[PilotMan]

8/16 15-1 W over the Phillies
One blowout deserves another. LA put 9 up in the first couple innings to open up a clear lead. Bryn Smith only allowed 1 hit through 4, then hit a double with a big lead and went into 2^nd base odd, getting hurt in the process. He had to leave, which is just about the worst way to go. Pedro had a huge game, going 5-5, with 3 runs, 4 RBI's and his 19^th HR of the year. Mike Scioscia hit a grand slam (9) and had 6 RBI's . Von Hayes added another (9) with a 2 hit game. Where has this team been all year?

Bryn Smith has a back strain, but should avoid the DL. He may or may not miss a start.


8/17 3-1 L to the Phillies
Bud Black (9-4) surrendered 4 hits and Randy Myers got his 17^th save of the year. Frank Viola (9-16) threw 7, but the offense didn't help him out any. Guerrero got a couple hits and a walk. LA brought the tying run up in the 9^th, but couldn't threaten. Darryl Boston was hurt making a catch against the wall.


Lee Stevens was activated from the DL and Doug Jennings was once again, optioned back to Albuquerque.


8/19 1-0 (13) L to the Mets
It doesn't get any more sad than this. The Mets had 2 hits in this game and only 1 through the 12^th inning. From Patterson, to DiPino to Franco to Tanana, the Dodger pitchers kept the Mets quiet. A leadoff double by Charlie Hayes off of Joe Price (5-4) in the 13^th, followed by a flyout and tag, then an intentional walk to Omar Visquel to bring up Kevin Mitchell and hope for the double play. Instead he hits one to the wall and Hayes tags up and walks in. The Dodgers got 5 hits, 2 from Von Hayes.


Boston has a sore elbow but won't need to go on the DL.


The word coming out in the news is that this Dodger team is a train wreck. There are so many pissed off players that they are going to have a hard time signing any of their free agents. Honestly, I can't see how anyone is going to want to stay with this team after this season. I think we're going to see a lot of roster turnover this year.


8/20 10-3 L to the Mets
Beattie (7-7) v. Gooden (12-7) in this one. Beattie took the loss, and to add insult to literal injury, he did it after throwing only 7 pitches, allowing 2 hits, and not recording an out, then left with an arm problem. Beattie missed all of '87 with a shoulder injury. The game was close until late, and that's hard to do with Gooden on the mound. Scott Baker had an awful day though. In his 2 innings, out of 48 pitches, only 14 found the strike zone. He walked 7 batters. In 2 innings. It wasn't any better for Denny or Tanana either. Interesting stat of the day. Kevin Mitchell has 10 career hits against Tanana, 7 are home runs. Wow. Boston and Barrett had 2 hit days.


MRI was negative for Beattie and the diagnosis was good. He won't need to go on the DL.


8/21 11-3 L to the Expos
Ken Howell (8-12) goes 2-2 with an RBI, but he gave up 2 dingers and 5 runs. Tanana gave up 6 unearened runs thanks to a Caminiti error that let an inning continue. The Expos got HR's from Brooks (9) and Gallarraga (23), a 4 hit game from Raines and a great start from Mark Knudson (8-6). LA's offense is just unable.


LA added another old third basemen to play in the minors. Joining Buddy Bell and Ray Knight will be Keith Moreland. Moreland was last seen hittin .190 in 13 games for the Reds this season. Lee Stevens (.231/0/1) and Dave Rhode (.100/0/1) were optioned back to AAA. Schofield was activated from the DL and Jennings was recalled.


8/22 5-3 L to the Expos
And a month that started good, is dropping quickly. Another time LA fails to score more than 3. Bryn Smith (6-14) rides to another loss, and LA wasted a 3 hit show by Hayes. Guerrero gave LA the lead 2-0 in the first with a massive HR (17) and it was all downhill. They wouldn't score again until Scioscia had a pinch hit double in the 9^th. LA got the go ahead run on, with Guerrero up, but he struck out to end it.


8/23 5-3 W over the Expos
Nice to get one anyway. John Wettland struck out 8 Dodgers in 7.1 innings and looked good for the win. In the 9^th, with Jeff Russell (2-5) on to close and down 2-0 and an out, with a runner on, saw Caminiti drive the ball into the seats for only the 3^rd time this year. His HR tied the game, and started, what would be, a 5 run 9^th inning for the Dodgers, and for once, not wasting a good start by Viola (10-16). Franco allowed a HR to rookie, Jeff Conine (3) in the 9^th, but got the next 3 outs to preserve the save (26).


8/25 8-0 L to the Phillies
Greg Maddux, after a 19 loss season last year, picks up win number 18, going the distance and pitching a 3-hit shutout. No walks, striking out 8. Jim Beattie (7-8) took the loss, but left with some back problem. Guerrero had 2 of the LA's hits and Doug Jennings the other. The Phillies just beat up Dodger pitching. Scott Baker pitched the final 3 innings, but the Phils teed off on him. Beattie shouldn't miss much, all the tests were negative, and the issue is just a tight back.


The Astros have cut their magic number down to 9. The next closest team to clinching are the Phillies who are 6 up on the Mets and have a magic number of 29.


8/26 1-0 (10) W over the Phillies
Pitching was the game today! Starters Kevin Appier and Ken Howell dueled then turned it over to the bullpens. LA's Price and Franco (4-4) did better than Rob Murphy, Mike Schooler, and Lance McCullers (4-4). Bottom of the 10^th it was Pete O'Brien who took the 6^th pitch from McCullers and hit it in the seats (3) to give LA the walk off win.


8/27 1-0 W over the Phillies
Many, the offense isn't helping anyone here. 2 runs in 3 games, and somehow 2 wins? Bryn Smith (7-14) allowed 2 hits over 8 innings, and Franco pitched the 9^th for his 27^th save. The Phillies sent rookie Dave Miller (1-1) to the mound and he pitched good too. LA scored in the first after Von Hayes lead off with a walk, Schofield singled, and Boston singled Hayes in. That was it.


The Dodgers have climbed up to #21 in the baseball power rankings. This is the highest we've been in a while. Only the Padres and Cubs are lower in the NL.


Darryl Boston and Rickey Henderson are both carrying nagging injuries that may be impacting their performance on the field. Henderson especially has been far below his historical performance.


8/28 2-1 W over the Mets
Good thing the pitching is good right now. LA scored 2 in the bottom of the 8^th off of a tiring Bud Black (9-5). Scioscia capped off a 2 hit performance and singled in the game winning RBI as Viola pitched 8 innings and improved his record to 11-16. DiPino pitched the 9^th for his 3^rd save of the year.


And on August 29^th, 1989, the Dodgers were officially eliminated from the post season. There's always the next decade or so!


8/29 7-1 L to the Mets
NY singled handedly ruined Patterson's (2-3) season ERA in this game. Pushing it above 4 for the first time all year. Tanana came on in relief and threw over 4 innings, but LA could never get enough O going to contend. Brian Holman (3-2) threw a complete game for the Mets.


Stevens and Jennings swap places on the roster yet again.


8/30 3-1 L to the Mets
Jim Beattie falls to 7-9, but he lasted longer than Gooden. Doc left the game after the first, and there was no word on the severity of the injury. Beattie pitched pretty good, allowing 2 runs over 7 innings. Meanwhile, LA got a 2 hit game from Dick Schofield for their offense. Strawberry went deep (24) and the Mets had no issues.


The Mets dodge a bullet as the NL Pitcher of the Month for August is only out with some forearm stiffness and that's it. For August, Gooden went 4-0 with a 0.70 ERA and a .164 average against.