16 for 125 (.128) with 45 strikeouts against an assortment of left-handers in the 12 games before Wednesday. Puig did his job, striking the biggest blow against Moore in a five-run first inning. He drove a three-run home run into the pavilion in deep right-center field. It was his fourth home run since returning from Triple-A – all against left-handed pitching. The Dodgers chased Moore two batters into the second inning with six runs already on the board. “His stuff was a lot sharper the last time,” Turner said. “His changeup was really really good, better than I’d ever seen it before. And he was throwing a cutter which was a new pitch from him. “Any time somebody gives you a new look, there’s going to be adjustments. ... I think we put together a good game plan tonight and had better at-bats.” In the fourth inning, Puig showed his other side, making a running, over-the-shoulder grab of Joe Panik’s drive to right field and ending it with a flourish at the right field wall. Puig was given a hero’s welcome at the dugout steps after that catch, part of a very good week for the Dodgers’ perennial problem child. Teammates also rallied around him after his confrontation with Giants ace Madison Bumgarner on Monday. The Dodgers seem to be overcoming whatever threat to team chemistry Puig posed upon his return from Triple-A banishment. “I don’t know about chemistry,” Puig said through his interpreter. “If you start talking about chemistry then you have to bring in physics and math.”

With his swing in better shape than the one he took to Triple-A, Puig brings more than jokes to the Dodgers’ lineup, particularly against the dreaded left-handed pitching. “That’s the guy we all know he can be,” Turner said of Puig’s game Wednesday. “He has the potential to be a game-changer on both sides of the ball. “When he’s focused and playing with confidence and playing the right way, he makes a big difference for us. That’s why we all wanted him back up in September – because we knew he could be a game-changer.” The early offense helped Dodgers starter Kenta Maeda amble through another serviceable – and lucrative – five-inning start. Maeda allowed two runs on three hits (one a solo home run by Ehire Adrianza) while walking two and striking out six before Roberts pinch-hit for him in the bottom of the fifth. That stalled another bonus for Maeda, leaving him one inning short of 170 for the season (and another $250,000 boost). It was still a very good night for Maeda, who became eligible for a $1.5 million bonus by making his 30th start of the season. Maeda leads the Dodgers in both games started and innings pitched, collecting on enough bonuses in his incentive-laden contract to push his earnings from a $3 million base salary to an $11.15 million total. Maeda’s mid-game exit left Roberts time to audition a pair of dislocated starters out of the bullpen. Rookie Julio Urias allowed one run in his two innings. Alex Wood pitched a hitless eighth inning in his first action since the end of May. Wood returned from elbow surgery to make a case for himself as a lefty specialist in the playoffs. Lefties, apparently, are something the Dodgers should still fear. They went 0 for 9 against Giants lefty reliever Ty Blach to end the game. “It’s nice to get it out of your guys’ heads and you can write a different kind of story,” Turner joked when asked if the breakout against Moore got lefties out of the heads of the Dodgers’ hitters. “You guys can break the results down more statistically. “We got a lot of hits and scored runs off Bumgarner (earlier in the season) and then he shut us down the other night. Last time, Moore carved us up. I think that’s just baseball. That’s the way it goes.” Dodgers won't, but rest of us can look ahead to NLDS vs. Nationals By Jeff Miller LOS ANGELES – They had a walk-off win Monday followed by a doze-off loss Tuesday, the Dodgers impossibly requiring 3 hours, 36 minutes to drop a nine-inning game in which only two runs were scored.

But that’s what can happen when you pay attention to the minutes and the minutia, Dave Roberts managing these nights with the exactness of an obsessive neurosurgeon. “We’re so hyper-focused on each day,” he explained Wednesday, “and winning baseball games.” Before the series finale against San Francisco, Roberts responded to a variety of questions with insight like “Nothing’s set” and “We’re sifting through options” and “I think that’s kind of where we’re at right now.” In other words, there’s a lot of fluidity with the Dodgers, in the same manner that there’s a lot of fluidity with the Pacific Ocean. This reality is based on the out-of-town scoreboard, the team’s proximity to clinching the National League West and the condition of myriad blisters on myriad pitching fingers. But as much as this time of the season can be exacting, it also can be distracting, the temptation to peek ahead never greater in a sport that frowns on looking beyond the next pitch. “As a player, I’ve been there and it’s tough,” Roberts said. “But that’s where you have to be as an organization.” So, even if the Dodgers are unable to contemplate the future, at least publicly, that doesn’t prohibit the rest of us from recklessly dismissing the Giants and the final 10 games of the regular season and taking it several days at a time. Several days, all right, all the way into October, when the National League Division Series awaits along with the Washington Nationals, who are the real rivals now, even if Dodgers fans would still love to kick Madison right in the Bumgarner. The Dodgers and Nationals are on a collision course that, at the moment, appears as inevitable – although not nearly as emotional – as saying goodbye to Vin Scully. The Nationals lowered their magic number to two Wednesday with a victory in Miami, while the Dodgers continued to try to push the Giants into NL West oblivion. In terms of head-to-head competition, the Dodgers beat the Nationals five times in six meetings this summer, which is certainly encouraging news for local fans. Also encouraging is this fact as first reported Tuesday by no less an authority than The Washington Post: “The Nationals have gone in the toilet.” Those words were penned by the esteemed Thomas Boswell, who is to baseball writing what I am to making references to flatulence. Boswell, understand, knows his stuff. See, before defeating the Marlins, Washington had lost four in a row, the Nationals also down one Stephen Strasburg, who is on the disabled list with no indication if he’ll pitch again this season.

Two of Washington’s key everyday players also are hurting with injuries that might or might not be serious and might or might not actually exist. Daniel Murphy, who hit three homers last October to help the Mets eliminate the Dodgers in the NLDS, is out with some sort of mysterious leg ailment. Manager Dusty Baker initially identified the problem as a pain in “his buttocks,” by his Baker meaning Murphy’s buttocks and not his own. Since then, however, Baker has been reluctant to specify the area in which Murphy is feeling discomfort. “Our trainers are still working on it,” he said recently, before adding – and I’m assuming here – with a straight face, “They’re trying to get to the bottom of it.” Now I’m no doctor, but, if they’re trying to get to the bottom of it, I’d suggest starting over at Murphy’s buttocks. The other National whose health is in question is Bryce Harper. Sports Illustrated is among the outlets certain Harper has a shoulder problem, while the team is convinced he’s fine. Either way, since the All-Star break, Harper is hitting .216 with five home runs, and I’m pretty sure SI is doing a better job at telling the truth. The Dodgers, meanwhile, did the almost unthinkable Wednesday, knocking out San Francisco starting pitcher Matt Moore in the second inning. Moore, in case you’re not aware, throws with his left hand, the same hand with which pitchers have perplexed the Dodgers all season. The team that had batted .210 against lefties entering this game, just hit .778 (7 for 9) off Moore, meaning maybe anything’s possible moving forward. Not that the Dodgers are concerned about the future yet. They’re too busy following the lead of their patient manager and hyper-focusing on the right now. Good for them. That’s wise. Personally, though, as a detached observer, it’s never too early to jump negligently ahead. In a world where 2-0 baseball games can last 3:36, it’s smarter sometimes to stay outside the moment. Dodgers Notes: Brett Anderson, Scott Kazmir to audition for postseason roster spots By Bill Plunkett

LOS ANGELES – Game 4 of a potential National League Division Series between the Dodgers and Washington Nationals would be played on Oct. 11. But the auditions to start that game are beginning this week. Left-handers Brett Anderson and Scott Kazmir will return from their health issues to start Thursday and Friday against the Colorado Rockies. In both cases, the Dodgers will be evaluating the veterans for inclusion on the postseason roster. Kazmir has not pitched in a game since Aug. 22 due to thoracic spine inflammation. He was scheduled to make a rehab start for Triple-A Oklahoma City over the weekend but the OKC Dodgers were eliminated from the playoffs and Kazmir threw a simulated game on Sunday instead. During that 60-pitch workout, Kazmir developed a blister on the middle knuckle of his ring finger. He threw a 35-pitch bullpen session Tuesday at Dodger Stadium with the blister covered and was pronounced ready to pitch. “With Kaz, he’s been dealing with injuries for the second half of the season,” Manager Dave Roberts said. “Talking to Scott and (pitching coach Rick) Honey(cutt), he feels good and he’s in a good place. “We have to find out what we have in him. He’s a guy that we have high expectations for. We have all year. It’s been a tough year for him. But where he’s at, we’re confident he can regain his form and pitch well for us.” The Dodgers have to “find out” the same thing about Anderson, who has made just two big league starts this season since returning from back surgery – and both were horrible. He allowed 11 runs on 14 hits (three home runs) in just four combined innings in those two starts. Shut down with a blister on the index finger of his pitching hand following his most recent big league start on Aug. 20, Anderson made one rehab start for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga early this month but aggravated the blister. He finally appears to be healthy after throwing five solid innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City in its playoff series last week. “When Brett is right – and he hasn’t been right his last couple turns with the blister, the ball wasn’t sinking,” Roberts said. “But from what I understand his last start he was right and the ball was sinking. We feel he gives us a very good chance to win tomorrow night and then after tomorrow night we’ll see where the next start takes us. And I think the same thing for Kaz as well. Kaz hasn’t been healthy but I’ve got complete confidence in our training staff and in Kaz that he feels ready to give us a chance to win. His track record has to be given some credit, some acknowledgement.” Rookies Brock Stewart and Jose De Leon are also “in the mix,” Roberts said, and he indicated Ross Stripling would be considered more for a long relief role on a potential playoff roster. All of this could be academic anyway. The schedule for a best-of-5 NLDS makes a three-man rotation an option if a team is willing to bring back its Game 1 starter on three days’ rest to pitch in a Game 4. The Game 2 starter would line up to pitch Game 5 on regular rest. Kershaw has done the Game 1-4 short-rest combo in the NLDS each of the past three Octobers. That decision will carry more weight this season given the fact that Kershaw spent 75 days on the DL this season because of a herniated disk in his lower back.

ELBOW ROOM Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal opened the season on the DL with a strained right forearm that impacted his slow start. Now a sore right elbow that Roberts acknowledged was “a similar thing” could impact Grandal’s play down the stretch and into the playoffs. Roberts gave Grandal back-to-back days off over the weekend in Arizona to rest the elbow and had him out of the starting lineup for the third time in five days Wednesday, giving Carlos Ruiz the start against Giants left-hander Matt Moore. The elbow discomfort is likely to be an issue for the remainder of the Dodgers’ season and into the playoffs. “I think it’s something that he feels considerably better than he did four or five days ago,” Roberts said Wednesday. “I think it’s still going to be there but I don’t think it’s going to impede any type of performance.” A year ago, Grandal’s offensive production tailed off dramatically in the final two months of the season as he played through a shoulder injury that required offseason surgery. He is in the middle of a similar dropoff. Over his past 24 games, Grandal has gone 13 for 73 (.178) with 27 strikeouts and a .620 OPS. In his 38 games before that, he had a .307 average, 1.122 OPS and 15 home runs. On deck: Rockies at Dodgers, Thursday, 7 p.m. By Bill Plunkett Where: Dodger Stadium TV: SNLA (where available) Did you know? During his 67-year career, Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully has called 25 World Series, 12 All-Star Games and 23 no-hitters, including three perfect games. THE PITCHERS DODGERS LHP BRETT ANDERSON (0-2, 24.75) Vs. Rockies: 1-0, 4.43 At Dodger Stadium: 3-6, 4.73 Hates to face: Nolan Arenado, 5 for 10 (.500), 1 home run Loves to face: Carlos Gonzalez, 1 for 10 (.100), 4 strikeouts ROCKIES RHP TYLER CHATWOOD (11-9, 4.13) Vs. Dodgers: 4-6, 3.57

At Dodger Stadium: 3-2, 1.36 Hates to face: Yasmani Grandal, 2 for 4 (.500), 1 triple Loves to face: Kike’ Hernandez, 0 for 4 UPCOMING MATCHUPS Friday: Rockies RHP Jon Gray (10-8, 4.42) at Dodgers TBD, 7:10 p.m., KTLA/5, SNLA Whicker: Dodgers will need more Rich Hill in playoffs By Mark Whicker LOS ANGELES – Vin Scully is not retiring because 2-0 games sometimes consume three hours and 36 minutes. However, it does prevent any possible remorse. The Dodgers and Giants played as if they were waiting for someone to tap out Tuesday night. Maybe that’s the way for San Francisco’s bullpen to get a save these days. Hypnotism. Sergio Romo, the former closer, came in to pitch a 1-2-3 ninth and the Giants nudged to within five games of the Dodgers. More to the point, they forged a three-way tie for two wild card spots, along with St. Louis and the Mets. The top two teams in the NL West combined to go 0 for 15 with men in scoring position, with the Dodgers coming up empty 10 times and leaving 10 men on base. They’ve scored two runs in two games in this series, and this time they got a reprieve when Johnny Cueto started hopping around with a tweaked groin and had to leave with one out in the sixth inning. Meanwhile, Rich Hill was out there for 77 pitches again, as Manager Dave Roberts continues to nurture Hill’s blister problems. This time Hill made it through five innings. His perfect game went out the window when Eduardo Nunez got a base hit to lead off the first. In the fifth, Nunez lofted a home run that bounced off the top of the left field fence and survived a replay. Otherwise Hill was fine, with one walk and seven strikeouts. But if he pitches Game 2 of a playoff series, will Roberts loosen the reins to let him match zeroes with a top-line opposing starter? “I think a lot of people were surprised that I was able to come back and pitch with a lack of rehab starts,” Hill said, dismissing any concern. “It’s been such a crazy season, with time off. When the playoffs come, I don’t think it’s something where you necessarily have to rise to the occasion. The occasion rises to you. You’re able to perform when that comes about.”

But there was an occasion in this game when Hill did rise, and it probably got the biggest noise from the crowd of 53,621. In the fourth inning, Buster Posey served a single into right field and Hunter Pence followed suit. With two out, Joe Panik walked and the bases were loaded. Hill was working against left-handed hitter Brandon Belt, who would crack a homer off lefty Grant Dayton in the ninth. Here, Hill used his usual curveball attack and then froze Belt with a 90 mph, 1-and-2 fastball on the outside corner. Hill tends to leap into the air after he delivers the ball anyway. This time he left the ground twice. “That’s just executing pitches,” he said. “I love being out there, the intensity and the passion of the rowd. I continuously use those two words because I don’t know any other way to express how it feels, to be in front of those Dodger fans, the way they’ve been the last two months that I’ve been here. I look forward to continuing that. I love being out there. “My game plan, the way I pitch and the way I go about my business, is not something that I compromise from.” Roberts was asked if this had a playoff feel to it, particularly since the game ended past a schoolchild’s bedtime. “It seemed like a playoff game with about 15 extra players,” he said. The migraine-inducing task of arranging a playoff roster is still ahead, but it’s a privilege only 10 of 30 major league managers will enjoy. As for the crowd, it was the largest in all of Major League Baseball since August 30, 2012, when 54,612 came out. One common thread: Both crowds showed up for Vin Scully Bobblehead Night. Of course, there’s a difference between bobbling and nodding off.

DODGER INSIDER

Vin His Own Words: An extended 2014 interview By Jon Weisman Before the 2014 season, Vin Scully gave us an extended interview about his life and career that we presented over 21 pages in the commemorative 2014 Dodger Yearbook. Here, for the first time online, are those pages: Vin His Own Words. Click either image, and enjoy. (Email Attachment)

#VinTop20: No. 4, Returning after 9/11 By Jon Weisman Between now and Vin Scully Appreciation Day on September 23, the Dodgers are revealing the results of the fan vote ranking Scully’s top 20 Dodger calls of all time, one at each home game. Here’s No. 4: Coming back to the field for the first time after 9/11. — Jon Weisman Previously: No. 5, ‘If you have a sombrero …’ No. 6, Roy Campanella tribute No. 7, Don Larsen’s perfect game No. 8, Monday captures the flag No. 9, ‘We go to Chicago!’ No. 10, Clayton Kershaw’s no-hitter No. 11, Joe Ferguson’s throw No. 12, Fernandomania begins No. 13, ‘The Squeeze!’ No. 14, Nomo’s No-No No. 15, the 4+1 Game No. 16, Don Drysdale’s streak stays alive No. 17, Mike Piazza, Giant-slayer No. 18, Yasiel Puig’s first slam No. 19, Manny’s Bobbleslam No. 20, Mark McGwire hits it way, way out It’s vintage Puig in Dodgers’ romp over Giants By Jon Weisman As the catch was made, as the third out was recorded, as the crowd roared, as the legendary announcer uttered one more “¡Que viva Cuba!” at his final Dodgers-Giants game in Los Angeles, the outfielder’s teammates gathered in a handful near the third-base line, unwilling to wait for the prodigal son to return to the dugout. They needed to see him there, then, on the field, in the moment. Yasiel Puig, baseball’s living, breathing roller coaster, had done the full loop. Putting his power, arm and glove on display as in his golden rookie days, the 25-year-old Puig dazzled Dodger Stadium, igniting Los Angeles to a haymaker first inning and a 9-3 rout of San Francisco. It began, unexpectedly enough, with one out in the top of the first and Denard Span on second base, when Angel Pagan singled to right. Puig fielded the ball on his left, rotated right, drew back and

launched the baseball onto the Autobahn, where it arrived in unreal time to nail Span at home if not for a mishandle by Carlos Ruiz (who went 2 for 4 at the plate). That put the Giants ahead against a Dodger team that had been held scoreless in 17 of the first 18 innings of this series, against a pitcher who shut them out for 15 1/3 innings in a row, who had no-hit them for 8 2/3 innings a month ago. But the Matt Moore of tonight was not the Matt Moore of July and August. He was the Matt Moore of May, when the Dodgers ran up seven runs in 4 1/3 innings against him. Only tonight, it happened even more quickly. Leadoff hitter Howie Kendrick ended any no-hit hopes with a single. After a forceout, Justin Turner walked and Adrián González singled to tie the game. Then came Puig, who took the first pitch, then sent the second skyward. Los Angeles wasn’t done, ultimately tallying five runs in the first inning and one in the second against Moore, who retired only three of the 11 batters he faced. Behind Kenta Maeda’s 11th consecutive start allowing three runs or less, the Dodgers cruised, with Puig rounding out his symphony with this coda. With the win, the Dodgers ran their National League West lead back up to six games and cut their magic number to clinch down to five, with 10 games to play. Joining the Mets and Cardinals in defeat today, the Giants remain in a three-way tie for the two NL Wild Card spots. As Dodgers sift pitching options, Kazmir to start Friday By Jon Weisman Scott Kazmir will follow Brett Anderson’s Thursday start against the Rockies by taking the mound Friday, Dave Roberts said today. The left-handed Kazmir hasn’t pitched in a Major League game since August 22, when he allowed four runs and nine baserunners in a season-low 2 2/3 innings against the Reds (a game the Dodgers won, 18-9). Kazmir and Anderson both went on the disabled list the next day. Kazmir made a rehab appearance September 7 in a playoff game for Triple-A Oklahoma City, but he only lasted seven batters. A simulated game September 18 was also cut short because of a blister. If that doesn’t sound particularly encouraging, Kazmir did have subsequently have a bullpen session earlier this week. Also, there’s this: The last time Kazmir faced Colorado, he threw six shutout innings and struck out 10 on July 2. “Talking to (Rick Honeycutt) and talking to Scott, he feels good and he’s in a good place,” Roberts said. “I think we have to see what we have in him. He’s a guy that we have high expectations for — we have all season.

“It’s been a tough year for him, but with where’s at, we’re confident he can regain his form and pitch well for us. … I think that his track record has to be given some credit, some acknowledgment.” With a five-game lead in the National League West and a magic number of seven to clinch the division (six for a playoff spot), the Dodgers are still sorting out their top starting pitching option behind Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill and tonight’s starter, Kenta Maeda. In addition to Anderson, Kazmir and (if he returns from the disabled list) Brandon McCarthy, there are rookies Jose De León, Brock Stewart and Ross Stripling. “When Brett is right — and he hasn’t been right his past couple of turns, with the blister and the ball’s not sinking — but when he’s right and the ball’s doing what it’s supposed to be doing, we feel he gives us a very good chance to win,” Roberts said. In 2015, Anderson had a 3.69 ERA, including a 22-start stretch from May through August in which he averaged six innings per start with a 3.12 ERA. For his part, Stewart has three consecutive starts of five innings, allowing zero, one and two runs. “Brock obviously has been very good for us, and he’s still in the mix,” Roberts said. “It’s a constant evaluation, and we’re still trying to sift through decisions and see how guys perform. The way Roberts spoke about Stripling today, he seemed like the most likely of the rookies to make a postseason roster as a reliever if he isn’t starting. Out of the bullpen, Stripling has a 2.45 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 18 1/3 innings, averaging three innings per relief outing. “The thing I like about Ross, in either a starting or (relief) role, is his pitch mix,” Roberts said. “He has different weapons. He can get hitters out, lefty or righty. I think he can throw a strike when he needs to. And so when you’re playing in October, when it gets hot and stressful, you still have to have the confidence to execute a pitch, and with the fastball, curveball, the cutter, the change, with that four-pitch mix, he can execute a pitch.” Arrive early Friday for Vin Scully Appreciation Day By Cary Osborne If there’s ever a day to arrive early at Dodger Stadium, Friday is it. Sixty-seven years in the making, Vin Scully Appreciation Day will have unique tributes and a special giveaway for fans. Auto gates will open at 4:10 p.m. and stadium gates at 4:40 p.m. for that night’s game against Colorado. The first 50,000 fans in attendance will receive a special letter of dedication to fans from Vin himself. Fans are encouraged to get to their seats before 6:30 p.m. for the start of the pregame ceremonies.

The ceremonies will start with a pregame video tribute narrated by Bob Costas. Dodger broadcaster Charley Steiner will then take over and emcee the on-field festivities with a superstar group of guests scheduled to make remarks, including Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti, two-time Academy Award winner Kevin Costner, Hall of Famer Jaime Jarrín, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, Dodger Chairman Mark Walter and Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax. Scully will be joined on field by his wife, Sandra. A special arrangement of the national anthem will be performed by members of the renowned Los Angeles Philharmonic, conducted by a great friend of Scully and five-time Academy Award winner, John Williams. After the game, Friday Night Fireworks will be set to the greatest calls of Scully’s career. On Saturday, the first 50,000 fans in attendance will receive a limited-edition bronze Scully coin and Sunday the first 50,000 fans in attendance will receive a special Scully commemorative edition of Dodger Insider magazine. “No tribute we could conjure could do justice to the gifts Vin has presented the Dodgers during the course of his unmatched career,” executive vice president and chief marketing officer Lon Rosen said. “However, we believe we have created a weekend that will wholeheartedly honor Vin and enable fans to demonstrate their appreciation for a man who has meant so much to baseball and to all of us. Vin’s putting poetry to baseball has connected him to our fans for nearly seven decades, his legacy will carry on for decades longer and will make him part of Dodger baseball forever.” Scully’s tribute Friday will be broadcast live on AM 570 KLAC and televised live on KTLA, SportsNetLA and on SportsNetLA’s Spanish-language telecast. KTLA will also carry SportsNet LA’s game broadcasts Friday through Sunday.

TRUEBLUELA.COM

Yasiel Puig homers in Dodgers rout of Giants By Eric Stephen Yasiel Puig hit a three-run home run to key a five-run first inning, making quick work of Matt Moore in the Dodgers’ 9-3 win over the Giants on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. The victory gave the Dodgers a six-game lead over the Giants in the National League West, and lowered their magic number to clinch the division to five. In Matt Moore’s last two starts at Dodger Stadium this year he was very good, even dominant on Aug. 25 when he took a no-hitter into the ninth inning. On this night, Howie Kendrick opened the game with a single, and the hits just kept coming.

Moore allowed six hits and a walk in the opening frame, with Puig delivering the big blow, a three-run shot to right center field to give the Dodgers a 4-1 lead. Puig since his return from Triple-A Oklahoma City is 7-for-24 (.292) with four home runs, a double and two walks against left-handed pitchers. The Dodgers added another run to close out the first inning, then started the second inning with a hit by pitch and another single to end Moore’s night. The left-hander recorded just three outs, but allowed six runs. Howie Kendrick added a two-run double to right field in the third inning, and the rout was on. Puig didn’t only contribute on offense. He also tracked down this drive to right by Joe Panik to end the fourth inning, then did a Bo Jackson run up the wall afterward. The bounty of runs was more than enough for Kenta Maeda, who allowed a home run to Ehire Adrianza but only allowed two total runs, one earned, in five innings for his 16th win. Maeda improved to 10-3 with a 2.54 ERA in 16 starts against NL West teams this season, with 101 strikeouts and 20 walks in 92 innings. Against the Giants he is 3-0 with a 2.65 ERA in three starts. Notes Among LA Dodgers rookies, Maeda’s 16 wins trail only Rick Sutcliffe, who had 17 wins in 1979. Maeda earned a $1.5 million bonus for making his 30th start of the season. He is one inning away from earning another $250,000 bonus for 170 innings. Corey Seager reached on a fielder’s choice in the first inning and scored the Dodgers’ first run. It was the 100th run scored on the season for Seager, the first Dodger with 100 runs scored since Matt Kemp (115) in 2011. Julio Urias made his first relief appearance since Aug. 13, and his third of the season, allowing a run in two innings, pitching the sixth and seventh. Alex Wood pitched in his first game since May 30, throwing a perfect eighth inning. It was his first regular season relief appearance since June 8, 2014 with the Braves. Wood also pitched in relief for the Dodgers in Game 3 of the 2015 NLDS. Up next The Dodgers welcome the Colorado Rockies to town for their final meeting of the year, a four-game weekend series. Brett Anderson gets the call in the opener on Thursday night against one of his old teams, while the Rockies will send Tyler Chatwood to the mound in the 7:10 p.m. PT start. Wednesday particulars Home runs: Yasiel Puig (11); Ehire Adrianza (2) WP - Kenta Maeda (16-9): 5 IP, 3 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), 2 walks, 6 strikeouts LP - Matt Moore (11-12): 1+ IP, 7 hits, 6 runs, 1 walk

Scott Kazmir to start on Friday for Dodgers By Eric Stephen LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers will start a pair of veterans coming off injuries to open their series with the Rockies. Brett Anderson was already named the starter for Thursday’s opener, and on Wednesday manager Dave Robert said Scott Kazmir will start on Friday night. Kazmir last pitched for the Dodgers on Aug. 22 and was diagnosed with thoracic spine inflammation. “In talking with [pitching coach Rick Honeycutt] and talking to Scott, he feels good and he's in a good place. We have to see what we have with him. He's a guy we have high expectations for, and we have all season,” Roberts said. “It's been a tough year for him, but where he's at we're confident he can regain his form and pitch well for us.” Kazmir has a 4.59 ERA in 25 starts for the Dodgers this season, with 134 strikeouts and 52 walks in 135⅓ innings. He’s in the first season of a three-year, $48 million contract. "Kaz hasn't been healthy, but I have complete confidence in our training staff and in Kaz that he feels good enough to give us a chance to win,” Roberts said. “His track record has to be given some credit and some acknowledgment.” Starting Lineups Giants Dodgers CF Span (L) LF Kendrick LF Pagan (S) SS Seager (L) C Posey 3B Turner RF Pence 1B Gonzalez (L) 1B Belt (L) RF Puig 3B Nunez C Ruiz 2B Panik (L) CF Hernandez SS Adrianza 2B Culberson P Moore (L) P Maeda Location: Dodger Stadium Time: 7:10 p.m. PT TV: SportsNet LA, ESPN Radio: AM 570 Kazmir threw 60 pitches in his last simulated game, and Roberts mentioned Kazmir would be expected to throw roughly 90 pitches on Friday, though that has been the standard answer pretty much all year for these starts. "I'll manage it according to stressful innings and how the stuff looks.,” Roberts said. Roberts said the Dodgers will see how these starts go for Anderson and Kazmir before determining when they start next, if at all. But ultimately what this is is a tryout of sorts to be the Game 4 starter in the postseason, though Roberts said the games themselves were also important.

"It's about trying to win those baseball games,” Roberts said. “Brett hasn't been right the last couple times, but as I understand it he was right [on Friday], and the ball was doing what it was supposed to be doing.” Anderson allowed one run in five innings last Friday for Triple-A Oklahoma City. Roberts said Jose De Leon and Brock Stewart are still under consideration to start. But the decision on who makes the playoff roster might not be decided until up to the point when rosters need to be turned in to the league office, which for the NLDS would be Thursday morning, Oct. 6. "Brock has been very good for us, and he's still in the mix. He has been open to adapting to whatever role,” Roberts said. “It's a constant evaluation. We're still trying to sift through decisions and evaluate on how guys performed. "I don't think the calendar stops until the last day you set the roster.” It sounds like Ross Stripling, should he make the playoff roster, would do so in a relief role. "What I like about Stripling, in either role, is his pitch mix. He has different weapons to get hitters out lefty or righty,” Roberts said. “He can throw a strike when he needs to.” Clayton Kershaw starts Saturday for the Dodgers, on regular four days rest. Nothing has been set beyond then, though Rich Hill and Kenta Maeda are tentatively expected to follow in order, which would mean Hill Sunday and Maeda Tuesday. "As we get closer and see how the first few days of the Rockies series plays out, things could change. But for now, that's the plan,” Roberts said. Dodgers’ magic number to clinch NL West is 5 By Eric Stephen As the Dodgers try to capture their fourth consecutive National League West title and a fourth straight trip to the postseason, unprecedented in franchise history, we will keep track of their magic number, the combination of Dodgers wins and Giants losses needed to clinch the division. The Dodgers routed the Giants on Wednesday night. LA’s lead in the division increased to 6 games with 10 games left to play. NL West standings Dodgers 86-66 (.566) Giants 80-72 (.526), 6 GB That leaves the Dodgers’ current magic number to clinch the NL West at 5, worn below by former infielder and comic relief Juan Uribe.

The Dodgers stay home for a weekend series against the Rockies, while the Giants travel south on Interstate 5 to play the Padres in San Diego. Wednesday scores Dodgers 9, Giants 3 Thursday schedule 7:10 p.m.: Rockies (Tyler Chatwood) at Dodgers (Brett Anderson) 7:10 p.m.: Giants (Jeff Samardzija) at Padres (Christian Friedrich)

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Dodgers raise their spirits by pounding Giants' lefty By Doug Padilla LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Dodgers received the unofficial surrender from the San Francisco Giants in the sixth inning Wednesday, when wholesale changes were made in a game that had become a runaway. Perhaps the Giants figured that if the Dodgers were going to finally hit left-handers now, what were the odds they could be caught? Indeed, the Dodgers were able to tackle one of their major obstacles when they torched Giants lefty Matt Moore for six runs and seven hits. With nobody out in the second inning, Moore was removed from the game. The Dodgers finished the night with a 9-3 victory, a six-game lead in the National League West and a magic number of five to clinch a fourth consecutive division title. It was a far cry from the last time Moore took the mound in L.A., when he came one out away from throwing a no-hitter on Aug. 25. Corey Seager's single with one out to go helped the Dodgers save face that night. On Wednesday, the Dodgers exacted revenge, and a big reason was that they were ready for the cut fastball that Moore broke out the last time he was at Dodger Stadium. Leading the first-inning charge was Yasiel Puig, who crushed a three-run home run. He then made an impressive over-the-shoulder catch at the wall in fourth inning. Puig not only looks to be feeling good on the field, he is proving comfortable in his own skin again off the field, ready to show an exuberant side he had hidden for much of the season. He has been especially

boisterous the last few days, and it might not be a coincidence that it followed his incident with the Giants' Madison Bumgarner, when his teammates rushed to his defense. "I think even prior to that there was a lot of caring for each other and unselfishness with everyone, but I think that, yeah, when you see something happen that you didn't instigate and you see the whole team come to your defense, I think you've got to feel that support," manager Dave Roberts said. "But he is a heck of a player and I can't say enough good things about him." Puig did not deny that the Bumgarner incident has helped him to feel much better about being back in the clubhouse after an early August demotion. "I really appreciated the way the team has welcomed me since my return," Puig said through an interpreter. "I'm trying to show that I am grateful for the opportunity ever since I came back. It was nice to have them wait for me after I made that catch on that long ball." Puig could be an answer for the Dodgers' woes against lefties. He seems to have already secured a spot on a potential postseason roster, something that seemed unlikely a month ago when he was in the minor leagues. The Dodgers entered the game last in the majors in batting average against left-handers (.210) and last in OPS (.618). But after getting to the Diamondbacks' Robbie Ray on Sunday at Arizona and Moore on Wednesday, they feel they are turning a corner. Never mind Bumgarner's dominance Monday. "It's nice to get it out of [the media's] head and you guys can write a different story tonight," said Justin Turner, who was curt with reporters after the Dodgers were held in check by Yankees lefty CC Sabathia last week. "Last time, we had a lot of hits and scored some runs off Bumgarner, and this time he shut us down. Last time, Moore absolutely carved us up, and this time we got the better of him. I think that is just baseball and that is the way it goes." Despite hitting form the right side, Turner has dealt with his own issues against left-handed pitching, and even though he was hitless Wednesday, he had an RBI and a walk. Leadoff man Howie Kendrick had two hits, as did Seager and catcher Carlos Ruiz. When A.J. Ellis was traded to Philadelphia in August, Ruiz was brought over to help the team's fortunes against lefties. The Dodgers had already built their six-run lead when the Giants started making wholesale changes on defense in the sixth. They made so many changes, in fact, that the game was delayed as umpires sorted out the new lineup card. The lead also helped Roberts to get starting pitcher Kenta Maeda out of the game after five innings and 88 pitches. It also enabled the Dodgers to give Julio Urias a turn as a reliever. A potential lefty out of the bullpen for the playoffs, Urias gave up one run over two innings. With a magic number of five, the Dodgers could clinch the NL West during the upcoming home series against the Colorado Rockies, if they can win and get a little help from the Giants, who face the Padres in San Diego this weekend.

Clinching early could help Roberts get playing time for the back end of his 36-man roster and see which 25 players he wants to take into the NL Division Series, which would open on Oct. 7, most likely at Washington. "I think for us to come out and win this series, that's our goal to go out and win series," Roberts said. "We did that against a very good ballclub. So I think we put ourselves in a pretty good spot, but we want to continue to keep pressing on. We're in a good place, but we can always get better." Dodgers rout Giants 9-3 to extend NL West lead to 6 games By AP LOS ANGELES -- Yasiel Puig is making his mark against left-handed pitching while helping the Dodgers in a major way. The Cuban outfielder's three-run homer highlighted a five-run first inning in a 9-3 rout of the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday night, extending the Dodgers' NL West lead to six games with 10 remaining. "It's nice to have that separation," third baseman Justin Turner said, "but nothing is certain until that number is zero. The important thing is to stay hot and build some momentum as you're rolling into the playoffs." Puig is doing just that against lefties. He has four home runs and two walks against them since returning from the minor leagues earlier this month. He's started all six games in September against lefties, who have given the Dodgers fits this season. "He's done some things mechanically," manager Dave Roberts said. "When he elevates the ball with his strength good thing are going to happen. He's getting to a lot of pitches he wasn't prior." The Dodgers beat left-hander Madison Bumgarner 2-1 in Monday's series opener and got to fellow lefty Matt Moore (11-12) early. "It was good for us to break out," Roberts said. Puig is batting .333 (6 for 16) with eight RBI in seven games at home since being recalled on Sept. 2. "That's the guy we all know he can be," Turner said. "He's an exciting player on both sides of the ball. We knew he could be a game-changer for us." The Dodgers pounded out 12 hits in taking two of three from the rival Giants, who remained tied in the NL wild-card race after both the Mets and Cardinals lost earlier. The Dodgers conclude the regular season with three games at San Francisco next week. Kenta Maeda (16-9) allowed two runs -- one earned -- and three hits in five innings while improving to 4-0 against the Giants this season. The right-hander struck out six and walked one in making his 30th start

of the season for just the second time in his career. Maeda is one win from tying Rick Sutcliffe's record by a rookie set in 1979. Moore gave up six runs and seven hits in one inning, walked one and struck out none in a messy outing for the left-hander who had pitched exceptionally well at Dodger Stadium. "It was a bad day to have a bad day," he said. "There was a lot of small stuff going on." Moore was one out away from throwing his first career no-hitter on Aug. 25 in Los Angeles when Corey Seager broke it up with a single. He previously held the Dodgers to just one unearned run in 15 1/3 innings. "He was making a lot of mistakes and we made them pay," outfielder Kike Hernandez said. "Last time he was making every pitch." After two close games, including a 2-0 loss Tuesday, the Dodgers put the game away early. They took a 5-1 lead in the bottom of that inning on Puig's 11th homer and RBI singles by Adrian Gonzalez and Maeda. They made it 6-2 in the second on Turner's sacrifice fly. Howie Kendrick doubled in two more runs with two outs in the third. The Dodgers added another run on pinch-hitter Andrew Toles' RBI double in the sixth. The Giants' runs came on Angel Pagan's RBI single in the first, Ehire Adrianza's homer in the second and Brandon Belt's RBI single in the sixth. TRAINER'S ROOM Giants: RHP Johnny Cueto had an MRI on Wednesday that confirmed a Grade 1 groin strain, which forced him out of his start in the sixth inning Tuesday. He's questionable for his next start, although manager Bruce Bochy hasn't ruled him for the Giants' next series. ... SS Brandon Crawford came out of Tuesday's victory with a dislocated left pinky on his glove hand in the second. He'll need a couple days to recover, Bochy said. Dodgers: LHP Scott Kazmir comes off the disabled list to start Friday against Colorado after missing nearly a month with neck inflammation. He's expected to throw about 90 pitches, but will be monitored. He threw a 35-pitch bullpen session on Tuesday. REELIN' IT IN Dodgers outfielders Kike Hernandez and Puig made dramatic catches in the fourth. A charging Hernandez caught Belt's fly ball to center, landing on his front side fully stretched for the second out of the inning. Puig tracked Joe Panik's ball over his shoulder, made the catch and, with his momentum carrying him, climbed a step up on the right field scoreboard before jumping down to end the inning. "His catch was way better than mine," Hernandez said. "I never thought he was going to make the play and sure enough he did."

TROUBLE BEHIND THE PLATE Dodgers catcher Carlos Ruiz had a troublesome first that led to the Giants' first run. Denard Span walked and took second on a passed ball by Ruiz before Pagan singled to right. Puig's throw to the plate bounced once and Ruiz missed the tag in a close play. VISITING VIN Bochy visited retiring Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully before the game, joining a long list of opposing managers and players who've done so this season. They chatted in Scully's fifth-floor booth, where Bochy said he could "see where he does his magic." "I was telling him all the memories that go through my head," the manager said. "I've been coming to the ballpark for 21 years; he's been here 67 years. He's an incredible man who has done so much for the game." UP NEXT Giants: RHP Jeff Samardzija (11-10, 3.97 ERA) starts the series opener against the Padres. He's 3-1 with a 4.31 ERA in five starts against them this season. He's struggled in his last two outings, allowing nine runs (eight earned) in 11.0 innings. Dodgers: LHP Brett Anderson (0-2, 24.75) starts the series opener against the Rockies for the first time since Aug. 20 after being on the disabled list with a blister on his left index finger. With time running out, Dodgers will test rotation options By Doug Padilla LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Dodgers find themselves in a tricky spot, close to winning a fourth consecutive National League West title while still needing to see what kind of roster assets they have for a potential postseason run ahead. So with a magic number still standing at seven to clinch the division, the Dodgers know they are running out of time to give a pair of pitching options a few opportunities to prove themselves. The Dodgers will ask Brett Anderson to come off the disabled list and start against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday and Scott Kazmir to face the Rockies on Friday. Depending on how they perform, both could end up with one more start next week at San Diego before decisions have to be made. The Dodgers are looking for a possible fourth starter for the playoffs -- assuming they clinch eventually. Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill and Kenta Maeda would make up the first three spots of a postseason rotation.

Anderson started the season on the disabled list after a back procedure in spring training. He returned Aug. 14, struggled in two starts and went back to the DL with a blister issue on his left index finger. His last minor league outing was a solid five innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City in the playoffs. Kazmir has been on the disabled list since Aug. 23 -- the same day Anderson went on the DL -- first with neck inflammation. He was later diagnosed with thoracic spine inflammation. “I think with Kaz, he has been dealing with injuries the second half of the season, so in talking to [pitching coach Rick Honeycutt] and Scott, he feels good. He’s in a good place, and I think we have to see what we have in him.” Anderson and Kazmir are not the Dodgers’ only fourth-starter options for the playoffs. Rookie Jose De Leon could be used in that role as well. De Leon will be skipped this time through the rotation, but Roberts said “he is still in the mix.” Yet another option is rookie Ross Stripling, but he will be used as a swing man out of the bullpen for now. Roberts said that even Brock Stewart is in the mix to possibly get another start at some point. So is the move to Anderson and Kazmir this week a nod toward October, or is it seen as the Dodgers’ best chance against the Rockies? “It’s about trying to win those baseball games [Thursday and Friday],” Roberts said. “When Brett is right, and he was not right the last couple of turns with the blister, we feel he gives us a very good chance to win. And then after that we will see where the next start takes us for him. “And the same thing for Kaz. He hasn’t been heathy, but I have complete confidence in our training staff and in Kaz that he feels good enough to give us a chance to win. His track record has to be given some credit.” From stare-downs to pitching duels, Dodgers getting early taste of postseason By Doug Padilla LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Dodgers already seem to be in playoff mode, where runs are hard to come by and games often are down-to-the-wire affairs. Pitchers’ duels have ruled the first two games of a key series against the San Francisco Giants, with more stinginess expected in Wednesday night’s finale when Dodgers starter Kenta Maeda faces the Giants' Matt Moore. On Tuesday, it was not a left-handed starter who gave the Dodgers issues but rather Giants right-handed starter Johnny Cueto, who pitched until he couldn’t anymore. Cueto exited with a left groin injury, having delivered 5 1/3 scoreless innings in an eventual 2-0 San Francisco win. One night earlier, Giants ace Madison Bumgarner crafted seven scoreless of his own, though the Dodgers rallied in the ninth to win 2-1.

After Tuesday's game, the first-place Dodgers lead the Giants by five games in the NL West, and the Giants are in a three-way tie with the Mets and Cardinals for the NL's two wild-card spots. To those brimming with confidence, the Dodgers have gone toe-to-toe with the rival Giants this week in a playoff atmosphere, against two accomplished pitchers, winning once and in position to win another. To those a little more skeptical, the Dodgers are not doing enough against a reeling Giants squad and are Monday’s ninth-inning rally away from panic in the streets. After Wednesday’s series finale, more optimists could be pessimists or more pessimists could be optimists. It’s just the way it works this time of year. What seems most important of all, perhaps, is that the Dodgers are already being forced to deal with the massive swing of emotions that come with October baseball. As spring training is to the regular season, the Dodgers are getting in some playoff prep this week against the Giants, with the ballpark filled to the brim and emotions turning on a dime. And while the intensity has certainly ramped up of late, many would like to believe the Dodgers have been playing with a back-to-the wall mentality for some time now. “I feel like we have been playing like this since the start of the second half, trying to catch up [in the standings],” Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal said. “Everybody is trying to make the postseason here. The games are going to be tight. They’re not going to give it to you, so we have to do it ourselves. The key is to win every series, and if we do that we will be division champions and we will be in the playoffs.” Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw threw 88 pitches in Monday's start against the Giants and has used his three starts since coming off the disabled list to get sharp for the playoffs. Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports Before the current Giants series, the Dodgers went through another major test with a 10-game road trip against the Miami Marlins, New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks. The division-rival Diamondbacks might have already come to terms with the fact that the postseason won’t happen for them this year, but they still provided a stern test in four division games. The Dodgers went 5-5 on the trip -- nothing to pronounce them ready for the grind ahead, but of course they were all road games. And an even record through 10 games of postseason play would not necessarily mean elimination; if the victories and losses were placed just right, a 5-5 record through 10 playoff games could mean a 3-2 deficit in the NLCS. Not the ideal scenario, especially without home-field advantage in the series, but that's life. Now throw some home games into that mix, and the Dodgers would like to think the baseball they are playing now could be the prelude to peak play in October. The past two weeks have replicated postseason baseball for the Dodgers. “It does -- it feels like playoff baseball with about 15 extra players [on the roster],” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “But the intensity, the magnitude [of the Giants series], there is a sense of that, certainly.” Roberts’ point, of course, is that with a 36-man roster he can manage these games a little different than he would manage an October game with his best 25. Those players on either side of the fringe know that, however, so Roberts is actually getting the best that the bottom of his roster has to offer right now.

Those players know that anything less than high-quality baseball over these last two weeks will leave them watching playoff games on television. And if there is one thing Roberts has shown in his rookie managing season, it's that he likes to use his entire roster. Guys like Andrew Toles and Grant Dayton have appeared to make a case to be on the playoff roster. Julio Urias is out to show he can be a serious option out of the bullpen. Jose De Leon wants to show that if a fourth starter is needed in postseason play, he could be the guy. And then there is the continued goal of getting both Clayton Kershaw and Rich Hill up to speed come playoff time. Kershaw threw 88 pitches in his last start and seems to be working only on his sharpness after just three starts since returning from the disabled list. Hill threw 77 pitches Tuesday, and his exit was more a circumstance of the situation, since his spot in the batting order was due up in the next inning and the Dodgers needed some offense. The timing appears to be close, but both pitchers should be at full strength come Oct. 7, which would be the first day of the National League Division Series. And after Kershaw missed 75 days (lower-back injury) and Hill missed six weeks (blister issues), their arms should be fresh, assuming nothing else ails them physically. The Dodgers might be monitoring Hill’s blister issue on an inning-to-inning basis, but the left-hander says he is just focused on executing the pitches. “It’s been such a crazy season, with time off and then getting back into it,” Hill said. “I think I fielded some questions where people were surprised that I was able to come back and pitch with the lack of rehab starts. I think that is something that the moment presents itself and the occasion rises to you and you’re ready to perform. It’s not something that necessarily you have to rise to the occasion.” It certainly sounds as if Hill is ready for the road ahead. Or is the road ahead ready to welcome Hill aboard? And how close is Kershaw to feeling like himself? It really is the biggest question surrounding the Dodgers these days, outside of what day they might be able to clinch a playoff spot. “It’s a good question; I think it depends on the day,” Kershaw said. “I think in New York [last Wednesday] I felt really good physically. Stuff-wise, everything was coming out the way I wanted it to come out. [On Monday] it wasn’t like that, but that could just be that you aren’t going to have your best stuff every time. Physically, I feel good, no complaints. Arm feels good, back’s fine, so maybe it’s a day when you don’t have your good stuff.” That doesn't mean Monday was without its positives. “Getting the pitch count back up, making sure my body bounces back and I’m feeling good, so that is all positives,” Kershaw said. “I was able to kind of grind through [Monday’s start], which was good too.”

Vin Scully's career was seriously amazing -- here's proof By ESPN Staff When Vin Scully calls his final game for the Dodgers on Oct. 2, it will mark the end of an era for baseball fans. A staple in the Dodgers broadcast booth for 67 seasons, Scully is ready to ride off into the sunset after one last year behind the microphone. As baseball prepares its formal goodbye to Scully, much has been said about his one-of-a-kind career. When taking a step back to take it all in, however, a few things stand out as especially remarkable. And so without further ado, it's time for some amazing facts about Vin Scully and his career: Vin Scully's first season in 1950 was Connie Mack's last as an MLB manager. Mack was born during the Civil War, while Abraham Lincoln was president. When Vin Scully first walked into the Dodgers broadcast booth, the transistor radio was still four years away from being invented. At that time, gasoline cost 27 cents a gallon, a postage stamp cost 3 cents, and the minimum wage was 75 cents per hour. Vin Scully has called games started by both Preacher Roe and Julio Urías, born 80 years apart. Vin Scully is the youngest person to ever broadcast a World Series game. He was just 25 in 1955 when the Brooklyn Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees in seven games. Vin Scully has broadcast 20 no-hitters, including three perfect games: Don Larsen in 1956, Sandy Koufax in 1965 and Dennis Martinez in 1991. He also called 12 All-Star Games, Hank Aaron's 715th career home run, Bill Buckner's error in the 1986 World Series, Barry Bonds' record-breaking 71st home run in 2001, and countless other memorable moments. For Scully's last game on Oct. 2, his Dodgers travel to San Francisco to take on the rival Giants. At that point, he will have served as an announcer for the team some 24,274 days -- so fans are sure to cherish these last few.

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No Moore! Dodgers Destroy Giants 9-3 to Win Series, Magic Number at 5 By Michael Duarte Surrender is a powerful force. San Francisco waved the proverbial white flag as the Los Angeles Dodgers dominated the rival Giants, 9-3, on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium.

The Giants were looking for lightning to strike twice at the Ravine as left-hander Matt Moore got the start for San Francisco. Three weeks prior, Moore had a no-hitter after 26 outs against the Dodgers before Corey Seager hit a two-out single in the bottom of the ninth inning to bust up Moore's date with history. "That last outing here, he added a cut-fastball that we didn't know he had in his repertoire," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "Today we were prepared for it." Moore (11-12) entered the game with a streak of 15 straight innings at Dodger Stadium without allowing an earned run, but was beat up early and often by the boys in blue on Wednesday. The Dodgers scored five runs in the first inning off Moore, punctuated by a three-run home run by Yasiel Puig who promptly made sure not to look at Madison Bumgarner as he ran around the bases. "Last time we faced Moore he almost no-hit us," said Puig. "Today we were able to get him out of the game early and face their bullpen that has been struggling." Puig has stayed hot since he was recalled on Sept 2nd. The Cuban slugger is batting .333 with a double, three homers and eight RBI over the span of seven games. "I really appreciate the way the team has welcomed me since my return," Puig said of the difference in his play since he was recalled. "I'm trying to show that I'm grateful for the opportunity." Moore hasn't looked the same since he threw 133 pitches in his no-hit bid on Aug. 25th. Since that start, the left-hander has allowed 17 runs over five starts, posting an ERA of 7.29 over that span. "Sometimes when guys get stretched out that long they have a hard time bouncing back," Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner said of how Moore looked this time. "We were all interested to see what would happen in his next couple starts. I was in New York when Johan [Santana] got stretched out in his no-hitter and unfortunately he was never the same after that." Moore couldn't make it out of the second inning as he allowed six runs on seven hits, recording just three outs, matching the shortest outing of his career. "It's a bad day to have a bad day," Moore said after the game. "I can't do anything about it now. I just have to move on to my next start." San Francisco scored first to start the game. After a leadoff walk to Denard Span to start the game, the speedster reached second on a passed ball and scored one-pitch later on a single to right field by Angel Pagan. Puig thought he had thrown out Span at the plate on the play, but Carlos Ruiz dropped the Cuban missile from right field and the run scored. After the Dodgers responded with five runs in the bottom half of the first, Ehire Adrianza hit his second home run of the season—both against the Dodgers—in the second inning. Adrianza's only other home run this season was off Clayton Kershaw on April 9.

Howie Kendrick and Andrew Toles each added a pair of RBI doubles in the third and fifth innings as the Dodgers lead 9-2 heading into the sixth inning. "He has an ability to impact the game in a lot of different ways," Roberts said of Toles. "He never ceases to amaze. That was a big hit and Andrew has opened all of our eyes." Brandon Belt doubled in a run in the top of the sixth for SF, but Bruce Bochy signed an unconditional surrender immediately after, as the Giants made wholesale changes across the board. "There was a little confusion with all the changes and the lineup card," Roberts said of all the San Francisco substiutions. "I wanted to make sure I had everything right." The Giants now set their sights on a four-game series in San Diego this weekend. SF is currently deadlocked in a three-team race for the Wild Card, but have lost their last six straight games to the Padres since the All-Star Break. Kenta Maeda (16-9) earned his sixteenth victory of the season and second in a row as he allowed two runs on just three hits with six strikeouts in five easy innings of work. "It was big for me personally to have a comfortable lead going into the second inning," Maeda said through a translator after the game. "My command was off, but my teammates picked me up. It was a good day." Los Angeles now leads the National League West by a whopping six games with just ten left to play in the season. Their Magic Number to clinch the division was lowered to five. Players of the Game: Yasiel Puig: Three-run homer. Howie Kendrick: Two-run double. Carlos Ruiz: 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Three Takeaways: 1. Pay the Man: The third inning of the game on Wednesday which aired on ESPN, allowed Vin Scully to do the play-by-play rather than the normal ESPN broadcasts, so the nation could hear Scully's call.. After the inning ended, Scully motioned to the ESPN booth to pay the man. 2. Don't Look At Me: Yasiel Puig hit a three-run homer off San Francisco starter Matt Moore in the first inning and a lot of Dodger fans had something to say to Madison Bumgarner about it. Including the legendary, Vin Scully, himself. 3. Say No Moore: Since he left the game after throwing 133 pitches on August 25th, following a single by Corey Seager that broke up his no-hitter with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, San Francisco starting pitcher, Matt Moore, has an ERA of 7.29, allowing 17 runs over his last five games. Up Next: Giants (80-72): San Francisco heads down south to San Diego for a four-game series with the Padres.

Dodgers (86-66): Los Angeles opens up the final four games of the season at Dodger Stadium on Thursday when Brett Anderson starts at 7:10 PM PST. Vin Scully Writes Letter to Fans, Dodgers Will Hand it Out on Friday Night By Michael Duarte This letter you'll want to keep forever. Vin Scully, a man who's dedicated his life to words, has announced that he will write a letter, dedicated to the fans and the Los Angeles Dodgers will distribute it on Friday night when they take on the Colorado Rockies at Chavez Ravine. À la Kobe Bryant, Scully hand crafted a letter thanking both Dodger and baseball fans alike for all their love and support over the Hall of Fame broadcaster's 67-year career. The team announced on Wednesday that the first 50,000 fans will receive a copy of the letter before Friday's game which will also include a pregame ceremony honoring Scully. Fans are encouraged to arrive early as the ceremony begins at 6:30PM. Gates to Dodger Stadium will open to the public at 4:10PM for parking and 4:40PM inside the venue itself. After the game, fans will receive a free fireworks show as part of the team's "Friday Night Fireworks" promotion, presented by Denny's. The fireworks show will feature the top calls of Scully's legendary career played by DJ Severe. “No tribute we could conjure could do justice to the gifts Vin has presented the Dodgers during the course of his unmatched career,” said Dodgers Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Lon Rosen. “However, we believe we have created a weekend that will wholeheartedly honor Vin and enable fans to demonstrate their appreciation for a man who has meant so much to baseball and to all of us. Vin’s putting poetry to baseball has connected him to our fans for nearly seven decades, his legacy will carry on for decades longer and will make him part of Dodger baseball forever.” The pregame ceremony on Friday will feature a video tribute by Scully's broadcasting partner at NBC, Bob Costas and an on-the-field celebration with Sandy Koufax, Mark Walter, Kevin Costner, Jamie Jarrin, Eric Garcetti, and Charley Steiner. Scully is set to retire at the end of the season (Oct. 2 in San Francisco) after a legendary 67-year career behind the microphone. He is the longest tenured sports broadcaster in Dodger franchise history and the voice behind many of the best moments in sports including; Hank Aaron's record-breaking home run in Atlanta surpassing Babe Ruth, Joe Montana's pass to Dwight Clark in SF known as "The Catch," and the famous ground ball that went through the legs of Bill Buckner in the 1986 World Series.

FANGRAPHS

Kenta Maeda, Then and Now By Eno Sarris In 2012, Kenta Maeda threw a curveball or two a game. He threw three or four four-seam fastballs for every sinker. He was a four-seam/slider guy with the occasional changeup, is what he was. And that’s what I had to work with when I tried to find a comp for him and settled on pitchers like Aaron Nola and a young Kenshin Kawakami. I was probably wrong, but it’s also possible that what we’re seeing now is a different Maeda. He allows that it’s possible, too. First, here’s his pitching mix in 2012 in Japan, the last year for which NPBTracker carries data. People who saw him some in Japan in 2015 thought it was about the same mix with maybe even fewer curveballs. Kenta Maeda’s Pitching Mix, Then & Now Pitch 2012 NPB 2016 MLB Four-Seam 34% 30% Two-Seam 9% 13% Slider 38% 30% Curve 6% 18% Change 12% 10% SOURCE: NPBTracker, Brooks Baseball He’s throwing more two-seamers and curves here in America, but it turns out he’s doing so for different reasons. The first of those reasons is something I’ve heard before: the ball is different in America. Hisashi Iwakuma says that’s the case, explaining to me that it helps him get more movement on the splitter here. “Seams are higher,” Maeda himself told me this past June. “More movement on the two-seamer and the break on my changeup is a little bit more than it was in Japan.” We can watch his two-seamer then and now, thanks to this video of his work in Japan. The arm-side pitches at 144 kilometers per hour (kph) are the two-seamers. It’s tough to see the difference with the naked eye, but here’s an American two-seamer. The added movement has only given him average movement on the sinker, but another pitch, even another average pitch, is still a boon. He gets fewer whiffs than usual on the pitch, but his ground-ball rate on the pitch is plus (64% by Brooks, 56% by PITCHf/x). By PITCHf/x, his sinker ground-ball rate is actually in the top 15, and “sinkerballer” was never part of the scouting report. In the same way, his changeup has gotten better than we thought it might be; its 15% whiff rate and a ground-ball percentage over 50% makes it a good pitch. Only 13 changeups in baseball have a ground-ball rate over 45% and a whiff rate over 14% (minimum 150 thrown, 158 pitchers in the sample). Only seven of those pitchers are starters! You probably wouldn’t have called Maeda’s changeup a plus in Japan.

Maeda is throwing more curveballs here in America, but it’s not because of the seams. Or maybe it is, but only indirectly. “With the slider, I’ve had a little bit harder time with the break,” Maeda admits. “But the curveball is the same.” The curve doesn’t come with fancy numbers. It has a poor whiff rate, one that’s over 50% worse than league average. It gets a bad ground-ball rate. It’s not an awesome pitch. But here’s the thing: nobody swings at it. Only five pitchers who throw a curveball get fewer swings with it than Maeda. So this next leaderboard might not surprise you. Top Curves By Zone Percentage Name Zone% Total Curves Jered Weaver 55.6% 563 Rich Hill 54.4% 867 Clay Buchholz 52.2% 383 Steven Matz 51.7% 360 Kenta Maeda 49.8% 484 Edinson Volquez 48.1% 767 Carlos Martinez 46.8% 630 Taylor Rogers 46.8% 376 Stephen Strasburg 46.5% 301 A.J. Griffin 46.4% 377 Perhaps the swing percentage in Japan on curves is higher and Maeda, seeing that nobody was swinging at his curve, started throwing it in the zone to steal called strikes. That’s merely a theory, though. What we know is just that it’s working for him. “I’ve been able to use my curveball more effectively here,” he relayed through a translator. Maeda echoed Hyun Soo Kim‘s thoughts about the strike zone — “In Japan, they really take the inside fastball for strikes; here, not so much,” the righty said — but that adjustment wasn’t a big deal for him. “The strike zone is a little bit different here, so it has changed where I aim,” he shrugged. He’s still throwing inside, he’s just had to move that target a bit. There’s been change to his schedule, of course, since the Japanese version of the sport takes games off and schedules more rest for its starters. But that’s just “when to go to the bullpen” and the like. Game day is about the same. “My post-game cooling-down phase hasn’t really changed,” says the Dodger. But that wild pre-game windmill ritual? “Just part of my warmup and preparation.” And that’s one part of his game that hasn’t changed.

TODAY’S KNUCKLEBALL

A Tribute to Vin Scully

By Jeremy Dorn By Sunday, Sept. 25, the Los Angeles Dodgers may very well be just a win or two away from clinching their fourth straight division title. It should be a happy time. But no matter how much the fans or the team celebrate, Sept. 25 will be bittersweet. That Sunday is the team’s last home game of the season; with that comes Vin Scully’s final regular season proclamation of Dodger baseball in Los Angeles (he will broadcast the final three games in San Francisco as well). It’s something Dodgers fans never thought possible: seeing the wrinkled, smiling face on TV, effortlessly pushing “It’s time for Dodger baseball!” out from behind his perfectly pearly whites for the final time. Hearing the kindest, most familiar greeting scratched out of an 88-year-old honey-coated throat for the final time: “Hello, everybody, and a very pleasant good evening to you, wherever you may be.” He will marvel at the picture-perfect Southern California weather. He will describe the sparkling L.A. skyline in the distance as he has thousands of times prior. He will coo at a toddling Dodgers fan, song-birding it to sleep from his booth. He will give us the numbers on whoever starts the game for the Dodgers. Before long, he’ll share a story about that pitcher — or maybe about one of the opposing hitters — that no announcer could possibly know. Before the game even starts, listeners will be taken on a ride through baseball, beards or The Beatles — or some combination of them all. The first pitch will be thrown. Scully will describe the pitch, its location, the call and the time of day it was thrown. By the end of the inning, fans will know more about the pitcher than his own family and Scully will chuckle, “that’s all for the Rockies” as the game goes to commercial. As the game moves along, Scully’s name will be chanted in the stands. There will be signs and t-shirts and heartfelt waves of gratitude from the booth. He will be honored with some kind of tribute that day, thanked for his 67 brilliant seasons behind the mic. He will smile and clap at the fans — his friends, as he’s called them — and thank god for blessing him with the opportunity to announce baseball games for a living. He will be genuinely surprised by the outpouring of support for himself, who he sees as a mere team employee. Then, Scully will exit down the newly-anointed Vin Scully Ave. out of the Dodger Stadium parking lot and leave Chavez Ravine in the rearview mirror forever. And then it will be over. And we won’t know what the hell to do with ourselves. Of course, Scully is not just any team employee. A couple on-field ceremonies and inning-by-inning standing ovations won’t do the legend of Vin Scully justice. He’s not only been the voice of baseball for 67 years, but he’s steadied that lengthy tenure with grace and intrigue. Simply put, he’s the biggest star in a city full of them; the greatest legend in a sport built by them. For yours truly, life began with Vin Scully. My Dad, born and raised a diehard Dodgers fan in Pasadena, listened to Vin Scully on his radio as a kid, fondly recalling his joy when the Dodgers captured titles in

1959, 1963 and 1965. He re-lives the 1981 championship and apologizes that I was birthed three months after the Dodgers won it all in 1988. He shakes his head in disbelief, remembering his favorite players: Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Fernando Valenzuela, Orel Hershisher…but his eyes light up when Vin Scully is the subject of the memory. “That perfect game by Koufax was unbelievable,” he’ll say. “Almost as good as Vin’s call of it.” 30 August 2012: Vin Scully claps after the national anthem is sung by one of his granddaughters during a Major League Baseball game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire) His stories always start and end with Scully, because the Dodgers always start and end with Scully, quite literally. For most Dodgers fans, there is no more influential voice in their lives than Vin Scully. He is celebrated more than their favorite players: Nomo, Piazza, Green, Gagne, Kemp, to name a few recent ones. I vividly remember his radio call of Steve Finley’s division-clinching grand slam in 2004. Jumping out of bed to hear his astonished, tickled disbelief at Nomar Garciaparra’s walk-off homer in the 4+1 game in 2006. His “that’s more Hollywood than Hollywood” call on Manny Ramirez’s 2009 grand slam. His perfectly summing up the secret recipe to what makes him so great in 2013 after Yasiel Puig’s grand slam: silence. Speechlessness. Every Dodgers fan has their moment with Scully. And those are the moments we’ll all have to cherish as he hangs up the microphone at the end of this year. Not much has changed over 67 years, you know. Scully calls players by the wrong name occasionally, a charming result of his age. But his positive, well-researched broadcasts still crackle over the TV, his wildly entertaining stories still resonating over the air. Dodgers fans mute the TV when an away team is on the call. What’s the point? They talk over Charley Steiner, Rick Monday and the Davis-Garciaparra-Hershiser team. Nothing against them, necessarily. They’re just not Vin. When the legend’s voice does come through, we all listen and learn. We respect the voice of the man who has so much to teach us every single game. He’s the man who told us to throw our sombreros into the sky. The man who made 9:46 p.m. matter more than any other random minute of the night. The man who exclaimed to us that “she is GONE!” before muting himself in favor of the thunderous Dodger Stadium crowd. He translated an on-field brawl for us, filling players’ mouths with “bleeping fertilizer.” He named the Wild Horse and Public Enemy Number One. He preceded “he’s done it!” in 2015 with verbal poetry of the most important kind; a human connection no other announcer would even consider during a no-hitter: “And amongst the large crowd, the big heart of his wife Ellen beats a little faster.”

And he did it better than anyone ever has or ever will. There are hundreds of thousands of words that can and will be written about Scully. There will be dozens of tributes all across baseball. Millions of fans saying their fond farewells. Not a single one will be as eloquently delivered as the words that come out of Vin’s own mouth. The man who is synonymous with Dodger baseball is finally retiring, and it feels like a heart transplant. Sure, the new ticker will work — it’ll pump blood to the extremities, even if it does so in a slightly rustier, less life-giving manner. But it’ll never compare to the original. Because there is no other Vin Scully. Sunday, Sept. 25 is going to be a very difficult day. The last time a baseball icon spins a three-hour tale for us at Chavez Ravine in the way only he can before the booth at Dodger Stadium becomes the loneliest place in the world. Cherish every single broadcast you have with Scully until then, because in a career that has been so improbable, the impossible is happening.

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Yasiel Puig hand-delivered his spectacular Vin Scully cleats to Vin Scully By Andrew Joseph Yasiel Puig’s awesome Vin Scully cleats were banned by Major League Baseball, but Puig ended up saving the cleats for a special occasion. That moment came Wednesday before the Dodgers’ game against the Giants. Puig, who was still wearing the “Don’t look at me” T-shirt, visited Scully in the booth and gave the legendary broadcaster those glorious spikes. He also signed the cleats. Though Scully hasn’t had the presence in the clubhouse that he used to earlier in his career (he only travels to select road games in San Diego and San Francisco), he’s still a legend and treated that way. Scully’s final game at Dodger Stadium will be Sept. 25. Update: Here’s Scully talking about how badly he wanted those shoes.