Daily Clips

June 19, 2017

LOS ANGELES DODGERS DAILY CLIPS MONDAY, JUNE 19, 2017

DODGERS.COM With extra day of rest, Kershaw gets Mets - Ken Gurnick Dodgers recall Stewart, option Ravin - Ken Gurnick Got it Maeda: Kenta deals, slugs in win - Ken Gurnick 6 XBHs, Enrique's catch seal Dodgers sweep - Jeremy Vernon and Ken Gurnick LA TIMES Dodgers President Stan Kasten understands the task before Jeanie Buss - Tania Ganguli Enrique Hernandez helps Dodgers hang on to beat Reds, 8-7 - Andy McCullough Dodgers' Logan Forsythe tries to get a line on his hitting - Andy McCullough OC REGISTER Logan Forsythe, Justin Turner homer as Dodgers hold on to beat Reds, 8-7 - The Associated Press On Deck: Mets at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m. - J.P. Hoornstra ESPN Cody Bellinger looks like the game's next great power hitter - David Schoenfield TRUE BLUE LA Matt Herges talks about Julio Urias and Wilmer Font - Craig Minami Dodgers hold on to finish off season sweep of Reds - Eric Stephen Dodgers claim Peter O’Brien off waivers from Rangers - Eric Stephen Kyle Farmer goes 3-for-4 in OKC loss, has 1.015 OPS since promotion – Craig Minami Dodgers Week 11: Ohio stampede - Eric Stephen DODGER INSIDER Dodgers add long relief arm in Stewart for finale vs. Reds - Rowan Kavner Hernández doubles twice, saves game defensively on Father’s Day - Rowan Kavner NBC LA Dodgers Hang on to Complete Season Sweep of Reds on Father's Day - Michael Duarte LA TIMES Dodgers Dugout: Joe Davis answers your questions - Houston Mitchell

LOS ANGELES DODGERS DAILY CLIPS

MONDAY, JUNE 19, 2017

DODGERS.COM With extra day of rest, Kershaw gets Mets By Ken Gurnick The Dodgers are making sure things don't get any easier for the Mets coming off New York's series against the NL East-leading Nationals. L.A. pushed back ace Clayton Kershaw one day just so he could start Monday night's four-game series opener against the Mets at Dodger Stadium. Los Angeles isn't picking on New York -- they just wanted to give Kershaw an extra day of rest. Regardless, it means the Mets will be facing the three-time Cy Young winner, who already has nine wins this year and is coming off seven solid innings in Cleveland. In 13 career starts against the Mets, he's 8-1 with a 1.49 ERA while limiting hitters to a .177/.245/.237 slashline. The Mets will start Zack Wheeler, who is winless in his last four starts on the comeback from Tommy John surgery. In his last start, the shortest of his career, Wheeler allowed the Cubs a career-high eight runs in 1 2/3 innings. Wheeler has never faced the Dodgers. Three things to know about this game • After getting a Sunday day game off, catcher Yasmani Grandal and left fielder Chris Taylor are expected to return to the Dodgers lineup. Grandal is 2-for-5 with a homer off Wheeler. • Lucas Duda is 1-for-11 with eight strikeouts and Yoenis Cespedes is 0-for-9 with three strikeouts in their careers against Kershaw. • The Mets have never swept the Dodgers in a four-game series at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers last swept the Mets in a four-game series at Dodger Stadium in 1979. Dodgers recall Stewart, option Ravin By Ken Gurnick CINCINNATI -- Although pitcher Brock Stewart was still in transit, the Dodgers on Sunday announced his recall from Triple-A Oklahoma City and optioned reliever Josh Ravin. "He'll be here at some point in time this afternoon," manager Dave Roberts said Sunday. "We want him here for coverage, in case something funky happens and we have a seven-man bullpen."

With a bad weather report for Sunday, Roberts wanted to have a multi-innings reliever on hand in case starting pitcher Kenta Maeda had a short start or one delayed by rain. With Maeda coming off three consecutive outings of four innings, the Dodgers needed a long reliever for coverage. Ravin pitched two scoreless innings on Saturday and Ross Stripling, who had been the club's long reliever, was optioned to OKC on Friday after yielding home runs in back-to-back outings. Although Stewart has been starting for OKC, Roberts said his initial Dodgers role would be long relief. Stewart -- ranked by MLBPipeline.com as the Dodgers' No. 7 prospect -- began the season on the disabled list after developing right shoulder tendinitis in Spring Training. Stewart has made three starts at OKC and one rehab start at Rancho Cucamonga this year, with a combined ERA of 5.19 but also 14 strikeouts in 8 2/3 innings. Stewart began last year at High A, but raced through the system to make five Major League starts for the Dodgers. Got it Maeda: Kenta deals, slugs in win By Ken Gurnick CINCINNATI -- The more the Dodgers bullpen pitched on Sunday, the better Kenta Maeda's five-inning start looked. Maeda (5-3) got the win as the Dodgers held on to sweep the Reds again, 8-7, after nearly blowing a seven-run lead because the Dodgers bullpen allowed three homers. Kenley Jansen restored order, pitching a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts for his 15th save and extending his MLB record for strikeouts to start a season without a walk to 50. Maeda was making his first spot start since being relegated to the bullpen because of, coincidentally, short starts. He was perfect through three innings, minimized damage with the bases loaded in the fourth to allow only one run -- thanks to Yasiel Puig's four-star Statcast™ catch -- and was removed by manager Dave Roberts after five innings with a 5-1 lead. "Kenta came out today aggressive, attacking the strike zone as we had talked about, but I wanted to be mindful of his workload, so I felt what he gave us was plenty and I trust the bullpen," said Roberts, who declined to say what role is next for Maeda. "It was awesome, a huge play for Puig," said Maeda, who added a two-run double at the plate and said he could have pitched longer than 78 pitches. Roberts, however, said he didn't want to push Maeda in his first start in two weeks. The 5-1 lead when Maeda left was extended by Justin Turner's three-run homer in the sixth, so how in the world did that turn into a Jansen save?

It begins with the decision to send down Josh Ravin, who pitched two innings in Hyun-Jin Ryu's five-inning start on Saturday, and replace him with Brock Stewart, whose first available flight from Colorado was delayed by weather. Roberts acknowledged he probably would have piggybacked Stewart, a starter at Triple-A, to follow Maeda if he had arrived in time. But even with his agent driving him from the airport in nearby Kentucky to the ballpark, Stewart didn't show up in the Dodgers bullpen until the seventh inning. Instead, Grant Dayton, Josh Fields and Pedro Baez started the next three innings, and were taken deep respectively by Adam Duvall, Scooter Gennett and Eugenio Suarez. Fields, a workhorse in April and May, has now allowed five homers in his last 4 2/3 innings. "Our bullpen has been lights-out all year and they put good at-bats together," Roberts said of the Reds. Making the late innings even more dicey, Roberts decided before the game that he wouldn't use Jansen for a four-out save. Even after Suarez's homer he left in Baez, who needed a game-saving catch from left fielder Enrique Hernandez against the wall on a Joey Votto drive that ended the eighth inning. After Suarez's homer, the bullpen phone rang and the call was to warm up Chris Hatcher, although Jansen assumed it was for him and he jumped up, only to stare at the dugout in disbelief. "I didn't want to use Kenley for four outs. I've gone to that well a lot," said Roberts, who has done it six times this year. "I trust Petey. I think Kenley's workload has been enough." "I appreciate [Roberts] doing a terrific job to protect me, but when it gets close I want that ball," said Jansen. "But I know how much they care. They want me to pitch for a long time." No doubt. 6 XBHs, Enrique's catch seal Dodgers sweep By Jeremy Vernon and Ken Gurnick CINCINNATI -- The Dodgers and Reds seem to be going in opposite directions after another Los Angeles victory on Sunday. With the 8-7 win, the Dodgers swept Cincinnati for the second time in a week. This marks the ninth loss in a row for the Reds, tying the longest losing streak by a Major League team this season, while Los Angeles has won nine of its last 10. Facing an 8-2 deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Reds showed their first signs of life all series. After Tucker Barnhart and Patrick Kivlehan reached base to open the inning, Scooter Gennett came through two batters later with a three-run home run to right field to make it 8-5. Eugenio Suarez led off the bottom of the next inning with a homer, and a pair of doubles from Arismendy Alcantara and Billy Hamilton made it 8-7. That would be as close as the Reds would get to avoiding the sweep, however, as Enrique Hernandez made a leaping catch at the wall on a Joey Votto flyball to end the inning and thwart the comeback attempt.

"Hernandez makes the play of the year going up against the wall with [two on] and two outs, which definitely would have given us the lead with the chance to close it out with [Raisel Iglesias]," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "So hats off to the Dodgers. They really won the game. It wasn't like we really gave it to them. They went out and won it." Los Angeles jumped out to an early lead for the third day in a row, stringing together four two-out hits on Reds starter Bronson Arroyo in the second inning for three runs. In the next inning, Logan Forsythe drove in two more with a mammoth 442-foot home run -- his longest since Statcast™ was introduced in 2015. Forsythe, who came in hitting .127 against right-handed pitchers with more than three times as many strikeouts (33) as hits (10), was 2-for-5 against Reds righties on Sunday. He's been working on his swing ever since returning from a month on the disabled list with a broken toe and a strained hamstring. "The last couple of games the timing's been a little bit better," said Forsythe. "I'm getting into a position where I can actually fire and be a little more aggressive. The work is starting to pay off, and the suggestions from about everybody. It's been a long road. Haven't been in a slump like that for a long time." Arroyo's day was done after the third inning, making it his shortest outing since 2010. He allowed seven hits and five runs, raising his MLB-worst ERA to 7.35. Opposite Arroyo, Kenta Maeda was very effective in his first spot start since being demoted to the bullpen on June 10. The right-hander tossed five innings of one-run ball, giving up just three hits and striking out five. MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Reds squander opportunity: Trailing 5-0 entering the bottom of the fourth, the Reds managed to load the bases with one out against Maeda. They scratched across one run after Maeda hit Scott Schebler with an inside fastball, but weren't able to chip away any further. After Schebler's at-bat, Suarez lifted a ball into shallow-right, but Yasiel Puig traveled 20 feet in 2.5 seconds to make a four-star catch and stop at least one run from scoring. Alcantara then grounded out to second to end the inning. "My catch was nothing. Kiké's catch was the best," said Puig. "Anybody can make my catch. Kiké's catch, I like that one more. My catch, I don't get any hits, so I have to do something to help my team." Hernandez's game-saving catch: Trailing 8-7 in the bottom of the eighth, the Reds looked poised to take the lead when Votto lifted a ball high and deep to left field with two runners on base. But Hernandez made sure they wouldn't, leaping at the wall to corral the ball and end the inning. Afterward, Hernandez turned to the fans in the right-field seats and raised his glove to show that, yes, he really caught that. "I was playing pretty shallow and Joey Votto is a good enough hitter that I didn't want him to shoot one the other way," said Hernandez. "The fans were talking a lot of trash, so if there was a ball hit anywhere near me, I had to catch it or throw him out at the plate. Off the bat I had a pretty good jump, but I didn't realize how shallow I was. I felt like I ran forever." In addition to the game-saving catch, Hernandez also had two doubles and two walks in the win.

QUOTABLE "It ended up being a much better game and much more entertaining game than anyone would have anticipated, but no one wants to talk about it when you're losing, no one wants to talk about the effort. But I do, because it makes a difference. It makes a difference to the guys who are still playing hard." -- Price, on his team's ability to once again make the game close WHAT'S NEXT Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw starts Monday night's 7:10 p.m. PT series opener against the Mets. The Dodgers will like their chances: in 13 career starts against the Mets, Kershaw is 8-1 with a 1.49 ERA, limiting hitters to a .177/.245/.237 slashline. Kershaw will be pitching with an extra day of rest, as well. Catcher Yasmani Grandal and left fielder Chris Taylor are expected back in the lineup after getting Sunday's game off. Reds: Scott Feldman takes the mound for Monday's 7:10 p.m. ET series opener between the Reds and the Rays, which is just the 13th all-time meeting between the two teams. Feldman has had his share of problems with Rays batters over his career, as they have a combined .314 average and .848 OPS against the right-hander.

LA TIMES

Dodgers President Stan Kasten understands the task before Jeanie Buss By Tania Ganguli When Stan Kasten entered the Los Angeles sports scene in 2012, as part of the group buying the Dodgers, he was keenly aware of the stakes. They bought a franchise that had filed for bankruptcy protection earlier in the year from an owner whose standing in major league baseball had taken a hit. Returning the once-proud franchise, that meant so much to Los Angeles, to respectability would mean so much. “From a distance this was always one of those franchises you held in such a high regard,” said Kasten, the Dodgers president and co-owner. “Such a special place among all franchises in any sport, and clearly the Lakers are the same kind of franchise.” Kasten succeeded. The Dodgers haven’t won a championship with this ownership group yet, but they have finished first in the NL West for the past four seasons. He believes Lakers owner Jeanie Buss is well equipped to succeed as well. Kasten has known Buss since her family entered the NBA in 1979. He was an executive for the Atlanta Hawks from 1979 to 1990.

“I think she has great credibility from having been associated with and instrumental in so much of their success over such a long period of time,” Kasten said. “I think everyone around her in the organization has tremendous confidence in her... the decisions she’s made have been decisive and really smart and I think people can already attribute that to success.” To succeed in a rebuild, Kasten believes a team’s fans must be brought along for the ride. “When we came in we made a point of first of all focusing on our long-term plan to achieve long-term success,” Kasten said. “We were lucky to also have immediate success. But having that long term plan and then articulating to your fans what you’re going to do, if you do that clearly your fans are going to be there for you.” There, he feels Buss has a head start. “The best thing Jeanie has going for her, apart form the fact that she has been around more success than anyone in the world, she’s blessed with maybe the most loyal, patient fan base anywhere in the world,” Kasten said. “They have continued to stick with the Lakers and that’s critical. They are just ready to embrace it even more fully. … I know they don’t think they’re patient but they’ve been extraordinarily patient.” The idea that fans in Los Angeles create extra pressure because of the expectation for championships can be exaggerated, Kasten said. He believes all executives feel that same pressure to win. He added: “If you are good at what you do, and Jeanie is, you can block out any extraneous unhelpful pressure.” Enrique Hernandez helps Dodgers hang on to beat Reds, 8-7 By Andy McCullough The game caused irritation and exhaustion. A delayed flight in Denver disrupted the Dodgers’ plans for the afternoon. A trio of relief blowups caused a seven-run lead to shrivel to one. And in the eighth inning of an 8-7 victory over the Reds, the outcome hung in doubt as a drive soared off the bat of Cincinnati slugger Joey Votto. Standing in left field, Enrique Hernandez squinted through the afternoon sun and sprinted toward the wall. At the warning track, he leaped. He rotated his body so his back collided with an advertisement for Barbasol. He fell to one knee, then squeezed the baseball in his glove. As he jogged back toward his dugout, he turned to wave at the fans who had been razzing him as Cincinnati attempted a comeback. “Luckily, it was the soft part of the wall,” Hernandez said. “It didn’t get me too bad.” Luck should not have played much of a role in Sunday’s result. The Dodgers stormed out to an early lead thanks to a two-run double by Kenta Maeda and a two-run homer by Logan Forsythe against 40-year-old Reds starter Bronson Arroyo. The lead expanded to seven when Justin Turner swatted a three-run homer in the sixth.

Maeda had suppressed the Reds for five innings of one-run baseball. From there, though, the Dodgers bullpen nearly crumbled. Stuck on the tarmac, recent call-up Brock Stewart did not arrive at Great American Ball Park until the sixth inning, forcing the Dodgers to adjust. Grant Dayton gave up a solo homer in the sixth. Josh Fields gave up a homer for the fourth time in his last five outings — this one a three-run shot to Reds second baseman Scooter Gennett. Pedro Baez yielded a solo homer, then an RBI double, then gave up a rocket to Votto with the tying run at second base. Hernandez tracked the ball down and helped the Dodgers (44-26) escape. The team went 5-1 on this trip, and have swept the season series with Cincinnati. Manager Dave Roberts chose not to use Kenley Jansen for a multi-inning save, even as Jansen clamored to intervene in the eighth. He would settle for the ninth, dusting off three hitters for his 15th save in 2017. “It got a little too close for us,” Roberts said. “But [Cincinnati] is a good offensive club, and we’ve had our way with them, played well against them. They were bound to break out at some point.” The Dodgers still weathered the storm. The offense booted Arroyo from the game after three innings. In the second, Maeda ripped a hanging curveball for two runs and Joc Pederson stroked an RBI single. An inning later, Forsythe bashed another curveball for his second homer as a Dodger, and the 23rd given up this season by Arroyo. Maeda gave up a run in the fourth when he clipped former Dodger Scott Schebler with a pitch with the bases loaded. He escaped, in part, when Yasiel Puig dived to snag a liner off the bat of third baseman Eugenio Suarez. “It was an awesome play, a huge play for Puig,” Maeda said. Maeda threw 78 pitches, but as he was operating as a spot starter, Roberts did not want to extend him beyond the fifth. When Turner punished a 95-mph fastball from Wandy Peralta in the sixth, the Dodgers appeared capable of cruising to a sweep. The game did not cooperate. Neither did the vagaries of airline travel. On Saturday, the team optioned Josh Ravin after a two-inning outing. In his place, Stewart came up. Built up as a starter, Stewart could have piggy-backed with Maeda and protected the other relievers. That appeared to be the plan. Only with triple-A Oklahoma City playing in Colorado Springs, there were no commercial flights to connect on Saturday night, according to a team official. Stewart had to fly on the morning of the game. He was set to land at 12:17 p.m., he said, but a delay kept him from hitting the tarmac until 1:53 p.m. Stewart did not reach the ballpark until the top of the sixth inning. By then, Dayton was already warming up to pitch. Reds outfielder Adam Duvall tagged a 93-mph fastball for a homer. A save opportunity arose in the seventh when Fields stumbled again. He issued a walk, gave up a single and then saw Gennett cut the lead to three. Fields has an 11.12 earned-run average in June. “I don’t think it’s mental — he’s still confident,” Roberts said. “And I don’t think it’s health or mechanics. I think it’s just the execution.”

Baez only made the afternoon worse. Suarez hammered a 97-mph fastball for one run. A second scored after doubles by shortstop Arismendy Alcantara and outfielder Billy Hamilton. Roberts conferred with Baez on the mound, then let him face Gennett. Baez walked Gennett on four pitches. As Baez labored, the bullpen phone rang. Jansen jumped up, expecting a four-out save. Instead, Chris Hatcher started to warm up. Jansen raised his arms and waved a towel in frustration. After a moment, he too was told to loosen up. “I definitely wanted the ball,” Jansen said. “I want the ball at any time, to pick my boys up. It’s just the fighter in me. But it’s a great job that Doc continues to give those guys a shot to step up and close it.” Wary of over-using Jansen, Roberts let Baez face Votto. Hernandez crashed into the wall to preserve the lead. After a start in which so much went right, the Dodgers survived an afternoon in which so much went wrong. Dodgers' Logan Forsythe tries to get a line on his hitting By Andy McCullough Life is not easy when you reside beneath the Mendoza line. On June 6, Dodgers infielder Logan Forsythe sunk to .198. During the next two weeks, with the exception of a one-hit, three-walk outing in Cleveland, he ended every evening still hitting less than .200. In the Dodgers’ 8-7 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, Forsythe appeared to show signs of recovery. He recorded his first multihit game in June. He supplied a two-run homer against soft-tossing veteran Bronson Arroyo. It was his second home run as a Dodger, and it allowed him to feel the satisfaction of success after weeks of tweaking his swing. “It’s been a long road,” Forsythe said. “I haven’t been in a slump for this long in a long time.” One game will not resurrect his season. Forsythe still finished Sunday batting .200. But it was still a productive day in a season without many of those. Little has gone right for Forsythe this season. A misplaced fastball broke his foot in April. He spent a month on the disabled list. Upon his return, Forsythe lacked balance in his swing, manager Dave Roberts has said. Roberts sounded encouraged after Sunday’s results. Hitting coach Turner Ward has worked with Forsythe about getting in a position to hit on time to make proper contact. “He’s having much better at-bats,” Roberts said. “It’s bound to come.” Short hops The Dodgers claimed outfielder Peter O’Brien off waivers from Texas and designated pitcher Jason Wheeler for assignment. O’Brien has batted .167 with six homers in the minors this season. Traded from

Arizona to Kansas City before the season, O’Brien bounced from the Royals to the Reds to the Rangers. He will be assigned to triple-A Oklahoma City.

OC REGISTER

Logan Forsythe, Justin Turner homer as Dodgers hold on to beat Reds, 8-7 By The Associated Press CINCINNATI — The shortest outing of Bronson Arroyo’s season might be the last of his career. The 40-year-old veteran right-hander was roughed up for five runs and seven hits in just three innings on Sunday as the Los Angeles Dodgers built a seven-run lead before holding on for an 8-7 win over the Cincinnati Reds. Arroyo (3-6), attempting a comeback this season with his former team after missing 2 1/2 seasons with arm and shoulder problems, including Tommy John surgery and a procedure on his shoulder, revealed after the game that he’d been receiving cortisone shots in his shoulder since spring training. “We tried to patch it up and it worked for a while, but I’ve been hit around the yard for a while now,” said Arroyo, admitting that he’s thought about possibly being near the end of a major league career that started back in 2000. “Have I thought ‘This time might be my last time on the field’? Yeah.” Arroyo, who gave up for nine runs and a career-high 13 hits in his last start at San Diego, planned to meet with manager Bryan Price either late on Sunday or sometime on Monday. “It’s not just a challenge with his stuff,” Price said. “It’s a physical challenge.” Logan Forsythe and Justin Turner homered, Kenta Maeda pitched five strong innings and drove in two runs and Kike Hernandez made a spectacular game-saving catch to lift the surging Dodgers to their ninth win in their last 10 games. “It got a little close for us,” Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said. “Our bullpen has been lights out all year. They put some good at-bats against us. Like I’ve said, that’s a very good offensive club. To get out of here with three (wins) is huge.” Cincinnati nearly rallied all the way back from an 8-1 deficit in the sixth inning. However, Hernandez went back to the left-field wall and made an awkward leaping grab of Joey Votto’s attempt at a go-ahead extra-base hit with runners on first and third in the eighth. Maeda (5-3), in his first appearance since June 9 and first start since June 4, allowed just three hits and one run in five innings to help the Dodgers complete a three-game sweep. “The team wanted me to be aggressive and pound the zone and that’s what happened,” Maeda said through an interpreter. “It took some time for me to start again, but I was able to get into a rhythm. I tried to stay aggressive and not change my plan with runners on base.”

Scooter Gennett hit a three-run home run, his first since he had a major-league record-tying four on June 6, and Adam Duvall and Eugenio Suarez each added solo shots for the Reds. Kenley Jansen got the last three outs for his 15th save Cincinnati scored more than three runs for the first time in six games, but still extended their longest losing streak of the season to nine games. Their skid, the longest since an 11-game streak in May 2016, started with a three-game sweep by the Dodgers in Los Angeles, setting up their first sweep of a season series with Cincinnati since 2006. The Dodgers scored all of their runs with two outs, including Forsythe’s two-run drive in the third inning and Turner’s three-run shot in the sixth. Both of those shots reached the upper deck in left field and gave the Dodgers seven homers in the series. HELLO, GOODBYE Dodgers RHP Josh Ravin was recalled on Friday, pitched two innings of relief on Saturday and was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday when RHP Brock Stewart was recalled from Oklahoma City. STILL HOT After getting Saturday off, Los Angeles 3B Justin Turner wasted no time extending his hitting streak to 13 games, lining a first-inning single to left field. Turner strung together a career-high 16-game streak in April. TRACKING IT DOWN Reds CF Billy Hamilton, a Gold Glove finalist each of the last three seasons, went a long way to the left-center field wall in the third inning to track down leadoff batter Justin Turner’s deep fly ball, snagging it with a backhand grab while glancing off the unbreakable glass in front of the Reds bullpen. STILL A THREAT Reds CF Billy Hamilton went into Sunday’s game leading the major leagues in stolen bases despite not swiping one in 13 games, the longest drought of his career and one he snapped with a steal of second in the fifth inning. On Deck: Mets at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m. By J.P. Hoornstra Where: Dodger Stadium TV: SNLA (where available) THE PITCHERS

DODGERS LHP CLAYTON KERSHAW (9-2, 2.23 ERA) vs. Mets: 7-0, 1.29 ERA, 11 starts, two shutouts At Dodger Stadium: 75-30, 2.01 ERA Hates to face: Jay Bruce, 5 for 20, two home runs Loves to face: Lucas Duda, 2 for 16 (.125), 11 strikeouts METS RHP ZACH WHEELER (3-4, 4.48 ERA) vs. Dodgers: He has never faced them before Hates to face: Yasmani Grandal, 2 for 5 (.400), home run Loves to face: Chase Utley, 3 for 13 (.231) UPCOMING MATCHUPS Tuesday: Mets RHP Robert Gsellman (5-4, 5.50 ERA) at Dodgers RHP Brandon McCarthy (5-3, 3.14 ERA), 7:10 p.m., SNLA, ESPN (where available) Wednesday: Mets TBA at Dodgers LHP Rich Hill (3-3, 5.14 ERA), 7:10 p.m., SNLA, ESPN (where available) Thursday: Mets LHP Steven Matz (1-1, 3.21 ERA) at Dodgers LHP Alex Wood (7-0, 1.90 ERA), 7:10 p.m., SNLA, MLB Network (where available)

ESPN

Cody Bellinger looks like the game's next great power hitter By David Schoenfield Let the record show that Cody Bellinger did not homer in his 50th career game in the majors, as he went 1-for-5 with a double and a run scored in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 8-7 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Hey, you can’t hit a home run every game, even though it feels like that’s what Bellinger did over the nine days in which he hit seven home runs in seven games, including two two-homer games. Through those first 50 games, the 21-year-old has hit .261 with 19 home runs -- most in the majors since he made his debut in April and tying Gary Sanchez’s record for most home runs through 50 games. A quick comparison of those two starts:

Bellinger: .261/.333/.628, 19 HRs, 10.0% BB rate, 30.5% SO rate, 45.6% fly ball rate Sanchez: .312/.384/.683, 19 HRs, 10.0% BB rate, 24.2% SO rate, 32.4% fly ball rate Sanchez had the better overall numbers due to a higher batting average that resulted in part from a lower strikeout rate, but also from a higher average on balls in play that weren’t home runs (.333 versus .283). Bellinger has the higher rate of fly balls, so in one sense you can argue that his power numbers were a little more legitimate since he has the more classic profile as a guy who lofts the ball. Indeed, Sanchez’s early home-run barrage was driven by an insane ratio of home runs to fly balls. His home runs were expected to regress in 2017 and they have, as he has hit 11 in 150 at-bats compared to 20 in 201 at-bats in 2016. His overall numbers are still excellent at .287/.371/.540, as he has maintained his strikeout and walk rates and he’s strong enough to still pop 30 home runs even with a fly ball rate that is right about league average. Bellinger, meanwhile, would have the seventh-highest fly ball rate if he had enough plate appearances to qualify. His ratio of home runs to fly balls would rank fifth, behind only Justin Bour, Ryan Zimmerman, Jake Lamb and Aaron Judge. His average home run distance of 401.4 feet is right about the MLB average of 400.5 feet, so he doesn’t have the raw power of a Judge (average home run distance of 414.1 feet), Joey Gallo (415.5 feet) or even teammate Corey Seager (419.4 feet). What he’s adept at doing, however, is pulling the ball. You don’t have to hit them as far when you do that. Compare his hit chart to Seager’s. Seager basically never pulls the balls in the air – at least this season. He was a little more effective last year, when he pulled 12 of his 26 home runs. Until he starts pulling ball more often, he’s going to be somewhat limited in his power upside. Bellinger is already doing this. Of course, pitchers will make adjustments, although based on this recent onslaught of home runs, I’d suggest Bellinger is the one already making adjustments. He has cut his strikeout rate slightly so far in June, from 34 percent in May to 28 percent. That’s a huge positive that shows, like Judge, he seems to be on a quick learning path. His walk rate may increase as well if pitchers start throwing to him a little more carefully. If you triple his numbers over a full season, you’re looking at 57 home runs in 150 games. Is he that good? Hey, these young hitters today are so smart and so polished -- Bellinger is one who has tailored his swing to produce a higher launch angle -- that you never want to say never. He’ll likely cool off at some point as the strikeout rate is still pretty high, which could make him prone to a lengthy slump, but the early returns appear that Bellinger looks like the game’s next great power hitter.

TRUE BLUE LA

Matt Herges talks about Julio Urias and Wilmer Font By Craig Minami OKLAHOMA CITY — I had the opportunity to catch up with Oklahoma City pitching coach Matt Herges, some of that conversation is going to be used in my daily reports as they will relate to the pitchers on the mound that day. However, here are the parts where we talked about Wilmer Font, Julio Urias and the importance of the OKC catching expertise is to their success. This interview has been slightly edited for clarity. Where is Julio Urias at right now this season and his development? “He’s talented enough to be there, to be in that rotation but we’ve still got to be careful, we’ve still got to be careful, we know that if we just said the reins are off just go be like everybody else, the risk of him getting hurt goes up just because of his age and the fact he throws the ball so violently hard, I mean he touched 97 a couple of times his last start.” “We have slow-played all throughout his career and which, right or wrong, and I mean you could have your opinion about that, but we have slowed-played it.” “So we are still kind of in that mode and we’re all looking forward to just that one day, where, okay, go just go be Julio Urias, pitch 200 innings in the big leagues, we’re waiting for that, we can’t wait for that but anytime he says he’s a little sore, the records skips and we need to get him checked out.” Herges first coached Urias back 2014 at Rancho Cucamonga, three years later, what changes have you seen? “Now I’m seeing a mature man, I mean he bought a car, he’s got a girlfriend.” “He’s just more of a man now.” “And the best part about it is, if you ask him, he’s a major league pitcher, and that’s where he should, and I want him to have that.” “I want him to have that mindset, I see a more mature man, I see a guy who continues to make tweaks and get better, because there are certain things that as a young kid like tipping pitches or not hiding the ball or direction, a ton of things that could go wrong that he fixes them quicker than anyone I’ve ever had, like just one little thing and it’s done.” Wilmer Font has had a great season so far, why do you think he has done so well this season? “I can’t speak about his previous years with any organization but we have freed him up, I think, to use his number one asset, as much as he wants to, and that’s the high fastball.” “He has better carry than just about anyone else in baseball, his elevation is elite, and we encourage him to do that.”

What is “carry?” “He has a fastball, it doesn’t go down, so when it comes out of his hands, it stays truer longer than most peoples.” “Now some people say that is because it’s high spin, some people say maybe his spin isn’t as high as a lot of people but it just seems to carry.” “Now whether that’s extension or how the ball just comes out of his hand, for whatever reason it plays up at the elite level.” Why has giving Font the green light to throw his high fastball impact his performance so much? “I think his whole life, it’s probably been you got to throw the ball down, you got to the throw the ball down, and that’s harder to do for some guys than for others.” “So we’ve opened that up for him and we have encouraged him to throw his curveball on 0-0 counts.” What are Font’s strengths? “He can command both sides of the plate with his fastball, he can both sides of the plate with his slider. He’s got a split-finger that goes straight down and he’s got the elite elevation.” “So getting strike one, no matter how he gets it, sets up everything. Now, if it’s curveball, studies show very rarely does someone swing at a first pitch curveball, for whatever reason, no one sits on it, it’s just a free strike, we call it a free strike, you land a first pitch curveball, it’s a free strike.” “Now he has all these weapons to get two strikes, and that why he has all of those strikeouts, he’s leading the league by like at least 20.” Do you think Font will get an opportunity to pitch for Los Angeles this year? “Here’s the thing, does he deserve to be in the major leagues right now, the answer is 100% yes. The one thing that is probably blocking it right now is that he is not on the 40-man roster, they’re going to take somebody off the roster, put someone on the 60-day, there’s a lot that things that happen to add somebody.” “Now he’s knocking that door down, he’s pushing that envelope as well as anyone I’ve ever seen who’s not been on a roster, he’s forcing their hand big time.” “I’m pushing for it, I don’t make those decisions, but anytime they ask me, this guy is ready, he’s ready to roll.” What role do you see him in at the next level and how would his stuff play as a one-inning pitcher? “He can start for you. He can pick up long middle innings.”

Asked could he be a one-inning pitcher, Herges responded, “That’s something that I think about, I mean he could sit on 99, he’s got that in him, I mean he’s touching 97 multiple times a game.” “That’s why I think it would work in any role, the ability to land a curveball, the ability to control both sides of the plate with his slider and the split-finger is rarely thrown for a strike and with the elite elevation, there’s not a role he can’t do in my mind.” Oklahoma City’s pitching staff leads the league in strikeouts and has the second lowest amount of walks, is there anything you can attribute that to? “I can honestly tell you, I would love to be able to take credit for that, but there’s no way I can because there are multiple reasons and the first reason for me is that they have given us quality arms, quality pitchers and two, probably equally important, is the catchers we have here are next level, they are wonderful game callers.” “They follow a game plan, they can swerve off a game plan if they see something and that’s the one thing, I’ll tell you. “We go over scouting reports and I’ll tell them, if you see something, trust it because I trust them more than what I have seen on paper.” “Bobby Wilson, Murphy, Kyle Farmer who’s coming on, Barnes last year, these are guys that make my job so much easier, because I don’t have to worry about what he’s going to throw now. Very rarely am I sitting there going why did he throw that pitch, that’s never what it is, it always the execution of that pitch or the location of it. “We’ve got great catching, that’s got to be something we’re doing organizationally with our catchers, we’re making them more aware of the importance of calling a game.” Dodgers hold on to finish off season sweep of Reds By Eric Stephen The Dodgers finished off their season sweep of the Reds with an 8-7 win on Sunday in a blowout that got a little too close for comfort in Cincinnati. With Bronson Arroyo on the mound, the Dodgers had to like their chances at sweeping the Reds for a second consecutive weekend. But because baseball always has surprises in store, Arroyo struck out three batters in the first inning. The Dodgers got to Arroyo very soon after though, plating three runs with four consecutive hits in the second innings, including a two-run double by pitcher Kenta Maeda. In the third inning, Logan Forsythe rocketed a ball into the second deck in left field to widen the lead at 5-0, helping to end Arroyo’s day after just three innings. Justin Turner, who had a drive to the center field wall tracked down by Billy Hamilton in the third inning, launched a three-run home run in the sixth, widening the Dodgers’ lead to 8-1.

Turner had two hits and a walk, and is batting a sublime .385/.464/.521 on the season. He also owns a 13-game hitting streak. Turner had a 16-game hitting streak earlier in the season. For starters Maeda was aggressive around the plate on Sunday, throwing 54 of his 78 pitches for strikes, and allowed just one run on three hits in five innings, with five strikeouts and one walk. One of the large differences between the Dodgers and Reds in their six meetings this season has been the performances from the starting pitchers. Reds starters posted a 8.06 ERA against the Dodgers this season while averaging just 3.72 innings per start. They allowed eight home runs. Dodgers starters had a 3.31 ERA against the Reds while averaging 5.44 innings per start. They allowed four home runs. Shaky relief The 8-1 lead almost nearly completely evaporated as the Reds feasted off the Dodgers bullpen. A solo home run by Adam Duvall in the sixth against Grant Dayton cut the lead to 8-2, then things got a little worrisome when four-homer man Scooter Gennett took Josh Fields out for a three-run shot in the seventh inning to make it 8-5. Fields has allowed a home run in four of his last five outings, five home runs in all in 4 innings. During that span he has allowed seven runs to his own ledger — plus five inherited runs — watching his ERA balloon from 0.81 to 3.00. Things got even more serious in the eighth inning when the Reds scored two against Pedro Baez to cut the lead to 8-7, and they threatened for even more. Cincinnati had two runners on base with two outs when Joey Votto launched a drive to the wall in left field that most likely would have given the Reds the lead had Kiké Hernandez made a sprawling catch to save the day. Hernandez also walked twice Sunday and had two doubles, giving him a whopping 17 doubles on the season, one off Corey Seager’s team lead. Jansen watch Kenley Jansen was able to bring some normalcy to the ninth inning, closing things out for his 15th save of the season. He struck out two, giving him an absurd 50 strikeouts and no walks in 29⅔ innings in 2017. The trek Brock Stewart, who was recalled from Oklahoma City before the game, was still en route to Great American Ball Park during the game. But thanks to his aptly-named agent, Stewart made it in time to warm up in the bullpen in the seventh inning. Stewart did not pitch in the game. Up next

The Dodgers return home for a nine-game homestand, beginning with four games against the Mets. On Monday, Clayton Kershaw starts for the Dodgers in a 7:10 p.m. PT game, with Zack Wheeler on the mound for New York. Sunday particulars Home runs: Logan Forsythe (2), Justin Turner (3); Adam Duvall (16), Scooter Gennett (8), Eugenio Suarez (11) WP - Kenta Maeda (5-3): 5 IP, 3 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts LP - Bronson Arroyo (3-6): 3 IP, 7 hits, 5 runs, 3 strikeouts Sv - Kenley Jansen (15): 1 IP, 2 strikeouts Dodgers claim Peter O’Brien off waivers from Rangers By Eric Stephen LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers on Sunday claimed outfielder Peter O’Brien off waivers from the Rangers, and designated pitcher Jason Wheeler for assignment. It has been a busy transactional year for O’Brien, who was traded by the Diamondbacks to the Royals in January. He has been claimed off waivers three times in the last five weeks, spending time in Triple-A with the Reds and Rangers in addition to Kansas City. O’Brien is a feast-or-famine, right-handed power hitter, with one home run every 19.1 plate appearances in his minor league career, coupled with a 27.4% strikeout rate. O’Brien, who turns 27 on July 15, was hitting just .167/.254/.301 with six home runs in 48 minor league games in 2017, with 62 strikeouts and 21 walks in 209 plate appearances. He spent parts of 2015 and 2016 in the majors with Arizona, hitting .176/.228/.446 in 36 games, with six home runs and 32 strikeouts in 79 plate appearances. O’Brien is headed for Triple-A Oklahoma City. Wheeler was acquired from the Twins for cash on June 2, and pitched in three games with Oklahoma City, allowing 11 runs on 16 hits in 8⅔ innings, with three strikeouts and two walks. Kyle Farmer goes 3-for-4 in OKC loss, has 1.015 OPS since promotion By Craig Minami As the first half was ending for many players, Sunday saw only three Dodger affiliates saw action today and just one, Rancho Cucamonga, won.

The Dodgers Pioneer League affiliate, the Ogden Raptors, starts play tomorrow. The Rookie league regular seasons runs from Monday June 19th to Saturday September 9th. Player of the day Kyle Farmer went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a run scored and an RBI. Since his promotion to Oklahoma City in late May, he’s hitting .350/.395/.620 with seven doubles and five home runs. Triple-A Oklahoma City The Dodgers dropped the second game of their series at Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Brewers) losing 5-2 on Sunday. As noted above, Kyle Farmer had a good game at the plate but the rest of the offense wasn’t up to their recent success on Sunday. As for the rest of the recap, I’m going to do a slight detour and finish my chat with Oklahoma City pitching coach Matt Herges, today he’ll comment on Trevor Oaks, Brock Stewart and how he approaches the mindset of the relievers who go back and forth between Los Angeles and Oklahoma City. On Sunday, Oaks pitched six innings and he allowed five hits, three runs and one walk, he also struck out six. For the season, he has started 12 of the 13 games he’s pitched and in 71⅔ innings, Oaks has struck out 65 and walked 15. “Oaks is just now starting to come into the Oaks that we saw last year,” Herges said, “the innings eating, economical, attack the strike zone sinker-baller.” “He’s acquired a better cutter now, a cutter that has depth and he’s throwing his changeup, which is coming along nicely,” Herges said, “and we all think, the Dodger pitching people think, that in order to start at the big league level, he’s going to need a changeup, to go along with the sinker, and the cutter and the slider.” “So he’s taken that to heart and he’s really starting to feel comfortable with all of those pitches now and now the mindset is starting to get stronger.” On Sunday, Brock Stewart was recalled and it was reported that his role would be in long relief. When I asked Herges about Stewart, it was prior to his scratched scheduled start at Colorado Springs last Saturday. “Now he’s just ramping up in terms of pitches, we don’t want to take to fast because of the shoulder thing,” Herges said, “last time out he went 3⅓, hit his pitch limit which I believe was 50.” “I’m liking what I’m seeing,” Herges said, “I mean his fastball is playing at where it played last year, and that’s what got him to the big leagues, his changeup is an elite pitch and his slider is coming, it’s a work-in-progress but it’s getting better literally every time he goes out.” Finally, Herges spoke about the mindset of all the relievers that have travelled back and forth from Oklahoma City to Los Angeles.

“That’s easy because once they go up and they taste it,” Herges said, “their only thing is how do I get back.” “They know that is the only place to play, the only place to play,” Herges said, “so I don’t have to motivate them, they’re self-motivated.” “Now, the guys that maybe we signed free agents that are not our original Dodger people, that are here and they may feel like you know what I’m just here and I don’t know why I’m here and I’ve got no chance of being called up,” Herges said “those are the guys that I really have to encourage and bring along because truthfully, anybody in this clubhouse can be called up.” “If you have the hot hand, I really believe you are the guy going,” Herges said, “if they have a need and you are the hot hand, whether you are on the roster or not, you’re going to be called up and that’s all I tell them.” Double-A Tulsa The Drillers lost 11-4 to the Springfield Cardinals as just signed free agent pitch Chris Rearick took the loss on Sunday. Rearick, who had five Major League appearances for the Padres in 2015, did not pitch in any U.S. professional league in 2016, started for the Drillers and pitched five innings, giving up seven runs (five earned), nine hits, and two walks. Isaac Anderson gave up two runs in an inning of work while Karch Kowalczyk pitched two innings and gave two runs. Jose Miguel Fernandez had two hits, Johan Mieses hit his tenth home run and Matt Beaty hit his sixth home run of the season. Class-A Rancho Cucamonga The Quakes finished the first half with a 8-4 win over Lancaster JetHawks (Rockies) at LoanMart Field. Yusniel Diaz was the offensive star going 4-for-4 with a walk and three runs scored. Caleb Ferguson started and pitched five innings, he gave up eight hits, three runs (two earned) and walked one. He also struck out eight. Garrett Kennedy had three hits and Luke Raley had two hits and scored two runs. The Quakes start their three-day All-Star break on Monday, this year’s game at Visalia on Tuesday June 20th returns the game to an all-California League affair. Six Quakes made the squad with Luke Raley and Will Smith elected to start. The other Quakes on the team are California League home run leader Ibandel Isabel, outfielder DJ Peters and pitchers Dennis Santana and Caleb Ferguson.

Class-A Great Lakes The Loons and Bowling Green Hot Rods (Rays) game was postponed due to weather, a makeup date has not been announced. The Loons begin their All-Star Break and they won’t have to go far as they are hosting the 53rd Annual Midwest League All-Star Game on Tuesday at Dow Diamond. Three Loons are on the East All-Star squad, catcher Keibert Ruiz, pitcher Dustin May and infielder Brendon Davis. Transactions Triple-A: Los Angeles recalled right-handed pitcher Brock Stewart from Oklahoma City and optioned right-handed pitcher Josh Ravin to Oklahoma City; Oklahoma City activated right-handed pitcher Layne Somsen and first baseman Ike Davis from the 7-day disabled list. Double-A: Left-handed pitcher Chris Rearick assigned to Tulsa; Tulsa placed left-handed pitcher Michael Johnson on the 7-day disabled list. Sunday Scores Colorado Springs 5, Oklahoma City 2 Springfield 11, Tulsa 4 Rancho Cucamonga 8, Lancaster 4 Monday Schedule 4:30 p.m. PT: Tulsa (TBD) at Springfield Cardinals (Austin Gomber) 5:40 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Wilmer Font) at Colorado Springs (Michael Blazek) 6:05 p.m.: Ogden (TBD) at Orem Owlz [Angels] (TBD) Dodgers Week 11: Ohio stampede By Eric Stephen The Dodgers had quite an effective trip through Ohio last week, winning five of six games on the road against the Indians and Reds. The bullpen had a rough week, allowing more runs (17) than the starters (14), but the Dodgers offense was lively enough to sweep a lot under the rug, scoring more than six runs per game.

The Dodgers got to Andrew Miller not once but twice, and then swept the Reds to continue their recent dominance (17 wins in 19 games) against Cincinnati. With three straight road series wins, the Dodgers improved their away record to 19-16. Batter of the week Cody Bellinger continued his power surge with four more home runs, and joined Gary Sanchez as the only players in major league history with 19 home runs in their first 50 career games. There were a lot of contenders on offense — Justin Turner hit .400 with power, Yasiel Puig hit three home runs, and Chris Taylor drove in seven runs, all with an OPS over 1.000. Pitcher of the week Alex Wood tied a career high in pitching eight innings on Friday against the Reds, and only allowed a solo home run in the eighth, improving to 7-0 on the season. Honorable mention goes to Kenley Jansen, who retired 10 of 11 batters faced with seven strikeouts and four saves during the week. Week 11 results Record: 5-1 39 runs scored (6.50 per game) 31 runs allowed (5.17 per game) .604 pythagorean record Year to date Record: 44-26 348 runs scored (4.97 per game) 250 runs allowed (3.57 per game) .647 pythagorean record (45-25) Transactions Tuesday: For the second time this season, Adrian Gonzalez was placed on the 10-day disabled list, and outfielder Joc Pederson was activated from the DL. Friday: Josh Ravin got the call from Triple-A Oklahoma City, replacing Ross Stripling, who was optioned to Triple-A. Sunday: In a swap of long men in the bullpen, Brock Stewart was recalled from Triple-A while Josh Ravin was optioned to Oklahoma City. Sunday: Outfielder Peter O’Brien was claimed off waivers from the Rangers, and pitcher Jason Wheeler was designated for assignment. Game results Tuesday: Dodgers 7, Indians 5

Wednesday: Dodgers 6, Indians 4 Thursday: Indians 12, Dodgers 5 Friday: Dodgers 3, Reds 1 Saturday: Dodgers 10, Reds 2 Sunday: Dodgers 8, Reds 7 The week ahead The Dodgers run the Benny Agbayani gauntlet, hosting the Mets for four then welcoming the division rival Rockies to town for the weekend.

DODGER INSIDER

Dodgers add long relief arm in Stewart for finale vs. Reds By Rowan Kavner The Dodgers added another long relief arm to the bullpen prior to their series finale in Cincinnati. Right-hander Brock Stewart was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City, while right-hander Josh Ravin, who threw 30 pitches over two scoreless innings Saturday, was optioned to Triple-A OKC before Sunday’s game. “Just coverage,” manager Dave Roberts said to SportsNet LA’s Alanna Rizzo before the game. “You never know how this game’s going to go. If something happens, you want to make sure you have coverage.” That’s especially important with a possibility of inclement weather and delays during Sunday’s game. Stewart provides a fresh arm for the series finale, healthy now and beginning his first stint with the Dodgers this season after starting the year on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis. Stewart was reinstated June 7 and made three starts with Triple-A Oklahoma City, allowing three runs in 8 1/3 innings and striking out 13 without a walk. Roberts said Stewart ideally will be a starter, but for now, he’s needed as a long-relief man to add length in the bullpen. That’s particularly the case with Kenta Maeda, who went to the bullpen following his last start June 4, now back making a spot start for Sunday’s finale. Maeda pitched four innings in relief in his last appearance June 9, earning the first save of his career. Rare off day for Taylor

Roberts said he wanted to give Chris Taylor and Yasmani Grandal a breather on a day after a night game. It’s just the second game this month Taylor hasn’t started and his first since June 2. Taylor is currently on a five-game hitting streak, with seven RBI in his last four games. Left-handers have had success this year against Reds starter Bronson Arroyo, who’s allowed a league-high 22 home runs this year as he prepares to face a Dodger team that launched four home runs Saturday. Joc Pederson is in the leadoff spot after hitting one of those four homers yesterday. Pederson has a home run in each of his last two games. Roberts, who hasn’t played a game since 2008 in his age 36 season, was teammates with Arroyo in Boston 13 years ago. “That’s a former teammate,” Roberts said. “For him to still be making starts in the Major Leagues baffles me, but I tip my hat.” Sixth sweep? The Dodgers, who haven’t been swept at any point this year, look for their sixth sweep of the season and a series sweep this year against the Reds, a team they swept earlier this season back at Dodger Stadium from June 9–11. A win Sunday would mark the first time the Dodgers have recorded a series sweep against the Reds since 2006. The Dodgers enter Sunday 18–6 against the National League Central and 15–7 in day games this year. Happy Father’s Day The Dodgers and Major League Baseball celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday and the fight against prostate cancer, wearing specialty jerseys, caps and socks. MLB will donate all royalty payments from the sale of the specialty caps and jerseys to the Prostate Cancer Foundation and Stand Up To Cancer. Hernández doubles twice, saves game defensively on Father’s Day By Rowan Kavner

The text on his eye black read “❤ My Dad.” Of all days for Kiké Hernández to put together his most memorable performance of the year, it only made sense it was Father’s Day.

Hernández recorded two doubles and two walks before making a game-saving catch against the wall in left field to prevent what would’ve been a go-ahead hit from Joey Votto, helping preserve an 8–7 win and season series sweep Sunday against the Reds. Last year was a trying one for Hernández, whose father was diagnosed with cancer. In October, Hernández learned his father’s cancer was in remission. His feeling after saving the game and the sweep Sunday on Father’s Day? “Just happy,” Hernández said to SportsNet LA’s Alanna Rizzo. “Happy that my dad’s life is back to normal and happy I can look into the future and see my dad in my life. It was a little bit scary and eye-opening. I’m just glad that he’s OK and I’m able to put some good swings on Father’s Day.” Hernández helped the Dodgers ensure they wouldn’t set the wrong season high Sunday. They’d never lost a game when leading by more than three runs this year, and they were 34–3 when leading after seven innings entering the day. But they suddenly found a seven-run lead dwindle down to one after the Reds scored a run in the sixth inning, three runs in the seventh and two in the eighth off the Dodgers’ typically reliable bullpen. Kenta Maeda was strong in a spot start, not allowing his first hit until the fourth inning. He surrendered just one run on three hits and a walk while striking out five in five innings. Maeda was only at 78 pitches at the time, but manager Dave Roberts didn’t want to extend him beyond that, given Maeda’s workload the last couple weeks. He hadn’t started a game since June 4, but he didn’t look rusty. Many of the Dodger relievers behind him didn’t enjoy the same success, and Justin Turner’s three-run home run in the sixth inning became much more important than it seemed initially. Turner finished 2-for-4 and saw his OPS for the season continue to rise close to 1.000, now hitting .387/.467/.524 for the year. Logan Forsythe hit his first home run of the month and second of the year in the game, and Maeda became the Dodgers’ pitching leader in RBI this year (four) by helping himself out knocking in two runs with his first double of the year. All of those runs mattered, as Grant Dayton, Josh Fields and Pedro Baez each allowed a home run in late innings. After a two-strike double from Billy Hamilton off Baez, the Dodgers found themselves leading by just a run with a Reds runner in scoring position. That’s when Hernández saved the game, one of a medley of defensive gems the Dodgers conjured up. Earlier in the day, Yasiel Puig also saved multiple runs on a difficult grab in right field and subsequent throw home with the bases loaded with the Dodgers leading 5–1. Kenley Jansen finished off the win with a perfect ninth inning to give the Dodgers their ninth win in their last 10 days. He’s now struck out 50 batters without allowing a walk this year, bringing his WHIP for the year down to 0.57.

Making a claim The Dodgers claimed outfielder Peter O’Brien from the Rangers and designated left-handed pitcher Jason Wheeler for assignment Sunday. O’Brien will be assigned to Triple-A Oklahoma City. O’Brien was designated for assignment earlier this week. In 48 Triple-A games this season for Round Rock (Texas), Louisville (Cincinnati) and Omaha (Kansas City), he’s hit .167 with six home runs, five doubles and a triple. He was the Yankees’ second-round pick in 2012 and has hit 122 home runs in 561 career Minor League games the past six seasons. Wheeler was acquired in a trade with Minnesota on June 3 and appeared in three games (one start) for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers. Up Next: The Dodgers return home Monday to host the Mets, with Clayton Kershaw starting the series against Zach Wheeler.

NBC LA

Dodgers Hang on to Complete Season Sweep of Reds on Father's Day By Michael Duarte They came, they saw, they conquered. Logan Forsythe and Justin Turner both homered as the Los Angeles Dodgers hung on to beat the Cincinnati Reds, 9-8, to complete the three-game sweep on Father's Day at Great America Ball Park. Kenta Maeda got the start and then helped out his own cause when he knocked in the first two runs of the game with a two-run double in the top of the second inning. The first of two redheads homered in the top half of the third as Forsythe cranked a two-run shot off Cincinnati starter Bronson Arroyo. Arroyo would not return to the mound in the fourth, exiting stage left for Blake Wood. Arroyo was handed the loss, allowing five runs on seven hits with three strikeouts in just three innings. With the Dodgers ahead 5-1 in the sixth inning, it was the "Red Dream's" turn to go deep as Justin Turner broke the game open with a three-run homer, giving the Boys in Blue a commanding 8-1 lead. Maeda (5-3) left the game with the lead, allowing one run on three hits with one walk and five strikeouts in five innings. "Kenta came out aggressive and was pitching with aggression," sad Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts to a group of media members in his office after the game. "With his workload over the past week, I took him out early." However, the Reds would rally off the Dodgers normally lights out bullpen.

"It got a little too close for us," said Roberts. "This is a good offensive club and we've had our way with them, but they put some good at-bats together against our bullpen." Cincinnati started the comeback with a solo shot by Adam Duvall off Grant Dayton in the bottom of the sixth inning. One frame later, it was Scotter Gennett who went deep off Josh Fields to cut the Dodgers lead to 8-5. Fields has struggled over the past few weeks, allowing five home runs in his last four appearances and six homers overall. It was Eugenio Suarez's turn to go deep in the bottom half of the eighth as the Reds got within a run off setup man Pedro Baez. With the tying run on second base and two outs, Joey Votto thought he had completed the comeback with a long drive to deep left field, but Enrique Hernandez made a leaping catch at the wall to save Father's Day for the Dodgers and complete the season sweep of the Reds. Kenely Jansen closed the door with his 15th save of the season, and extended his MLB record with 50 strikeouts to start a season without allowing a walk. Cincinnati has now lost a season high 10 consecutive games and alternatively, the Dodgers have won three in a row and nine out of 10 overall. The three-game sweep of the Reds in Cincinnati, was the Dodgers sixth sweep of the season, with two coming against the Big Red Machine. Both teams wore powder blue hats, jerseys, and gear in honor of Father's Day. Even the stitching on the baseballs was powder blue for the game and all games around the league. Up Next: Clayton Kershaw opens up a nine-game home stand at Dodger Stadium on Monday as the Dodgers host the New York Mets. RHP Zach Wheeler starts for the Mets with first pitch scheduled for 7:10PM PST.

LA TIMES

Dodgers Dugout: Joe Davis answers your questions By Houston Mitchell Hi, and welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell, and, learning from Corey Seager and Cody Bellinger, the Dodgers should get as many players whose names start with "Co" as they can. Cole Hamels, anyone? Joe Davis answers your questions

You sent in hundreds of questions, and Dodgers announcer Joe Davis is here to answer some of them. I picked the most representative questions and sent them to Joe. He sent back his answers before the Dodgers' series last week against the Cleveland Indians. If questions were similar I went with the person who emailed in the question first. And thanks to Joe for taking time out of his busy schedule to answer these questions. Tony Piscitelli: Have you had the opportunity to consult with Vin Scully? Davis: Hi Tony -- Vin called me and welcomed me to the team the night before my hiring was announced a couple falls ago. Funny story about that -- not recognizing his number, I twice ignored his calls! You should've seen the look on my face when I listened to the voicemail and realized what I'd done. We talked again just before this season began. His biggest advice was the same as Hall of Famer Red Barber gave him when he got started in 1950: “Be yourself. You bring one thing to the booth nobody else can, and that is you.” Joe Meehan: Does your experience playing college football -- with the prep time outweighing the execution time -- help you in your work as a broadcaster? What is your day like preparing for a game? Davis: I think my experience as an athlete helps in a number of ways. It was important when I was just starting out calling minor league baseball to have an understanding of how to act around the team and where I belonged in the clubhouse and on the buses and so on. I think it's important now in the big moments of a game. I always prided myself on being cool and calm as a quarterback, and the same idea of controlling and channeling the adrenaline and slowing the heart rate when things got crazy as a player definitely applies when the game is on the line and, as a broadcaster, you've gotta keep your cool and capture the moment. See below for a little detail on prep. Michael D. Green: I’d guess that many fans have fantasized about being a sports announcer, partly because you guys make it look so easy. For one so young you have a pretty full résumé, but when did you know that you wanted to go pro? Davis: For as long as I can remember considering what I wanted to do. As early as fourth or fifth grade, I paid as much attention to the guys calling the games as I did the actual game. There's nothing wrong with not finding your career passion until later in life, but it definitely helped set me ahead of the curve knowing early on what I wanted to do. In a way, it helped guide my decisions. The football coach where I wound up going to college knew the way to my heart. His main recruiting pitch was that I could announce the school's basketball games as a freshman. Reed Rosien: Do you have any pregame routine as a broadcaster? Davis: I'm usually at the park four hours before first pitch, but most of my work is done at that point. For example, I spent something like 10 hours reading up on the Cleveland Indians yesterday (on my flight home from doing a national game in Boston, with a few extra hours of work time thanks to a long delay). I research each player individually. I'm looking for the basics of what they've done in their careers. I'm looking for what their season has been like. And I'm looking for as many stories as I can dig up on each

player to be able to share. Then there's the reading to get caught up on the narratives surrounding the Indians as a team throughout the year and entering the Dodgers' series with them. Keeping with the Indians series as the example -- now that I'm on the charter to Cleveland, I'm doing my last prep work on the series -- who's hot/not in the preceding days, etc. In the morning before the first game of the series, I'll update my notes on Clayton Kershaw, and I'll study up on the Indians starter, Trevor Bauer. I'll read all the stories on the Indians in their local publications/websites from that day. I'll do the same for the Dodgers. Up next will be the Mets, so throughout this week I'll be starting this whole same process learning about their team and the players' stories. Once at the park, I read through team-supplied game notes, fill out my scorecard, hang by the cage during batting practice to visit with the players (and hopefully pick up a nugget or two to pass along to the viewers that night), review all the notes I've gathered leading up, eat some dinner, throw on some war paint (makeup), and then off we go. Joan Kobori: Where did you gain your baseball knowledge, and do you have staff help collect info on player history? Davis: I think one of the great things about baseball is that you can learn something new every day. There's a funny little saying in our business: You spend a week preparing to call a football or basketball game. You spend a lifetime preparing to call a baseball game (insert joke here about how I haven't prepared for that long). We have an incredible behind-the-scenes crew that supports us, led by our producer Mike Levy and our director Dustin Denti. Those two guys are as good as anyone in the business, and the production crew in L.A. under them is second to none. In the booth with us, we have Mr. Do Everything Boyd Robertson, statistician Brian Hagan, audio extraordinaire Dave Wolcott, and several others. As far as the stories, though -- no, we've gotta find those ourselves. I mentioned above the work I do to find stories on the players; I also try to be curious about things from the game's long history that I think you at home might find enjoyable or interesting. Kris Kemp: Joe do you prefer working alone, with one other announcer or with two other announcers? Why? Davis: I actually did two years of minor league baseball solo (many do at that level; the Montgomery Biscuits couldn't afford Orel Hershiser's salary). I don't think you'll ever see someone do it in the majors again like we had with Vin. As far as three-man booth goes -- I have nothing against it (I had a lot of fun last year with Orel and Nomar Garciaparra), but I think two is probably the sweet spot. Watching baseball is a passive experience in a lot of ways, and three people tends to be too much for that kind of easy listening experience. Javier Sanchez: How do your fellow announcers know what pitch a pitcher throws (fastball, cut fastball, slider, etc.)? Do you read catcher's sign or do you judge your call by the balls movement?

Davis: It's important to first know what pitches a guy throws. Based off that knowledge, I make that determination watching the pitches come home in my monitor (same shot you see at home). I shift my eyes to the field when the ball is put in play. A side note to that: The best way to judge how well a fly ball is hit (and in my case, the way to decide how excitedly to build my call) is to watch the fielder react to it. He'll tell you how hard it's hit, and me how excited to get. Larry Spindler: Whatever has happened to Andre Ethier? Is he ever going to play for the Dodgers again? Davis: Andre is still working through some nagging lower back/hip pain. It’s such a bummer, the injury issues for him the last two years. Last year it was the unlucky broken leg during spring training. This year, he just can’t seem to shake it yet. Last I heard, it’s bothering him most while running. The hope is to have him back this year. Time will tell when that might be. Kent Dugan: Hi, Joe. Even though I miss Vin I love what you bring to the table with Orel. You two are great together. My question is in regard to the horrible strike zones that umpires seem to have. Do you think that MLB will eventually go to some form of tech for balls and strikes? It really is amazing seeing how many strikes are called or missed in the average game. Davis: I understand the appeal -- we have the technology, let's get it right. But I would hate to mess with the aesthetics of the game. It's one of the little things that make baseball beautiful: each umpire’s unique punchouts and barks, the complaining from the hitters, the exploiting of that day's zone. Kinda goes back to the idea of baseball being a game where every day could show us something new -- I'm not a fan of anything that dampens that. That said, I won't be surprised if we get electronic balls/strikes at some point. H. Brown: The DH rule was put into effect in 1973. With inter-league play now taking place at a much larger scale, how much longer do we have to tolerate the two leagues playing on an uneven playing field? Davis: I don’t see this one changing any time soon. And, really, I think the advantage of National League pitchers having experience hitting (over their AL counterparts during interleague games in NL parks) is pretty small. NL pitchers are hitting .124. AL pitchers are hitting .099. For whatever it's worth, the AL has won the majority of all-time interleague contests. Roger Ball: After 59 years of listening to Vin, I was so used to him working alone. He spoke directly to the fans, instead the fans listening in on a conversation in the booth. No reflection on Orel or Nomar, who both do a great job, but have you considered working alone? I like your style and I believe you are the man who could do it. Davis: Thanks Roger. As I mentioned, I did a couple years of minor league baseball alone. I totally get the appeal from a fan's standpoint. I just don’t think it ever happens again. Vin made it sound easy. Over a 162-game season, it definitely wouldn't be. Speaking from my situation, I think one of the worst things I could do would be to flat out try to be Vin. It’s not possible. Doing a solo booth would, in a lot of ways, force one to completely mimic Vin’s style. It was so perfect, but so uniquely Vin.

I wrote a little bit on preparation above. Admittedly, I prepare for these Dodger games completely differently than I’ve ever prepped for anything else. On my national broadcasts, the audience is often most interested in what the teams are doing and what the players are doing at this point in the season. Big picture. So I prepare to give them that. But, because Los Angeles has been spoiled by Vin’s style for as long as it’s had the Dodgers, the audience here desires something a little different. There's a difference in trying to be Vin and trying to learn from what people loved about Vin. My preparation for Dodger broadcasts is much more about digging up player background stories than it is “what is this guy's batting average,” because that's what this city has grown to love and expect. The obscure Dodgers record of the week Which Dodgers pitcher has the all-time highest strikeouts per nine innings rate with the team, with a minimum of 400 innings pitched? Kenley Jansen, with a rate of 13.98. Here's the top 10: 1. Kenley Jansen, 13.98 2. Eric Gagne, 10.38 3. Clayton Kershaw, 9.80 4. Sandy Koufax, 9.28 5. Hideo Nomo, 8.87 6. Zack Greinke, 8.29 7. Chan Ho Park, 8.28 8. Darren Dreifort, 8.27 9. Kevin Brown, 8.09 10. Chad Billingsley, 7.94 The highest Brooklyn Dodger is Dazzy Vance, who is 29th overall at 6.26 The bottom 10: 1. Sloppy Thurston, 1.79 2. Rube Erhardt, 1.99 3. Freddie Fitzsimmons, 2.25 4. Sherry Smith, 2.26 5. Jack Coombs, 2.38

6. Jim Pastorius, 2.54 7. Kaiser Wilhelm, 2.57 8. Curt Davis, 2.60 9. Tot Pressnell, 2.61 10. Oscar Jones, 2.64 The lowest L.A. Dodger is Rick Sutcliffe who is 46th lowest at 4.33. In all, 117 Dodgers have pitched at least 400 innings with the team. All these numbers, and more, can be found at baseball-reference.com. Next series Monday, 7 p.m. PDT, New York Mets (Zack Wheeler) at Dodgers (Brandon McCarthy) Tuesday, 7 p.m. PDT, New York Mets (Matt Harvey) at Dodgers (Rich Hill) Wednesday, 7 p.m., New York Mets (Steven Matz) at Dodgers (Alex Wood) Thursday, 7 p.m., New York Mets (Robert Gsellman) at Dodgers (Hyun-jin Ryu) Note: Pitchers are subject to change. And finally There will be no newsletter Friday as I take a little time off. The next newsletter will be next Monday.