Dodgers Face Old Foe Ian Kennedy in San Diego

I am still riding high from the exuberance of the Clayton Kershaw no-hitter on Wednesday night. Like Scott said, it was only a matter of time before Kersh pitched a no-hitter. Wednesday night was the culmination of years of dedication, numerous obstacles, and quite a few failed Dodger bids for the top prize. This no-hitter was the antithesis of Game 6 of the 2013 NLCS. We’ve seen Kershaw at the top of his game, but we have also seen his vulnerable side. Kersh is on a mission this season. No disability list stint would stop his competitive drive for perfection. The short start in Arizona was the low point for Kershaw this season, but everything came full circle at Dodger Stadium on one magical Los Angeles night.

The best pitcher of our generation pitched a near flawless game. As for Hanley Ramirez‘s seventh inning error, I can’t be angry about it given that Kersh still pitched perfectly in my eyes. From the first inning I had an inkling that Kersh was in dominant form. After the third, I felt like this could be the one game we have been waiting for.

If you were at the no-hitter, please comment below with your experience!

Dan Haren (7-4, 3.54) vs. Ian Kennedy (5-8, 3.72)

Lineup: 

Gordon 2B

Ramirez SS

Puig RF

Gonzalez 1B

Kemp LF

Ethier CF

Turner 3B

Ellis C

Haren P

Dan Haren needs only to pitch a perfect game on Friday night in San Diego, right? Yeah right. Sure, Haren has been increasingly flat and ineffective. Yet we can still hope that Haren can give the Dodgers a quality start against the last-place Padres. Haren has pitched decently against the Friars over his career, and he has a 6-4 record with a 3.63 ERA against San Diego in 17 games (16 starts). At Petco Park, Haren is 3-3 with a 3.86 ERA in 11 career games. Haren has allowed 8 homeruns at Petco, so that’s concerning. Chase Headley and Seth Smith both 10 base hits versus Haren. Haren has won his last two starts against Cincinnati and Arizona. Haren never pitches deep into games, and he usually only lasts around 6 frames. He’s no Kersh. Although last time out, Haren hit a booming bases clearing double.

Ian Kennedy is an old foe of the Dodgers. Igniting brawls and pool debauchery, the 2013 feud between the Dodgers and the D-backs made the Dodgers

Jun 18, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) holds up a game ball as he celebrates his no hitter against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium. Dodgers won 8-0.Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

and Giants games look tame last year. For once I could almost hate a team more than the Giants. I said almost. Anyhow Ian Kennedy is pitching for San Diego now, but he continues to induce bad memories and old grudges. Kennedy has already lost 8 games, and he has lost his last two decisions to the Mets and Phillies. Kennedy lost to the Dodgers on April 1st. In his career, Kennedy is 5-5 with a 4.21 ERA in 12 starts against the Dodgers. Andre Ethier and Yasiel Puig have hit Kennedy well. Ethier has 10 hits including 2 doubles and 2 homeruns, and Puig has a homerun against him.

The Dodgers are just four games behind the scuffling Giants. The Giants have lost 5 in a row while the Dodgers are looking for their season-first four-game winning streak. The momentum shift is in the Dodgers favor after the winning homestand, series sweep of the Rockies, and the electrifying Kershaw no-hitter. The Dodgers finally put together a winning homestand, the first of the season. Bubbles are flowing from the dugout, and no-hitters are raining down!

Prediction: Hanley goes Yard at Petco.

Injury Update: Juan Uribe played in his first rehab game for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on Thursday night. The third base man was the designated hitter for the Quakes, and he went 2-for-4 with two scored runs, a double, and one strikeout. Uribe has been sidelined for 6 weeks with a right hamstring strain. Uribe will play third base for the Quakes on Friday and Saturday as well. Meanwhile the Dodgers are still piecing together starts at third base between Justin Turner, Chone Figgins, and Miguel Rojas. Figgins is currently on the disabled list, and Turner has been ailing as well. Miguel Rojas all of a sudden seems relevant until Uribe is back.

●Stay tuned for our upcoming Lasorda’s Lair Roundtable discussion post next week where we discuss who should represent the Dodgers in the All-Star Game.

Even though the Dodgers are still four back, there has been plenty of no-hitters, Puig antics, Hanley homers, and Dee Gordon steals to make me pretty excited to watch this team.

Go Blue!