Puigapalooza Reaches It’s Zenith As Dodgers Go For Sweep Of San Diego

Dodgers Lineup vs. San Diego

Puig 9 Schumaker 4 Gonzalez 3 Ramirez 6 Ethier 8 Van Slyke 7 Uribe 5 Federowicz 2 Kershaw 1

Jason Marquis-6-2 vs. Clayton Kershaw-5-3

It’s day three of the Dodger’s Puigapalooza, and the legend of Yasiel Puig continues to grow by the day. With each game his internet folk lore gets even greater, and more outrageous. I heard the Cuban prospect hit a home run once just by looking at a ball. Oh yeah? Well, I heard he threw out a runner from the parking lot before he entered the stadium. You know things like that. Puig has only played in two games and already he is becoming a worldwide sensation. The 22 year old outfielder is already 5 for 8 with two home runs, and five RBI in only two games. No Dodger rookie ever has hit two home runs in their second game. The Dodgers really screwed up by not putting him on the roster sooner. Think about where the Dodgers would be right now, if they had placed Puig on the roster back in April.

PuigMania!-Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

On Monday night, Puig went 2 for 4 with two hits, and got an assist after turning a game ending double play in the ninth inning, when he made a cannon throw to double off Everth Cabrera at first base on a fly ball to the warning track in right field. The Dodgers went on to win that game 2-1. The next night, Puig put on another amazing display of his unique talent. Last night, Puig went 3 for 4 with two home runs and a double, and five RBI. Puig had a double in the first inning, then hit a three-run home run in the fifth frame, which was a booming shot halfway up the left field pavilion seats. The first home run tied the game for the Dodgers. His second home run in the next frame was a two-run shot to the opposite field which put the Dodgers ahead 9-6. They would go onto win by a score of 9-7. Both games Puig has been batting lead-off. I think he should be batting behind Adrian Gonzalez in the cleanup spot, but we’ll see where Mattingly bats him tonight.

Since I am feeling under the weather, I will keep this short today. The Dodgers are going for just their second sweep of the season. Their last sweep came against the Pirates in the first week of the season in April. The Dodgers with the win last night, won only their second series against a divisional rival this season. The Dodgers are now above .500 at home, with a 16-15 record this season.

Kershaw is looking for his sixth win of the season-Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Jason Marquis, the veteran right hander will battle Clayton Kershaw tonight at 7:10 PM. Marquis is having a good season despite having astronomical walk rates. Marquis is 6-2 with a 3.83 ERA, and 40 whiffs in eleven starts. Marquis has walked 36 and has a walk per nine rate of 5.1. His career walk rate has always been around 3.5 so I am not sure why he has lost his command this year. Marquis has pitched well against the Dodgers. He is 7-4 with a 2.53 ERA against the Boys in Blue, and is 5-3 with a 2.43 ERA in ten starts at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers are hitting .241 (33 for 137) against Marquis. Hanley Ramirez is batting .348 (8 for 23) against Marquis. The veteran will also have to look out for Juan Uribe who is 7 for 23 (.308) against him, and of course he’ll have to watch out for Yasiel Puig.

Clayton Kershaw is coming off a no-decision in his last start against Colorado. Kershaw is 8-4 with a 2.41 ERA in 18 games against San Diego. Kershaw has held San Diego hitters to a .244 (43 for 176) batting average against. Kershaw must watch out for Nick Hundley who is batting .348 off of Kershaw. San Diego has hit four home runs off of Kershaw. Chris Denorfia has hit two, and one each from Everth Cabrera, and Kyle Blanks. Kershaw is 5-3 with a 1.85 ERA, and 82 whiffs in 2013.

That’s about all for now. The game is televised on Prime Ticket, and you can check back over here for our postgame recap, which Stacie will be bringing you after the game. Don’t miss Puig! Go Blue.