Nolasco Ready To Big Up Cali-Life In Dodger Debut Against Snakes
By Scott Andes

Dodgers Lineup vs. Arizona
Crawford 7Puig 9Gonzalez 3Hanley 6Ethier 8A.J. Ellis 2Schumaker 4Hairston 5Nolasco 1Ricky Nolasco-5-8 vs. Ian Kennedy-3-4
Yes welcome to Cali life Ricky, you made it. Here you are, in southern California. Ok, he’s actually in Phoenix Arizona, in the 115 degree heat of the desert, but he’s almost to California. After these two games, the Dodgers will travel back home and Nolasco will have his first views of sunshine, palm trees, and beautiful suntanned woman. Because it’s not like he saw any of those things in Miami at all right? Oh wait…nevermind. Of course he is from Rialto, and went to school in Corona, so I think he’s seen California before. Lesson learned that I am silly. So this means that tonight we will see the Dodger debut of Ricky Nolasco. It’s not Fernando Mania or anything like that, but if it results in a win, I’ll take it.
The Dodgers are so close to the magical .500 mark, that I can smell the blood in the water. Last night was like smooth sailing on the seven seas. The Dodgers were like Christopher Columbus, and Chase Field was like the new world. The Dodgers busted out 6 runs on 17 hits, and Zack Greinke pitched seven shut-out frames, in the 6-1 Blue win. The Dodgers are now 43-45 3.5 games back in second place. I’ve been saying it before that the Dodgers have to get over the .500 mark as the last hurdle to first place. Well, they are almost there, and I for one, can’t wait. I am sick of being under .500.
Nolasco represents Cali Life now-Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
The Dodgers are red-hot right now. They have won 13 of their last 16 games. They still have problems with injury. Matt Kemp has been rendered somewhat useless this season. He’s definitely not himself in 2013. I hope Bison can mend and return better than ever. In the meantime, the Dodgers are looking to secure another series victory. By beating the Snakes again, the Dodgers will be freeing a very large monkey off of their backs. The Dodgers had lost seven of nine to the Snakes before last night’s win.
Tonight’s match will feature the Dodgers debut of newly acquired Ricky Nolasco. The Dodgers acquired Nolasco from the Marlins in exchange for three minor league pitchers. The 30 year old right hander has been with the Marlins his entire career. He was actually drafted by the Cubs in 2001 and then traded to the Fish for former Dodger Juan Pierre. Lolz It’s all true, you can look it up if you don’t believe me. Anyways, he came up with the Fish in 2006. He has won as many as 15 games back in 2008. Nolasco is 81-72 with a career 4.44 ERA in eight big league seasons. This season he is 5-8 with a 3.58 ERA. He has whiffed 90 and walked only 25 in 112 innings. He doesn’t walk many guys, but he’s around the plate a lot, so he gives up a lot of hits at times. He’s allowed nearly a hit per inning, (112 in 112 innings) and he has a 9.0 hits per nine rate. He’s been ok. Nolasco throws a fastball, splitter, slider, and curve. He has been decent against the Snakes, but has struggled at Chase Field.
Against the Snakes, the Rialto native is 6-2 with a 4.14 ERA in nine starts. But he is 3-1 with a 5.23 ERA five starts at Chase Field. Arizona is currently hitting .314 (38 for 121) against Nolasco. Check out the rest of the damage below.
PA
AB
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
BA
OBP
SLG
Martin Prado44
43
14
2
1
0
6
1
4
.326
.341
.419
Miguel Montero13
13
5
2
0
1
6
0
4
.385
.385
.769
Gerardo Parra13
11
1
0
0
0
1
2
3
.091
.231
.091
Cody Ross12
10
4
2
0
0
3
1
0
.400
.500
.600
Wil Nieves8
8
1
0
0
0
1
0
1
.125
.125
.125
Didi Gregorius7
7
5
1
0
0
1
0
0
.714
.714
.857
Cliff Pennington7
7
1
0
0
0
0
0
3
.143
.143
.143
Paul Goldschmidt6
5
1
0
0
0
0
1
2
.200
.333
.200
Aaron Hill6
6
4
1
0
0
2
0
0
.667
.667
.833
Jason Kubel6
6
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
.167
.167
.167
Eric Chavez3
3
1
1
0
0
2
0
0
.333
.333
.667
Wade Miley2
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
.000
.500
.000
Randall Delgado1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
.000
.000
.000
Total
128
121
38
9
1
1
22
6
20
.314
.352
.430
That Nolasco feller was heading out west! His travels across country were documented on twitter, like he was a Beverly hillbilly or something. Hanley is of course very happy that he has a former Miami buddy in the clubhouse. Yes represent that Cali life Ricky. Just get some outs tonight please.
.@HanleyRamirez, the #Dodgers official @RNolasco47 welcoming party (via @HanleyRamirez): pic.twitter.com/WuWUxHUmSq
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 8, 2013
The Snakes will be countering with right hander Ian Kennedy. The Huntington Beach native has had a poor year. Kennedy is 3-4 with a 5.16 ERA. In 96 frames, Kennedy has whiffed 85 and walked 35. He is giving up hits at an 8.7 rate, and has allowed 15 home runs. The former 20 game winner has faced the Dodgers twice this season. Once back on April 13 at Chase Field (loss) where he allowed six runs on ten hits in 5.2, and the second time on June 11 at Dodger Stadium, (No-decision), where he allowed two runs on four hits in 6.2 and whiffed six. Let’s hope there is no brawls or hit batters, or incidents this time around.
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Ian Kennedy (31) looks while wearing a Prescott Fire Department hat commemorating the 19 fire fighters from the Granite Mountain Hot Shot Crew killed in Yarnell, Arizona prior to the game against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field.-Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Kennedy is 5-3 with a 3.77 ERA against the Dodgers in ten starts. The Dodgers have struggled in the past against Kennedy, but have hit him at times. Kenendy has held the Dodgers to a .216 (32 for 148) average against. Andre Ethier is batting .320 against Kennedy, but otherwise nobody else has done much. Check out what the rest of the Boys in Blue have done versus Kennedy.
PA
AB
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
BA
OBP
SLG
Andre Ethier
27
25
8
2
0
2
5
2
4
.320
.370
.640
Adrian Gonzalez24
21
5
2
0
1
2
3
7
.238
.333
.476
Skip Schumaker18
16
6
3
0
0
1
2
1
.375
.444
.563
Carl Crawford15
13
4
1
0
0
2
0
0
.308
.267
.385
Juan Uribe14
11
0
0
0
0
0
3
3
.000
.214
.000
Hanley Ramirez12
11
2
0
0
0
0
1
2
.182
.250
.182
Jerry Hairston11
9
1
0
0
0
2
0
1
.111
.091
.111
A.J. Ellis10
9
2
0
0
0
0
1
3
.222
.300
.222
Clayton Kershaw10
9
0
0
0
0
0
1
3
.000
.100
.000
Mark Ellis6
6
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
.000
.000
.000
Zack Greinke
6
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
.000
.200
.000
Nick Punto6
6
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
.000
.000
.000
Tim Federowicz3
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
.333
.333
.333
Yasiel Puig3
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
.000
.333
.000
Hyun-jin Ryu3
3
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
1.000
1.000
1.333
Total
168
148
32
9
0
3
13
13
32
.216
.281
.338
The Dodgers really need at least one more win in the next two games here. If the Dodgers can beat the Snakes again, then they have passed a big test in my mind. One more win can put the Dodgers within 2.5 games of first place, and just one from the magical .500 level. Can the Dodgers do it? After tonight, only five games remain until the all-star break.
First pitch tonight is at 6:40 PM. Tonight’s match will be televised on KCAL 9. Make sure to catch all of the action over here as well with our complete recap of the game immediately afterwards. Go Blue!