Ryu Goes For 13th Win in Freeway Series Finale

I have a dream my lovely Lairians. As I’ve said before many times, I loathe the Angels. I hate the Angels and everything their second rate Mickey Mouse organization stands for. I even hate their putrid periwinkle uniforms. Ever since they started beating the Dodgers regularly, my hatred for them has risen. It keeps rising every year, especially with more and more smug Angel fans coming out of the woodworks to trash talk the Dodgers.

Dodgers lineup @ Angels

Turner 2B

Puig CF

Gonzalez 1B

Hanley DH

Kemp RF

Van Slyke LF

Uribe 3B

Ellis C

Rojas SS

Hyun-jin Ryu-12-5 vs. C.J. Wilson-8-7

Remember that stupid narrative of “Angels good, Dodgers bad” that came out a few years ago? That’s when delusional Angel fans started claiming that the Angels were now the better southern California baseball club, or some crap like that. You know because they had won ONE World Series title. One. (The Dodgers have won five in Los Angeles) Delusions. Vagaries of perception.

That died down as people realized that it just wasn’t true. But getting back to my dream. My dream is to see the Angels lose every single game they play. That’s right, watching the Halos have an 0-162 (I have the same dream for the Giants too) season. I know, I know, it’s just not possible. But that’s why they call it a dream. And I am a firm believer that you should never ever give up on your dreams. One day the Angels will have that winless season, and I will be there to watch and enjoy their miseries.

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

But for now back to reality, in 2014, the Angels are a very good club. But so are the Dodgers. And after losing the first game of this four game Freeway Series, the Dodgers have come back to win the next two games, and a take a 2-1 series lead. A win tonight in the concluding game, will give the Dodgers a series victory, and their first series win in Anaheim since 2009. It’s been that long guys.

Last night Dan Haren’s impressive performance, Yasiel Puig’s cannon arm, Matt Kemp’s bat, and a solid Dodger bullpen propelled the boys in blue to a thrilling 2-1 victory. Tonight they’ll give the ball to left hander Hyun-jin Ryu who is looking for his thirteenth win of the season.

Before we get into the pitching match-ups, both clubs made a trade today. Earlier today the Dodgers announced that they had acquired 33-year old right hander Roberto Hernandez  from Philadelphia, in exchange for cash and two players to be named later. We’re not sure where Hernandez will fit in with the club, but we assume he’ll either take the injured Beckett’s place. Or he’ll become the new spot starter/long man. That role used to belong to Maholm before he tore his knee.

The Angels also made a move. They acquired set-up man Vinnie Pestano from the Indians for minor league right hander Michael Clevinger. So both teams have been trying to shore up their pitching staffs for the stretch run.

So tonight, the Dodgers will give the ball to Ryu in hopes he can follow in Haren’s footsteps and get them a series win, before the club takes off for Milwaukee.

Ryu, is 12-5 with a 3.39 ERA this season. He’s whiffed 111 and walked 24 in 124.2 innings of work. He’s been solid all year. Especially on the road. Away from Chavez Ravine Ryu is 8-2 with a 2.89 ERA. Ryu has faced the Angels just once in his career. But that was last season, and he shut them out. If you remember he pitched a two-hit shutout, with seven whiffs and no walks. The Halos have just five hits against Ryu, and are hitting .200 (5 for 25) with a .499 OPS against.

The Halos will counter with C.J. Wilson. The left hander is having somewhat of a down season. He is 8-7 with a 4.74 ERA, and a 4.40 FIP in 117.2 innings pitched. He has whiffed 109 and walked 50 in his 20 starts. Wilson has faced the Dodgers just three times in his career. He has no record, and a 4.97 ERA. In those 12 innings, the Dodgers are hitting .319 (23 for 72) with two home runs and an .846 OPS against. Watch out for Gonzo, as Adrian Gonzalez is batting .538 (7 for 13) with two doubles, and five runs driven in versus Wilson.

The Dodgers shuffle tonight’s lineup again with a left hander on the mound. Kemp was last night’s DH, but tonight it is Hanley, with Miguel Rojas at shortstop. Dee Gordon is not in the lineup, with Justin Turner playing at second base.

This is the last interleague game of the season for the Dodgers. They are 10-9 against the American league, so a win tonight would give them a winning record.

Another positive note for today. The Giants lost to Milwaukee this afternoon. So a Dodger win puts them back to 3.5 games ahead.

Time to show Orange County that the real magic castle is at Dodger Stadium. Let the bubbles fly!

Game Time – 7:10 PM

Go Blue!