By Brandon Lennox
Losses for the Lookouts overshadowed strong performances from Duke von Schamann and Rafael Ynoa
Minor League Player of the Day – Duke von Schamann (AA) - 6 IP, 3 hits, 1 run, 10 K's, 0 walks. After making one start for the Lookouts at the end of 2012, Duke is now back in AA and had an outstanding start on Monday. The sinker ball pitcher doesn't usually generate many strikeouts, but the right hander was getting swings and misses on Monday which helped him have a stellar outing.
AAA – Rob Rasmussen lost his AAA debut as the Isotopes fell to the Express (Rangers) 5 to 2. Rasmussen's introduction to the Pacific Coast League was a rough one as 2 of the 5 hits he allowed left the yard, and his 4 walks didn't help as he gave up 5 runs in total. Jose Dominguez also made his Albuquerque debut in relief, and while he allowed 3 base runners on 2 walks and a hit, he didn't permit a run to score. At the dish Elian Herrera had a 2-run homer in the 3rd, but that accounted for all of the Isotope scoring. Brian Barten and Rusty Ryal had two hits each while Dee Gordon went 1 for 4 with a double.
AA Game 1 – While the Lookouts had the lead when this game was suspended on Sunday, the Generals (Mariners) came back to win 5 - 4 when the contest was completed on Monday. Onelki Garcia picked up for Andres Santiago who threw an inning on Sunday, and while the left hander did not allow a hit over 3 scoreless frames, Garcia did walk 5 batters. Jharel Cotton then made his AA debut in the 5th inning but unfortunately he was hit with the loss after he allowed 4 hits and 3 runs (2 earned) over 2.2 frames. As I mentioned yesterday Rafael Ynoa was having a big game at the plate when the game was suspended, and it got even better on Monday as he finished the day 3 for 4 with a double and 2 homers. Blake Smith's solo shot drove in the other run for Chattanooga.
AA Game 2 – The Lookouts second game on Monday lasted just 7 innings, but that was still one inning too many as they fell 2 - 1 after Jackson (Mariners) had a walk-off single in the bottom of the 7th. The loss ruined a magnificent performance from Duke von Schamann who was making his first AA start of the year. Duke allowed just 1 run on 3 hits over 6 frames, striking out 10 and walking 0. He was pulled after allowing a double to lead off the 7th, then reliever Hector Nelo gave up two straight hits to lose the game. Chattanooga had just 3 hits themselves in this one with Sean Burroughs going 2 for 2 with a double and a RBI and Blake Smith connecting on a two-bagger as well.
HiA – The Quakes got dropped by the Storm (Padres) 9 to 5 on Monday to fall 4 games below .500. This game was over early as starter James Campbell got rocked for 7 runs in just 2 innings of work. Raydel Sanchez and Freddie Cabrera both worked 2 innings of relief and allowed a run each, while Daniel Coulombe did not give up a hit in his two frames. At the plate Jonathan Garcia doubled and hit yet another home run to give him 14 on the year, which is just 1 behind the California League leader. O'Koyea Dickson went 2 for 4 with a double, and Darnell Sweeney reached base 3 times and also stole his 23rd base of the year.
LoA – The Loons ran their winning streak to 5 games on Monday with a 5 - 3 victory over the Silver Hawks (Dbacks). All 5 of the Great Lakes runs came in the 4th inning, which was highlighted by Kevin Taylor's 2 out, 3-run homer. Earlier in the frame Pat Stover had driven in the other two runs with a double. Other than that the offense was quiet as the rest of the team managed just 3 singles. Corey Seager did not play, although I have not heard a reason why. On the mound Carlos Frias rebounded from a rough start last time out to allow 6 hits and 2 earned runs over 5 innings, although he did also walk 4. Owen Jones tossed 2 innings of hitless relief while striking out 3, and Craig Stem got the save with a perfect 9th.
DSL – Game was suspended due to rain after just 3 inning. At the time of the break the Astros were beating the Dodgers 3 to 0.
Coming up – Julio Urias and the Loons highlight the pitching probables on Tuesday, as do Ross Stripling and the Lookouts. Gustavo Gomez will throw for the Quakes and Blake Johnson will take the mound for the Isotopes.
Minor League Transactions – AAA: With Justin Sellers getting promoted, infielder Elevys Gonzalez was assigned to the Isotopes roster.
Dodgers beleaguered by continued use of Leaguer as closer
By Eric Stephen
Manager Don Mattingly continued to stick by Brandon League after his latest poor outing on Monday night.
Brandon League continued his poor season on Monday night, as the soon to be former closer allowed four runs in the ninth inning to blow a much needed win as the Dodgers lost 5-4 at Dodger Stadium.
Against Arizona the Dodgers have lost five straight, eight of their last nine, and 16 of their last 19 meetings.
It looked like things were going to end differently, as the Dodgers entered the ninth inning with a 3-1 advantage. But League retired just two of his seven batters faced, and blew his fourth save. League has two other losses, a 6.00 ERA, and has allowed a run in 11 of his 24 outings this season.
Opposing batters are hitting .304/.350/.479 off League.
League simply can't be allowed to close games anymore, but his problem is emblematic of the 2013 Dodgers. The high-priced players for the most part are either injured or not performing, or both. But as satisfying and simple as the solution of releasing League and his $22.5 million contract might be, the fact is that the Dodgers will need him to get outs at certain parts of the game, because Chris Withrow, Steven Ames or Josh Wall aren't appreciably better, if at all.
Those outs just shouldn't come in the ninth, or even the eighth, at least not any time soon.
But the loss was doubly frustrating because the Dodgers rallied themselves in the ninth. Down 5-3, Juan Uribe homered to pull the Dodgers within one, then they put runners at the corners with nobody out against Heath Bell. But the rally died with a shallow fly out, a strikeout and a bouncer back to the box, and the Dodgers lost, with Yasiel Puig on deck.
In many of the other lopsided matchups, and the Dodgers got just about all of them to fall in their favor.
Mark Ellis, who snapped an 0-for-17 skid on Sunday, returned to the second spot in the batting order Monday night and was 3-for-4, including 2-for-2 with a home run and a walk against Arizona starter Wade Miley. In his career, Ellis is 10-for-20 (.500) against Miley with four home runs.
Clayton Kershaw quieted the red-hot bat of Paul Goldschmidt, the National League RBI leader hitting .320/.398/.589 entering play. Goldschmidt was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts against Kershaw on Monday and in his career is 2-for-20 against the left-hander with nine strikeouts.
Yasiel Puig continued his dominance against, well everyone. Puig was 3-for-4 on Monday and is hitting .500/.515/.938 (16-for-32) through his first eight games. He was 2-for-3 against Miley and against left-handed pitchers this season Puig is hitting .588 (10-for-17) with two home runs and two doubles.
Jerr Hairston started batting fifth for the seventh time this year, and picked up his second three-hit game of the season. In his seven starts batting fifth this year Hairston is hitting .400 (10-for-25).
Notes -
Monday was Kershaw's seventh game this season of at least seven innings with zero or one run allowed. That is tied for most in the majors with Matt Harvey of New York.
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Kershaw lowered his ERA to 1.88 on the season, taking over the National League lead from Shelby Miller of St. Louis (1.91).
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Per Elias, Puig now holds the Dodgers record for most hits through 8 games, with 16. The previous record was 13, shared by Gibby Brack (1937) and Ben Geraghty (1936)
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Puig's six multi-hit games are the most ever by a Dodger through eight games.
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Skip Schumaker entered the game late in a double switch and had a sacrifice bunt in the ninth inning. Since that was his only plate appearance, his hitting streak remains alive, still at 15 games.
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Former UCLA right-hander Charles Brewer, just recalled from Triple-A Reno on Monday,made his major league debut and pitched a perfect seventh inning, including a strikeout of Justin Sellers. Tim Federowicz greeted him with an opposite field drive, but right fielder Gerardo Parra caught it at the top of the right field wall to prevent extra bases. Brewer also pitched the eighth and loaded the bases with nobody out, but got out of it unscathed with the help of Tony Sipp and a bad call by first base umpire Clint Fagan.
Up next
Zack Greinke gets the call on Tuesday for the Dodgers in the middle game of the series, facing former USC pitcher Ian Kennedy.
Monday particulars
Home run: Mark Ellis (3), Juan Uribe (3)
WP - Tony Sipp (3-1): 1 up, 1 down
LP - Brandon League (2-3): ⅔ IP, 4 hits, 4 runs, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
Sv - Heath Bell (12): 1 IP, 2 hits, 1 run, 1 strikeout
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