[PilotMan]

8/1 4-3 W over the Giants
LA scored first with a HR from a Henderson solo shot in the first (8), but the Giants took advantage of a rough start from Ken Howell (6-10). A 2-run HR from Gregg Jefferies in the 3^rd (6) as part of a 3 run inning. Giants pitcher Kip Gross (3-7) got his first career hit, an RBI double as part of the scoring. Howell himself answered with his first career HR in the bottom half (1). A 400+ft blast to left. LA took the lead in the 5^th and held on. Franco got the last 5 outs for save 21.


8/2 2-0 W over the Giants
Even though LA got 10 hits in the game, the offense could only get 2 across. Henderson knocked in Samuel in the first, and Darryl Boston his a pinch hit HR in the 7^th (4). His first as a Dodger. Samuel went 3-4, and Henderson another 2. Bryn Smith (4-13) pitched a very good game, allowing only 2 hits in his 7 innings. DiPino pitched the final 2 innings with Franco unavailable and notched his 2^nd save of the year.


8/3 8-2 L to the Giants
LA can't keep the streak alive and the Giants avoid the sweep. It started good, with a 2 out walk by Henderson and a 2-run HR from Guerrero (15) in the first off of Greg Hibbard (10-12). Frank Viola (9-13) gave 1 up in the 2^nd, but kept the lead into the 6^th. With 8 K's it wasn't quite good enough as the Giants took the lead. Tanana came on and had his first bad outing, walking 2 and giving up 3 hits. The biggest to rookie Bob Hamelin, who with the bases loaded, and being a .169 hitter, smashed a pinch hit HR into the seats (4). It was over at that point.


8/4 4-2 W over the Padres
LA scored 3 early off of Bob Ojeda (7-12) and Jim Beattie threw 8 innings and allowed 5 hits and 2 runs. Schofield left the game with back soreness after a collision at 2^nd and Armando Moreno came on. His HR (2) in the 8^th gave LA some insurance. Franco pitched the 9^th for his 22^nd save. Marty Barrett had his 2^nd 3 hit game in row.


Schofield (.229/5/31) is heading to the DL with a herniated disc. IF/OF Bruce Fields (.246/1/6) was recalled to take his place. Chuck Jackson (.298/4/25) looks to be getting the playing time at short with him out.


8/5 5-2 L to the Padres
Bo Jackson got the better of the Dodgers today going 3-4 and slamming a 2-run HR off of Frank DiPino. Chuck Jackson got a pair of hits for LA and Henderson drove in the games only runs. Bob Patterson took the loss to fall to 2-2. Shane Rawley got the win (3-6). Juan Samuel who had been dealing with a nagging injury was hurt while running the bases and his status is unclear.


The Astros have dropped 7 straight now. They are still 11.5 games better than the next best team in all of baseball, and 21.5 in front of the 2^nd place Giants. LA has trimmed the gap to 29.5 games.


Juan Samuel (.215/8/26) has a strained abdominal muscle and he is heading to the DL. Doug Jennings (.259/1/8) was recalled to fill the roster spot. Darryl Boston will be taking Samuel's place in the lineup.


8/6 4-0 W over the Padres
Ken Howell (7-10) pitched his balls off tonight taking a no-hitter into the 7^th inning and leaving with only 1 hit allowed. LA got another multi hit game from Barrett (who has raised his average to a blistering .239) and Von Hayes homered in the 7^th (8) for extra insurance. Tanana pitched the final 2 to preserve the win.


8/7 2-0 W over the Braves
The pitching staff comes through, yet again, to save the team. Tonight, it was Bryn Smith (5-13) pitching a gem over 8 against the Braves Randy Johnson. The Braves brought in Jose Alvarez, and LA got a pinch hit double from Boston and an RBI single from Henderson to get on the board. Mike Scioscia went 4-4 against the tough lefty. Franco got another save, for his 23^rd of the year.


8/8 11-2 L to the Braves
A complete ass whipping by the Braves today. Home runs from Mo Vaughan (9) and Roberto Kelly (6), and a total of 13 hits, and 10 runs all off of Viola (9-14) who was touched in one of his worst games this year. LA got a 3 hit game from Guerrero and Jackson hit a 2-run double. Denny came on in relief and pitched the final 4.2 innings, lasting longer than Viola.


8/9 4-3 (13) W over the Braves
The Braves put up 3 quick on Beattie in the first, and it looked like it would be a long day for him, but he settled down and stepped up his game. He put zeros on the board for the next 4.1 innings, before turning the game over to the bullpen and they did not disappoint. Price, Franco, DiPino and Tanana (8-7) all kept it scoreless the rest of the way. LA quietly came back. Boston homered again (5), we lost Jackson to a collision at 2^nd. The 13^th started with a leadoff triple by Fields, a walk to Murphy, and a single by Von Hayes to take home the win.


Jackson is down for a while after he suffered a concussion in the accident. Tough break. I'm worried. He's been a lone bright spot for this team. His .297/.369/.463 slash line might be the best on the team. The team has called up IF Dave Rhode from Albuquerque to take his place. Rhode is one of the better prospects in the LA farm system. He was signed last offseason, and spent the year in AAA so far. Where he's batted .279/.357/.347 with 1 HR and 35 RBI's. He's a light hitting infielder with with plenty of speed a better than average eye. This is his first trip to the majors.


8/11 4-1 W over the Giants
Pitching wins again. Tonight it was Ken Howell (8-10) who pitched another great game. He had 7 k's pitching into the 8^th inning. Dave Rhode got the start and got his first career hit in his first at bat. Later Gurerrero would pinch hit for him and drive in 2 with a double. Franco pitched another 4 out save for LA (24). He's on a streak of 17 scoreless now.


8/12 3-2 W over the Giants
LA took a 2-0 lead early on behind a Marty Barrett solo homer (2) and Dave Rhode got his first RBI on a sac fly. Bryn Smith (6-13) won yet again, with his 8 inning, 6 hit performance. The Giants Dave Telgheder (11-12) matched him all the way, as the Giants tied it in the 7^th behind a Frank Thomas solo homer (12). It was a Scioscia single that scored Daryl Boston that put LA in front and Franco once again, locked down the 9^th for his 25^th save.


So LA isn't playing half bad right now. It's weird.




8/13 5-3 L to the Giants
Viola strikes out 7, but his horrible month continues, and he drops to 9-15. Surhoff tied the game in the 5^th with a 2-run HR (2), and LA wasted a 3 hit game from Barrett. The Giants Frank Thomas and Bryan Snyder carried the team. LA loaded the bases in the 9^th, but Brian Harvey got Guerrero looking to end it.


8/14 5-4 L to the Phillies
Jim Beattie got the start and had a bad 2^nd inning that saw multiple extra base hits and 3 runs for the Phils. LA worked their way back though and a 2 hit/2 RBI game from Caminiti and another 2 hit game from Boston saw LA tie everything at 4 in the 6^th. Rickey left the game after a diving catch, and Doug Jennings came in. He had a 2-hit game too, but it was the 8^th and DiPino (2-1) that cost LA. DiPino ended up walking 3 men, striking out 2, and then gave up a bases loaded single to Larry Walker to give the Phils the win.


Henderson is day to day with a strained rib muscle and isn't going on the DL.


The Mariners and former Dodger top prospect, Sid Fernandez (8-11, 3.75) is done for the season with elbow inflammation. Fernandez suffered a torn flexor in his elbow back in '87 that cost him half of the '88 season. He should be back for the start of the next year.


8/15 19-2 L to the Phillies
The biggest beatdown of the year. The Phillies scored in every single inning. Ken Howell (8-11) started, and takes the loss, but the bullpen of Denny and Baker allowed 13 runs in 4 innings. Larry Walker, hitting leadoff, went 2-3 with 3 walks, 4 runs, 5 RBI's, 2 HR's (17,18) and a stolen base (23). The Dodgers Surhoff hit HR #3 in the 2^nd to give LA a 2-1 lead. Bad game.