Daily Clips

April 26, 2017

LOS ANGELES DODGERS DAILY CLIPS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017

DODGERS.COM Dodgers promote top prospect Bellinger – Ken Gurnick ‘Courageous’ Kershaw pitches in pain for win – Ken Gurnick Wood set for start before possible return to ‘pen – Ken Gurnick Dodgers tab Urias to start San Francisco finale – Ken Gurnick Kershaw avenges loss to Blach with gem – Ken Gurnick LA TIMES: Dodgers promote Julio Urias, say pitcher is with them to stay – Andy McCullough Cody Bellinger’s debut goes just fine in Dodgers’ 2-1 victory over the Giants – Andy McCullough OC REGISTER: On deck: Dodgers at Giants, Wednesday, 7:15 p.m. – Bill Plunkett Dodgers Notes: Top prospect Cody Bellinger calls promotion ‘a dream come true’ - Bill Plunkett Dodgers hang on for 2-1 win in San Francisco behind Clayton Kershaw - Bill Plunkett ESPN: Cody Bellinger could be a difference-maker for the Dodgers – Jim Bowden Dodgers lefty Julio Urias to return to majors for Thursday’s start - Doug Padilla Clayton Kershaw strikes out seven, Dodgers beat Giants 2-1 – AP Clayton Kershaw sets tone in victory – and for the next generation - Doug Padilla TRUE BLUE LA: Cody Bellinger called up to make major league debut with Dodgers – Eric Stephen Dodgers option Brett Eibner to Oklahoma City, DFA Joe Gunkel – Eric Stephen Julio Urias to start Thursday for Dodgers – Eric Stephen Clayton Kershaw gives Dodgers a leg up – Eric Stephen Devin Smeltzer strikes out 8 in Loons 9-0 win – Craig Minami DODGER INSIDER: Dodgers’ top prospect Bellinger arrives – Rowan Kavner Roberts: Urías to start Thursday - Rowan Kavner Back in action, Jansen saves for Kershaw - Cary Osborne YAHOO SPORTS: Dodgers call up top prospect Cody Bellinger in hopes of an offensive boost – Mike Oz USA TODAY SPORTS: Clayton Kershaw masterful again in ‘must-win’ versus Giants – Jorge L. Ortiz UCLA NEWSROOM: Dodgers manager Dave Roberts keeps close ties to the Bruins – Paul Feinburg

LOS ANGELES DODGERS DAILY CLIPS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017

DODGERS.COM

Dodgers promote top prospect Bellinger By Ken Gunrick SAN FRANCISCO -- The Dodgers promoted top prospect Cody Bellinger on Tuesday, an accelerated arrival to the Major Leagues because of a slumping offense and outfielder injuries. He was immediately slotted into the starting lineup, batting eighth and playing left field against the Giants. Bellinger went 1-for-3 in the Dodgers' 2-1 victory over the Giants, recording his first Major League hit on an infield single in the ninth inning. To make room for Bellinger on the roster, the Dodgers optioned outfielder Brett Eibner to Triple-A Oklahoma City and designated righty Joe Gunkel for assignment. The 21-year-old Bellinger is a natural first baseman, a position now occupied by struggling veteran Adrian Gonzalez. But Bellinger will begin his Major League career as an outfielder, said manager Dave Roberts, who started the left-handed hitter against Giants left-handed starter Ty Blach.

The Dodgers' outfield has been decimated by injuries to Andre Ethier (herniated disk), Joc Pederson (strained groin) and Franklin Gutierrez (strained hamstring), as well as the rough start of Trayce Thompson, who is batting .028 at Oklahoma City and struck out four times Tuesday. Roberts said Bellinger's callup was not a sign that Pederson's injury was worse than originally believed when he was placed on the 10-day disabled list Monday. "As far as Joc, I talked to him [and] we're still tracking the right way with him," Roberts said. Bellinger, who is ranked as the 10th-best prospect in baseball, looked overmatched during Spring Training as a non-roster invitee, hitting .207 with a .639 OPS and 20 strikeouts in 58 at-bats. "I was working with [hitting instructor Shawn] Wooten all spring," he said. "I told him I didn't care about the results, I was working with a new swing so I could hit more advanced pitching. The ball moves; it's not just straight heaters all the time. I was working on my swing path and my stance and just hoped it would work out during the season, and it happened." Bellinger had been a standout at Oklahoma City this year, where he was hitting .343 with five homers, 15 RBIs and a 1.055 OPS in 67 at-bats. He's also struck out 22 times to go along with nine walks. Bellinger said he learned of his promotion in a 2 a.m. telephone call from Gabe Kapler, the team's director of player development, after missing four calls while sleeping.

"I was kind of speechless; I was half asleep," said Bellinger. "I called my parents. I think they started crying on the phone. Pretty cool for me. [Kapler] said all your hard work has paid off. I didn't expect it, but I'm ready for it." Bellinger's father, Clay, played for the Yankees and coached Cody into the Little League World Series. The son was drafted out of high school by the Dodgers in the third round and decided to take a scholarship offer from Oregon, but the Dodgers "came through" with third-round money ($700,000 compared to $409,000 slot allotment), and he signed. Bellinger was a skinny 160-pounder who hit only three homers in 2014, but he exploded for 30 in 2015 and now plays at 210 pounds. A slick fielder at first base, he was told in Class A that outfield versatility might get him to the big leagues faster. And it has. "Two years ago in Rancho [Cucamonga], they recommended it and I was all for it," he said. "I'm comfortable out there and feel I can play there right now." ‘Courageous’ Kershaw pitches in pain for win By Ken Gurnick SAN FRANCISCO -- Clayton Kershaw said he wasn't worried about the bruised right calf he pitched seven innings with in Tuesday night's 2-1 victory over the Giants, which made him the only Dodger who wasn't worried. "I don't want to be too over the top," said manager Dave Roberts, "but it was a courageous effort. When he pitches, it's one of our most stressful days. It's a day we need to win."

Kershaw did what Kershaw does, allowing one tainted run over seven innings, and doing it hurt. He took a sharp grounder by Hunter Pence, the first batter he faced, off his calf. Athletic trainers had to rub it and heat it and wrap it to keep Kershaw in the game. When he grounded out in the third inning, he pulled up limping, and he was still limping on the taped leg after Kenley Jansen's third four-out save of the season, trying to convince reporters that it was no big deal. "It just grabbed, my right leg, not my push-off leg, so pitching is fine," said Kershaw, who gets an extra day to recover because Julio Urias will be inserted into the rotation. "I tried to move fast for me, pushed off and it didn't feel great, but I'm not worried about it. It got me in the perfect spot, the belly of the calf. Just annoying, something I'll deal with." There was plenty for Kershaw (4-1) to deal with to raise his record against the Giants to 19-8 and at AT&T Park to 11-4. That scoreless first inning was extended an extra 10 pitches when Kershaw picked Christian Arroyo off first base, but second baseman Chris Taylor missed the tag. In the third inning, opposing pitcher Ty Blach, filling in for the injured Madison Bumgarner, doubled over a shallow outfield. Taylor didn't charge an infield single by Pence and a two-out grounder by Buster Posey eluded diving shortstop Corey Seager for the run.

Then Kershaw retired 13 of the last 15 he faced, leaving a one-run game after 90 pitches. The struggling Dodgers offense turned the game around with a two-run fourth inning on an RBI single by Yasiel Puig and an aggressive run scored by Justin Turner, atoning for a baserunning mistake to end Monday night's loss by hustling home from third for the decisive run when the Giants couldn't execute a play at the plate. Turner said when you run the bases aggressively, sometimes you look like a donkey and sometimes you win a game. He also said that what Kershaw did while hurt was a pretty big deal. "Obviously, that probably didn't feel great. I've had that," Turner said. "It stinks. So to go seven with a banged up calf, just add it to his legacy, add it to his ridiculousness. He demands perfection out of himself. He's a competitor. He's just a whole other animal. He wants to win more than anyone every time on the mound." Roberts said he sort of held his breath all seven innings, weighing the importance of winning this game with the concern about putting Kershaw at future risk and knowing the left-hander wouldn't leave early without a fight anyway. Kershaw seemed more annoyed with his pitching, saying he had to grind through it because "when I wanted to throw something the way I wanted to it didn't always happen."

Wood set for start before possible return to ‘pen By Ken Gurnick With Julio Urias up from the Minor Leagues to start on Thursday, Wednesday night's start for Alex Wood against the Giants could be his last for a while with a return to a long relief role possible. Wood has been on a short leash in two starts this season as the substitute for the injured Rich Hill. He has pitched a total of only 8 1/3 innings and allowed five earned runs for a 5.40 ERA. He has 10 strikeouts but also six walks in those two starts. The last time he started against the Giants was a year ago at AT&T Park when he allowed five runs in five innings of a 12-6 Dodgers loss. The Giants, meanwhile, throw Johnny Cueto. Although he has scuffled to a 5.25 ERA in four starts this year, against the Dodgers last year he was 3-1 with a 2.67 ERA in five starts. Things to know about this game • Cody Bellinger made his Major League debut batting eighth against left-handed starter Ty Blach on Tuesday night, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is likely to move him up in the order while starting him in left or center field against the right-handed Cueto. • Though Wood throws left-handed, left-handed-batting first baseman Brandon Belt likely will return to the Giants lineup after not starting Tuesday. Manager Bruce Bochy will have to shuffle personnel elsewhere, as shortstop Brandon Crawford, who strained his right groin in Tuesday's game, is expected to begin his bereavement leave to attend his sister-in-law's funeral.

• With Logan Forsythe on the disabled list, Roberts has wanted to play Chase Utley at second base against right-handed pitching, although he's off to the worst start of his career (1-for-29). • While struggling at Coors Field in his last outing, Cueto recorded just two swinging strikes out of 92 pitches. That 3.3 percent rate was his second-lowest in a start since the beginning of the 2015 season. Dodgers tab Urias to start San Francisco finale By Ken Gurnick SAN FRANCISCO -- Julio Urias will start for the Dodgers in Thursday's series finale against the Giants, manager Dave Roberts confirmed Tuesday. Urias will be called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he pitched 14 innings in three starts after beginning the year in extended spring camp despite being one of the club's best pitchers in Spring Training. The kid-glove treatment is part of management's experiment to limit Urias' innings early in the season so he can pitch in September and October without jeopardizing his 20-year-old arm. Roberts said Urias is expected to remain in the rotation and not be shuttled in and out as the season progresses. "That was why we did what we did, to shorten the season or condense it, to get Julio here and he can be here for the duration," said Roberts. In 2015, at four Minor League stops, an 18-year-old Urias threw a combined 80 1/3 innings. In 2016 that number jumped to 127 2/3 innings in the regular season and postseason, 82 2/3 of them in the Major Leagues, where he went 5-2 with a 3.39 ERA and 84 strikeouts in the regular season. By comparison, in Clayton Kershaw's 19-year-old season of 2007, he pitched 122 innings at Class A and Double-A. In his 20-year-old season of 2008, Kershaw pitched 171 innings at Double-A and the Major Leagues. Urias will give the Dodgers a six-man rotation this time through; however, Roberts said this week that he expects that to be a one-time occurrence. Among the candidates to be bumped from the rotation are the struggling Kenta Maeda and Alex Wood, who would probably return to the bullpen in a long relief role. Kershaw avenges loss to Blach with gem By Ken Gurnick SAN FRANCISCO -- Creating another episode in what could develop into a long-running series, Los Angeles' Clayton Kershaw and San Francisco's Ty Blach combined to forge their second compelling matchup in as many meetings Tuesday as the Dodgers outlasted the Giants, 2-1.

Kershaw played the role of an ace perfectly as he yielded San Francisco's lone run and six hits in seven innings. Kershaw pitched nearly the entire game in discomfort, having been hit on the right calf by the first batter he faced, Hunter Pence. "He knew what this game meant for us," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. "We needed to win this game. With some of the things going on [injuries and short starts], we needed to turn it up today." Kershaw thus evened the score against Blach, a fellow left-hander who permitted two runs and four hits in five innings. Last Oct. 1, the rookie lasted eight innings to defeat the formidable Kershaw, 3-0. "I think it doesn't matter who you're going up against. Every time, you want to compete and give your team a chance to win," said Blach, who has one Major League victory to Kershaw's 130 and zero Cy Young Awards to Kershaw's three. "It doesn't matter who that matchup is. Obviously, you know it's going to be Kershaw, so you need to keep your team close." Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen struck out pinch-hitter Brandon Belt with two on and two outs in the eighth inning before working the ninth to secure his fifth save and third four-out save of the season.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Turner's alert trip: The Dodgers may have stolen a run in the fourth inning. With runners at the corners, nobody out and a run in, Adrian Gonzalez hit a grounder to first baseman Buster Posey, the All-Star catcher who switched positions so another right-handed batter (Nick Hundley) could get in the game. Posey glanced briefly at Justin Turner, the runner at third, to hold him there, then threw to second base for a forceout. Immediately upon taking Posey's relay, shortstop Brandon Crawford fired the ball home and might have nabbed the sliding Turner. But his throw short-hopped Hundley, who couldn't hold on to the ball long enough to make the tag. "That just says something about the player," said Roberts. "Last night he makes an aggressive play that gets him to second base [on a wild pitch], then he makes an aggressive play and gets thrown out to end the game. He plays the way you're supposed to play. To read the throw, and make Crawford make a perfect throw, that was the deciding run, and credit to J.T." At bat, Blach's at home: Maybe Blach should teach a seminar on handling Kershaw. He ran his improbable batting average against the Dodgers ace to .600 (3-for-5) by launching a third-inning double in two at-bats. He proceeded to score the Giants' lone run on Posey's single. When their paths crossed last Oct. 1, Blach went 2-for-3 off Kershaw. "Sometimes you just swing hard and get lucky," Blach said. "Actually, Madison [Bumgarner] came over before the game and said, 'Hey, he's probably going to try to throw you up and in since he threw you [outside] last time.' So I was kind of looking for a pitch in that vicinity." QUOTABLE

"Sometimes you're aggressive on the bases and look [stupid]. Sometimes you're aggressive on the bases and it wins a ballgame." – Turner A PAIR OF FIRSTS This was a big night for one prospect from each team, Los Angeles left fielder Cody Bellinger and San Francisco third baseman Christian Arroyo. Each collected his first Major League hit. Arroyo's was a first-inning single; Bellinger's was a ninth-inning single. "It's one of those things I won't forget," Arroyo said. "Hopefully, there'll be many more where that came from." Bellinger's came on a 3-0 pitch he cued for an infield single. "Not what I expected it to be, but I'll take it," said Bellinger, son of former Major Leaguer Clay Bellinger. "I think I'm going to give it to my mom. I think she'd enjoy it the most." UPON FURTHER REVIEW San Francisco's Eduardo Nunez appeared to be thrown at second on a stolen-base attempt to end the first inning. But the Giants challenged the ruling, which was overturned. The Dodgers challenged a safe call at third base by umpire Todd Tichenor on Posey, who went first to third on a single by Crawford. The call was confirmed and Posey was safe. WHAT'S NEXT Dodgers: Alex Wood gets his third start this year in place of the injured Rich Hill in the Wednesday 7:15 p.m. PT game, while Cody Bellinger is expected to get his second Major League start in the outfield after his callup Tuesday. Wood is 0-2 against the Giants and has an 8.31 ERA at AT&T Park. Giants: Johnny Cueto's coming off his first loss of the season, having allowed all of Colorado's runs in a 6-5 setback last Friday. Facing the Dodgers in Wednesday's 7:15 p.m. PT contest might benefit Cueto, who finished 3-1 with a 2.67 ERA in five starts against Los Angeles last season.

LA TIMES

Dodgers promote Julio Urias, say pitcher is with them to stay By Andy McCullough It was not a secret that Julio Urias would make his 2017 debut for the Dodgers on Thursday against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park. The Dodgers had hinted at his arrival for several days. What remained unclear, at least until Tuesday afternoon, was what the team planned to do with Urias after he pitched against the Giants in the series finale.

Urias, manager Dave Roberts said, is staying in the majors. “That was why we did what we did, to shorten his season, condense it, slow-play it, whatever you want to say,” Roberts said. “So we can now get Julio here, and he can be with us for the duration.” The team will keep six pitchers in its rotation for one turn. Alex Wood will start Wednesday and Kenta Maeda will start Friday. The Dodgers would like Wood to return to the bullpen, where he could become a vital pitcher in high-leverage situations. But if Maeda continues to struggle — he has a record of 1-2 and an earned-run average of 8.05, having given up seven home runs in 19 innings — the team may need Wood in the rotation. Urias is not a candidate to pitch in relief, Roberts said. The Dodgers are expected to cap Urias’ innings somewhere between 160 and 180. The number has not been officially revealed, and the team is unlikely to do so. But they will continue to be cautious with his usage throughout the season. Urias threw 93 pitches in 5 2/3 innings during a game for triple-A Oklahoma City. The performance served, in effect, as his final outing to prepare him for the big league season. Urias had a 3.39 ERA as a rookie for the Dodgers in 2016. “He’s familiar with the big leagues,” Roberts said. “He’s pitched in playoff games. So we’re excited to get him back.” Short hop To make room for the debut of top prospect Cody Bellinger, the Dodgers optioned outfielder Brett Eibner to Oklahoma City. The team designated for assignment pitcher Joe Gunkel to create a spot on the 40-man roster. Cody Bellinger’s debut goes just fine in Dodgers’ 2-1 victory over the Giants By Andy McCullough Cody Bellinger burst through the doorway of the visitors clubhouse at AT&T Park and veered to his left. He stutter-stepped in that direction before he realized his error. The route to the diamond had been in front of him the entire time. “I have no idea where I’m going,” Bellinger joked to a camera crew documenting his first official day as a Dodger, a 2-1 victory over the Giants on Tuesday. His baseball team can relate to feeling adrift. Favored to cruise toward a fifth consecutive National League West title, the Dodgers have staggered through April, unable to find rhythm on offense or consistency from the starting rotation. A slew of injuries has not helped the cause. When Joc Pederson strained his groin in Arizona on Sunday, a door opened for Bellinger. He was one for three and reached base on an intentional walk in his debut. His principal role was manning left field for Clayton Kershaw.

Kershaw (4-1) pitched through a brief scare involving his right leg to log seven innings of one-run baseball. He struck out seven and scattered six hits. The Giants did not reach second base against Kershaw after the third inning. Kenley Jansen secured the victory with a four-out save. Kershaw ended the night with a bruise on his calf after getting drilled in the first inning by a ball hit by outfielder Hunter Pence. The training staff iced and wrapped his leg after the game. Manager Dave Roberts described the effort as “courageous.” “He’s the best in the game, no doubt,” Bellinger said. “I got to witness it firsthand.” In diagramming their plan for 2017, the Dodgers did not intend to promote Bellinger in the season’s first month. The dominoes started to fall in March, when Andre Ethier herniated a disk in his back. Logan Forsythe broke his toe last week. Pederson will be sidelined for 10 days with his injured groin. The injuries accelerated Bellinger’s arrival. With a slew of right-handed pitchers on the upcoming schedule, the team needed left-handed bats. Few hitters in the organization tantalize like Bellinger, who had hit .343 with five home runs in 18 games for triple-A Oklahoma City. “I wanted it to be as soon as possible, but I didn’t really expect it,” Bellinger said. “I’m ready for the task at hand. We’ll see where it goes.” His whirlwind started around 2 a.m. in Oklahoma City. Bellinger shook awake to see four missed calls from director of player development Gabe Kapler. Still groggy, Bellinger called back. Kapler congratulated him on his achievement. Bellinger boarded a flight for San Francisco a few hours later. His family, including his father, former Angels reliever Clay Bellinger, made the trip, too. Bellinger is not a stranger among these Dodgers. He spent spring training with the major league team these last two years. Upon his arrival, he sought the advice of former top prospects like Corey Seager and Pederson. “I think he was just trying to find out what to do,” Seager said. “It’s about just trying to calm down, and be in the moment, and not try and be this big prospect. Just be him, really. He doesn’t need to do anything else.” The players told Bellinger to savor his first at-bat. Take a few extra moments in the box, they told him. Take a look around the stadium. Bellinger listened — until starter Ty Blach made his first pitch. Bellinger got jammed on a popup to shortstop to begin the third inning. The next batter was Kershaw. He chopped into a groundout, but limped as he jogged to first base. Roberts consulted in the dugout with Kershaw, who shooed him away. Back on the mound in the bottom of the inning, Kershaw fell victim to his newest nemesis: Blach, who lifted a chest-high fastball over the head of center fielder Enrique Hernandez for a leadoff double. Pence reached on an infield single that second baseman Chris Taylor failed to charge. Kershaw struck out the next two batters, only to give up a run when a two-out single by first baseman Buster Posey. “My stuff wasn’t great,” Kershaw said. “I just kind of had to grind through it.”

The Dodgers lineup managed to dent Blach in the fourth. Seager walked and Justin Turner singled. Yasiel Puig tied the score with a single up the middle. Turner advanced to third base. The night before, Turner had excoriated himself after getting picked off second base to end the game. The mistake did not lessen his aggression Tuesday. When Adrian Gonzalez rolled a grounder to first base, Turner waited until Posey flung the ball to shortstop Brandon Crawford for one out. Turner broke home and crossed the plate safely when Crawford’s throw bounced past catcher Nick Hundley. In the ninth, Bellinger found a moment to savor. Up 3-0 in the count, he chopped a groundball to the left side of the infield. Sprinting to first, he managed to beat the throw for an infield single. It was the first hit of his career in the first game of his career, on a night when the Dodgers did not have to gnash their teeth with frustration. Bellinger kept the baseball as a memento. He planned to give it to his mother. “That’s not how I imagined it,” Bellinger said. “But I’ll take it.”

OC REGISTER On deck: Dodgers at Giants, Wednesday, 7:15 p.m. By Bill Plunkett DODGERS at GIANTS When: Wednesday, 7:15 p.m. TV: SportsNet LA (where available); MLB Network (blacked out in Southern California Where: AT&T Park THE PITCHERS DODGERS LHP ALEX WOOD (1-0, 3.29 ERA) Vs. Giants: 0-2, 6.89 ERA At AT&T Park: 0-1, 8.31 ERA Hates to face: Buster Posey, 4 for 7 (.571), 2 doubles Loves to face: Aaron Hill, 0 for 6 GIANTS RHP JOHNNY CUETO (3-1, 5.25 ERA)

Vs. Dodgers: 5-6, 2.74 ERA At AT&T Park: 11-4, 2.61 ERA Hates to face: Corey Seager, 6 for 17 (.353), 1 double Loves to face: Yasiel Puig, 0 for 7, 5 strikeouts Dodgers Notes: Top prospect Cody Bellinger calls promotion ‘a dream come true’ By Bill Plunkett SAN FRANCISCO – Cody Bellinger slept through the most important call of his life. Four times. Dodgers director of player development Gabe Kapler was trying to reach Bellinger at his apartment in Oklahoma City to tell the top prospect in the organization that he had been promoted to the major leagues and needed to get on a plane to San Francisco. Bellinger’s roommate, pitcher Trevor Oaks, had already been through this with another roommate (Chris Taylor) recently and he had to wake Bellinger. “I actually had four missed calls from him,” Bellinger said. “I’m sure like everyone else, I was kind of speechless. … I was half-asleep. I called my parents right away and I think they started crying on the phone. It was a pretty cool moment. “It’s a dream come true.” It was a moment that came earlier than expected – even for Bellinger, who got advice from Corey Seager and Joc Pederson this spring about waiting for that call. “I’m not going to lie – I wanted it to be as soon as possible. I didn’t really expect it,” he said. “But I’m ready for it and we’ll see how it goes.” Off to a 9-11 start with losses in six of their eight games before Tuesday night, however, the Dodgers’ offense has been sporadic at best. Left field, in particular has been unproductive. Through those first 20 games, Dodgers left fielders (primarily Andrew Toles) hit .200 (24th in the majors) with a .263 on-base percentage (also 24th) and .663 OPS (18th). Bellinger is a gifted first baseman with defensive skills that scouts project as Gold Glove-caliber. But his immediate future will be in trying to boost the offense from left field. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts started him there in Bellinger’s big-league debut Tuesday and said he will be in the lineup for the final three games against the Giants despite the fact that the left-handed Bellinger will be facing two left-handed starting pitchers (Ty Blach on Tuesday, Matt Moore on Thursday). “I see him in the outfield right now. Obviously, things can change but over the course of the next few, three, four, six, seven days either in center field or most likely left field,” Roberts said. “I think while he’s here he’ll be out there quite a bit. I don’t know about every day. … Cody has hit left-handed pitching throughout his entire professional career. So I feel good about the at-bat.”

Bellinger spent a good deal of time this spring being drilled in the finer elements of outfield defense by Dodgers coach George Lombard, figuring that would be a faster route to the big leagues than first base where veteran Adrian Gonzalez is entrenched. He did not, however, hit well during the Cactus League schedule, going 12 for 58 (.207) with 20 strikeouts. But Bellinger tore up Pacific Coast League pitching from the start of the regular season. He was 23 for 67 (.343) with nine extra-base hits (four doubles, five home runs) and a 1.055 OPS in 18 games for the OKC Dodgers. “I was working with (Shawn) Wooten, our Triple-A hitting coach, all spring,” Bellinger said. “The results in spring I didn’t really care about. I was working on a new swing sort of just so I could hit more advanced pitching. In Triple-A and obviously up here, the ball moves and it’s not going to be a straight heater all the time. I’ve been working on my swing path and my stance.” URIAS ARRIVES Roberts ended the faux attempt to hide the Dodgers’ rotation plans and confirmed Tuesday that left-hander Julio Urias will start Thursday for the Dodgers against the Giants. Urias will be making his 2017 big-league debut after making three starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City. The Dodgers kept the reins on Urias to delay the start of his season for nearly a month as part of their plan to limit his innings. Those reins are off now and Roberts said he expects Urias to be in the Dodgers’ rotation the rest of the season. “That was why we did what we did,” Roberts said. “To kind of shorten the season, condense it, slow play it – whatever you want to say – to now get Julio here and he can be with us for the duration, yes.” ALSO Lefty reliever Grant Dayton (on the DL with a strained muscle in his left side) struck out all three batters he faced in the first inning for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga on Tuesday night. Dayton is expected to be activated when the Dodgers return home this weekend.

Dodgers hang on for 2-1 win in San Francisco behind Clayton Kershaw By Bill Plunkett SAN FRANCISCO – Clayton Kershaw has a pretty good AT&T bundle. The Dodgers ace took a hard ground ball off his right calf in the first inning but held the San Francisco Giants to one run over seven innings Tuesday night as the Dodgers white-knuckled a 2-1 victory. “That’s impressive, especially after the first hitter of the game hits him in the calf,” Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner said. “That probably didn’t feel great. I’ve had it and it (stinks). “To go seven innings like that – just add it to his legacy, just add it to his … ridiculousness.”

It’s definitely another page in Kershaw’s ledger at AT&T Park where he is the only Dodger who seems impervious to whatever kryptonite lurks in the visitors’ dugout. The Dodgers have now won just five of their past 22 games at AT&T Park – and Kershaw has started four of those (Brett Anderson the other). Kershaw has never allowed more than three runs or pitched fewer than six innings in a start at AT&T Park. Over his career, he is now 11-4 with a 1.36 ERA in 19 games (18 starts) in San Francisco and the Giants have batted just .173 against him despite getting more than 500 plate appearances in their home park to try and figure him out. “The calf really wasn’t a problem,” Kershaw said – contradicting his manager who said he held his breath for seven innings, hoping the cold weather in San Francisco didn’t turn a contusion into something more serious. “It’s not my push-off leg. It’s my landing foot. So pitching is fine. When I tried to move quick – for me – (out of the batter’s box in the third inning), it kind of grabbed me. It didn’t feel great. But I’m not worried. I’ll be fine.” He was eventually Tuesday. After Pence’s damage, Christian Arroyo singled to left (his first major-league hit) and Eduardo Nunez bounced into a forceout. Kershaw had Nunez picked off first base for a tidy nine-pitch first inning. But a replay review showed second baseman Chris Taylor had missed the tag and Nunez was safe at second. That extended the inning for an extra 10 pitches (including a walk of Buster Posey). Two innings later, Kershaw’s right foot bothered him as he broke out of the batter’s box on a ground out. When he went out to the mound for the bottom of the inning, he left a fastball up to the opposing starter, Ty Blach, who lofted a deep fly ball to left-center field. With the outfield playing in for Blach (who now has three hits against Kershaw), the ball fell for a double. The next batter bounced one through the middle and off the pitcher’s mound but Taylor was slow to field it and Pence beat it out for a single. Kershaw struck out Arroyo and Nunez, ready to strand runners at the corners, but Corey Seager couldn’t get to Posey’s ground ball to his left and it went for an RBI single. Kershaw could be seen letting loose with primal roars at least three times on the infield grass in frustration or anger over giving up a run. “There were some things out of his control defensively,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “But for him to go seven innings like that – I can’t say enough about the effort. We really needed it tonight.” That was all Kershaw would stand for. He retired 13 of the next 15 batters he faced after Posey’s ground-ball single. Roberts called it a night for Kershaw after 90 pitches and handed the 2-1 lead to Pedro Baez. He got the first two outs in the eighth before Roberts went to Kenley Jansen to face Posey with no one on.

It didn’t stay that way for long. Posey and Brandon Crawford singled to put runners on the corners. Jansen had to strike out Brandon Belt on a full count to get out of that mess before retiring the side in the ninth to record his third four-out save in three consecutive appearances over the past 11 days. “To be honest with you, it felt like I hadn’t pitched in a year,” said Jansen, who actually hadn’t pitched since last Wednesday. “Today, I felt like I got mentally through that inning, with this (taps his forehead) – not quitting and not letting down.”

ESPN

Cody Bellinger could be a difference-maker for the Dodgers By Jim Bowden The Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday called up one of the best prospects in baseball: Cody Bellinger. He is the premier first-base prospect in the minors with the potential to provide a .350 OBP, 30 home runs and 100 RBIs while also providing Gold Glove-caliber defense. The only problem is he's blocked by veteran first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. This is why in spring training the Dodgers worked him a lot in left field to give them a second option to play him. Now that he's in Dodger blue, will he be in the bigs to stay? Well, let's hold off on that for a bit. But his potential talent was so alluring that it wasn't too far-fetched for me in February to think of him as the Dodgers' everyday left fielder: "Here is where it gets tricky. To be conservative, the right move would be for Bellinger to start the year in Triple-A and be ready in case [Adrian] Gonzalez gets hurt in the middle of the season or once rosters expand in September. However, Bellinger's bat is ready now -- he's arguably the Dodgers' best hitter after Corey Seager. That's where my bold prediction comes in. I think the Dodgers will play him in left field some during spring training and quickly realize that he is more than adequate out there. He will show them that he's a far more advanced run producer than any of their current candidates in left, such as Andrew Toles, Andre Ethier and Scott Van Slyke." Bellinger did play adequate defensively, which is why when the Dodgers' big league offense started to sputter, they put him back in left field at Triple-A Oklahoma City. Once again, he held his own. When Joc Pederson went on the 10-day disabled list on April 24 with a groin pull, Bellinger became the logical option from the minor leagues because he's been flat out raking. His slash line in Oklahoma City was an impressive .343/.429/.627 with four doubles, five home runs and 15 RBIs. Dodgers left fielder Andrew Toles, who has started half of the games in left, has been a big disappointment this season, slashing just .220/.278/.400 with only seven RBIs. With Pederson and Franklin Gutierrez on the DL, the Dodgers could put Toles in center against righties while using Enrique Hernandez against lefties. The Dodgers also could use a combination of Brett Eibner and Scott Van Slyke in both center and left field against certain lefties.

To give Bellinger a short-term call-up makes sense. If he struggles, there are no issues in sending him back to OKC when Pederson gets healthy. The Dodgers can do this without setting back Bellinger's development. However, if his offensive potential shows up, he could do enough damage to not only stay in the Dodgers' lineup for the short term but maybe even for the long term. It's too early to tell if he's major league ready, but the Dodgers, based on their struggling offense from left field and the injury to Pederson, are certainly making the right call by giving him a chance. Dodgers lefty Julio Urias to return to majors for Thursday’s start By Doug Padilla SAN FRANCISCO -- The wait for Julio Urias' return to the major leagues will end this week, as the Los Angeles Dodgers confirmed the left-hander will start Thursday's road game against the Giants. The 20-year-old, who pitched well for the Dodgers last year and made two postseason appearances (one start), was held back in the minor leagues to open this season, as the Dodgers tried to play it safe with his innings total. Urias made three starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City this month, posting a 1.93 ERA over 14 innings. In his most recent outing, he pitched 5⅔ shutout innings on two hits, while throwing 93 pitches. "I think that he is throwing the ball well, and he was much more efficient in his last start," Manager Dave Roberts said before the Dodgers 2-1 win over San Francisco Tuesday. "Julio, we just feel good about the head, the confidence, the compete. He's familiar with the big leagues, he's pitched in playoff games, so we're excited to get him back." The Dodgers gave a then 19-year-old Urias his first taste of the major leagues last season on May 27. His first two starts, on the road against the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs, were a bit rocky, as Urias combined to pitch just 7⅔ innings while giving up eight earned runs and 13 hits. "We can now get Julio [Arias] here, and he can be with us for the duration,'' manager Dave Roberts said of the 20-year-old left-hander possibly being up in the majors for good. Denis Poroy/Getty Images His true talent began to show following his home debut on June 7. From that point until the end of the season, Urias pitched in 16 games (13 starts) and posted a 5-1 record with a 2.73 ERA. The Dodgers have been uneven out of their starting rotation in the opening month of this season. Clayton Kershaw and Brandon McCarthy have pitched well, but Kenta Maeda and Hyun-Jin Ryu have not been dependable, and lefty Rich Hill already is on the disabled list with blister issues on the middle finger of his pitching hand. Ryu was better on Monday at San Francisco, giving up one run over six innings. The Dodgers have not said what Urias' innings limits might be this season. He threw 122 innings last season between the major leagues and the minor leagues, suggesting he will at least be asked to give that much this year, if healthy, and could push toward the 150-inning mark.

"That was why we did what we did, to kind of shorten the season, condense it, slow play it, whatever you want to say, to now get Julio here, and he can be with us for the duration," Roberts said. Clayton Kershaw strikes out seven, Dodgers beat Giants 2-1 By AP SAN FRANCISCO -- Clayton Kershaw had no plans of leaving the game, even after taking a ball off the right calf during his first at-bat. The training staff wrapped his leg to decrease the chance of any swelling, and the Dodgers ace pitched on without his best stuff. Kershaw struck out seven over seven innings in another impressive performance in San Francisco's home ballpark, and Los Angeles beat the Giants 2-1 Tuesday night to end a four-game losing streak against its rival. "The calf really wasn't a problem, it was more of a stuff thing tonight," Kershaw said. "My stuff wasn't great. I just kind of had to grind through it a little bit." Buster Posey extended his hitting streak to 11 games with an RBI single in the third that put the Giants ahead, but then Yasiel Puig singled in a run in the fourth and Adrian Gonzalez's groundout drove in another on which Justin Turner slid home to beat a throw by shortstop Brandon Crawford. The Dodgers, who were on the other end of a 2-1 result a night earlier, also ended a six-game skid at AT&T Park to avoid matching the franchise's longest winless stretch in San Francisco from April 21-Sept. 28, 2015. Lefty Ty Blach (0-1) allowed two runs and four hits in five innings making his first start in place of injured Madison Bumgarner. The ace southpaw bruised his ribs and sprained the AC joint in his pitching shoulder in a dirt bike accident last Thursday during a day off in Colorado. Crawford grabbed his right groin immediately after rounding first when he followed Posey's two-out single in the eighth with a base hit off Kenley Jansen. The shortstop was looked at by athletic trainer Dave Groeschner then came out of the game. Pinch-hitter Brandon Belt then struck out to strand Posey on third as the tying run. Crawford is likely to have an MRI exam before he leaves Wednesday to attend the funeral of his sister-in-law, who recently died of an asthma attack. He is expected to be placed on the bereavement list and miss three games. "It just felt tight. I didn't feel a pop or anything like that so from what I hear that's good news," Crawford said.

In the ninth, Cody Bellinger beat out an infield single in his major league debut after being called up by the Dodgers to start in left field. A day after San Francisco promoted top prospect Christian Arroyo to play third base, the Dodgers brought up their top prospect from the same 2013 draft class. "It's not how I imagined it would be but I'll take it," Bellinger said. Arroyo also got his first major league hit -- and a lengthy standing ovation -- on a single in the first after going 0 for 4 with three groundouts and a strikeout in his debut a day earlier after being called up from Triple-A Sacramento. Kershaw (4-1) allowed six hits and one run, walking one as he improved to 11-4 in 19 outings and 18 starts in San Francisco's waterfront ballpark. Jansen finished for his fifth save and the 15th of his career recording four outs. "It was a courageous effort," manager Dave Roberts said of Kershaw. "He refused to come out of the game. ... When he pitches, it's one of our most stressful days. When he pitches, we need to win." Turner matched his career-best hitting streak at 11 games with a first-inning single. TRAINER'S ROOM Dodgers: LHP Julio Urias will be back in the majors to start Thursday's series finale for the Dodgers, and he may be up for good. "We can now get Julio here, and he can be with us for the duration," Roberts said. Giants: An MRI exam on Matt Cain's tight right hamstring that he felt during his win Monday showed no problems and he is slated to take his next turn in the rotation. ... CF Denard Span did some cage work and was set to take batting practice on the field Wednesday with the hope he will be back in the starting lineup Thursday. He has a mild right shoulder sprain that forced him out of Saturday's game at Colorado after he hurt it long-tossing. UP NEXT Dodgers: LHP Alex Wood (1-0, 3.29 ERA), who has never beaten the Giants in six outings and two starts, makes his third start of the year and second in a row trying to stick in the rotation. Giants: RHP Johnny Cueto (3-1, 5.25) looks to bounce back from his lone loss last weekend at Colorado. Clayton Kershaw sets tone in victory – and for the next generation By Doug Padilla SAN FRANCISCO -- As the next generation of Los Angeles Dodgers are being added to the fold here in the Bay Area this week, a member of the old guard keeps showing why he remains the team's most popular player of all.

Clayton Kershaw fought through an early deficit and cramps in his right calf to hold off the rival San Francisco Giants in a gritty 2-1 victory on Tuesday night. In left field for the Dodgers was Cody Bellinger, the team's top hitting prospect, who was added to give a boost to a lackluster offense. Already in town is left-hander Julio Urias, whose 2017 debut was delayed as the Dodgers control his innings, but who is ultimately slated to be the yang to Kershaw's yin. He will make his first start of the season Thursday. As the Dodgers work on something of a youth movement, a personnel tweak highlighted this week with the addition of a 21-year-old position player and a 20-year-old pitcher, it is the veteran Kershaw leading the way and setting examples to follow. Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw pitched seven strong innings despite battling a calf issue during Tuesday night's game. "He's just a whole other animal," third baseman Justin Turner said of Kershaw. AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez "Impressive, especially after the first batter of the game hits him in the calf [with a comebacker]," third baseman Justin Turner said. "Obviously that probably didn't feel great. I've had that before and it sucks. For him to go seven innings and throw the way he did with a banged-up calf just added to his legacy, added to his ridiculousness." The injury happened when Hunter Pence hit Kershaw's second pitch of the game back up the middle. Kershaw sacrificed his body for the play, first blocking the ball with his leg, then retrieving the ball to make the play at first base. He appeared fine until trying to break out of the batter's box on a ground ball in the third inning. After his first step he pulled up his right leg as if stepping on glass at the beach. "It just kind of grabbed," Kershaw said. "It was my right leg, so it's not my push-off leg pitching, so pitching was fine. Just when I tried to move fast ... for me, I just pushed off and I felt it. It didn't feel great, but I'm not worried about it." Kershaw is in a Dodgers uniform, of course, to light the ignition on victories, something he is more than adept at doing. But it is the way he goes about his business that also is a boon to the team. Extremely locked in on days he pitches, and very locked in on the days he doesn't, Kershaw sets the tone for the next generation of Dodgers just by being himself. So when a Buster Posey ground ball in the third inning got just under the glove of a diving Corey Seager for the first run of Tuesday's game, Kershaw bounced off the mound, slammed his left fist into his glove and screamed into the leather three times in succession. It was a half-inning after he nearly pulled up lame on the basepaths, but he was nowhere near about to give in. Two early miscues on defense by second baseman Chris Taylor -- one on a missed tag and another when he was slow to react to a ground ball -- had helped the Giants' cause. Kershaw, though, was not giving into anything happening around him either physically or with breakdowns on defense. He was determined to get after it.

"I don't want to be too over the top, but obviously the compete, the will, it was a courageous effort, it really was," manager Dave Roberts said. "He refused to come out of the game. There were things out of his control defensively, but for him to keep his focus and to continue to compete, get guys out and give us length, go seven innings, I can't say enough about that effort. We needed it tonight." Bellinger took it all in from left field. He knows all about Kershaw's success, sharing a locker room with him the past two springs, but Tuesday was his night to find out what one of the best pitchers in baseball was all about. "It's spectacular," Bellinger said. "He's the best in the game right now, there's no doubt. I kind of got to witness it firsthand. It's really impressive and I was just doing what I could to play defense and help him win." It was just one game together, but Bellinger was ready to start learning from Kershaw's competitive nature immediately. "You can just tell the guys who have been here for a while and are going to be here for a while," Bellinger said. "I guess it's everyone in here. There is a full veteran presence and just great guys that are making you feel comfortable." In Kershaw's case, it was making everybody feel comfortable except the opponent. He retired 13 of his last 15 batters, including 10 consecutive at one stretch. He was actually getting better as the game went on, with a run of success that started after his fit of anger on the mound. "I don't think you have another gear until you get to the point you need it, you know what I mean?" Kershaw said. "Nothing really physically or mentally changes, it just happens that you have to have your good stuff. It's frustrating when you think you get a ground ball to get out of it and it just finds a hole. That's frustrating. Fortunate to keep it to one there and it kept us in the game." And as Turner said, it added another bit to Kershaw's legend. "I think he's pretty nasty whether he's screaming or yelling or just going about his business," Turner said. "But yeah, he demands perfection out of himself and he wants to win and he's a competitor. I know the last guy in the world he wants to give up an RBI hit to is Posey, so that's probably frustrating. He wasn't too happy about a fly ball (from Giants pitcher Ty Blach) getting down. "He's just a whole other animal. That's the way he is. He's just a competitor and wants to win more than anyone every time he's on the mound." And if that doesn't set the best example for the next generation, then nothing will.

TRUE BLUE LA

Cody Bellinger called up to make major league debut with Dodgers By Eric Stephen

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers top prospect will make his major league debut against the club’s fiercest rival. Cody Bellinger will be called up on Tuesday, per Ken Gurnick of MLB.com and confirmed by Andy McCullough of the LA Times, joining the Dodgers in San Francisco before their second of four games against the Giants at AT&T Park. The Dodgers confirmed the call up. The move comes one day after center fielder Joc Pederson was reevaluated in San Francisco and placed on the 10-day disabled list with a right groin strain. The Dodgers will need to make a corresponding roster move for Bellinger on the active roster. Brett Eibner got the call up on Monday when Pederson was placed on the DL. Bellinger will also need to be placed on the 40-man roster, which will require another move. Bellinger is off to a hot start this season, hitting .343/.429/.627 with five home runs, leading Oklahoma City in runs scored (15), RBI (14), walks (nine), and even stolen bases (seven for seven). He has reached base in 17 of his 18 games, including the last 12 straight. After starting each of the first 18 games of the season, Bellinger didn’t play on Tuesday morning in OKC’s 6-0 win over Memphis. Afterward, Oklahoma City manager Bill Haselman played the role of good organizational soldier. At 21, Bellinger was one of the youngest players in the Pacific Coast League. Primarily a first baseman, Bellinger has also started two games in center field this season, and made his first start in left field this year on Monday. With Double-A Tulsa in 2016, Bellinger played 13 games in left field, 13 games in center field, and nine games in right field. Whether the left-handed Bellinger plays left or center field with the Dodgers, but the Dodgers are set to face a string of right-handed pitchers in the next two weeks or so. Left-hander Ty Blach starts Tuesday, and the Dodgers will face southpaw Matt Moore this week and next, but those are the only three lefties tentatively scheduled for the next nine games, and if we stretch out to the next 15 games, Clayton Richard of the Padres is the only other likely lefty to face the Dodgers. UPDATE: Some pregame words from manager Dave Roberts.

Dodgers option Brett Eibner to Oklahoma City, DFA Joe Gunkel By Eric Stephen LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers made official their call up of top prospect Cody Bellinger on Tuesday, and optioned outfielder Brett Eibner to Triple-A Oklahoma City. It has been a busy week for Eibner, who was recalled Wednesday then went 0-for-5 in three games with the Dodgers, starting once each in left field and center field. He was optioned back to Triple-A on Sunday, then recalled on Monday when Joc Pederson was placed on the DL.

To make room on the 40-man roster for Bellinger, pitcher Joe Gunkel was designated for assignment. The Dodgers acquired Gunkel from the Orioles on Apr. 10 for a player to be named later or cash considerations. Gunkel allowed five runs (four earned) on 12 hits in nine innings with Oklahoma City over three games, including one start, with six strikeouts and no walks. The Dodgers will have seven days to decide what to do next with the right-hander. If he clears waivers, he could be sent outright to the minors and remain in the organization, only off the 40-man roster. Bellinger will wear No. 35, the same number his father Clay Bellinger wore with the Yankees in 1999 and 2000, his first two major league seasons. Julio Urias to start Thursday for Dodgers By Eric Stephen The Dodgers will call up Julio Urias to start on Thursday against the Giants in San Francisco, manager Dave Roberts told reporters on Tuesday, after hinting at the move over the last few days. Roberts on Monday said that Kenta Maeda was pushed back to Friday and that for one time through the rotation the Dodgers would use six starters. The team doesn’t have an off day until next Thursday, May 4. Urias struck out six in 5⅔ scoreless innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday night, his third minor league start in what was essentially the end of his spring training. Urias never pitched longer than three innings in any appearance during spring training — even counting minor league appearances and simulated games — but pitched 14 total innings in three games in Triple-A. The 20-year-old left-hander threw 93 pitches on Friday, a number reached only six times this season by a Dodgers starter — Clayton Kershaw three times, Hyun-jin Ryu twice, and Brandon McCarthy on Sunday. Urias had a 3.39 ERA in 2016 as a rookie with the Dodgers in 18 games, including 15 starts, with 84 strikeouts and 31 walks in 77 innings. Clayton Kershaw gives Dodgers a leg up By Eric Stephen The Dodgers found themselves on the right side of one of their classic low-scoring affairs in San Francisco, prevailing on Tuesday by the same score that struck them down the night before, earning a 2-1 win over the Giants in the second game of a four-game series at AT&T Park.

After losses in their first four one-run contests of 2017, the Dodgers finally nabbed a victory. All it took was finally scoring a run against Ty Blach, who ran his personal scoreless streak against Los Angeles to 14 innings before the Dodgers started the fourth inning with a walk and two singles to tie the game at 1-1, the tying run brought home on an RBI knock from Yasiel Puig. A night after the game ended on a throw from Buster Posey to Brandon Crawford, Posey was at first base on Tuesday, and his throw to Crawford on a ground ball by Adrian Gonzalez nearly started a 3-6-2 double play. But the throw home got away from catcher Nick Hundley, and this time Justin Turner was safe, for a 2-1 lead. Clayton Kershaw made it hold up, even if it looked earlier like his night might have ended prematurely. The third inning was especially frustrating for Kershaw, starting in the top of the frame. Kershaw grounded out but while running to first base almost immediate pulled up lame, appearing to favor his right leg. He winced walking back to the dugout but stayed in the game. This stemmed from the first play of the game, when Kershaw was hit by a Hunter Pence comebacker before recovering to throw him out. In the bottom of the third inning, Kershaw allowed a fly ball to deep left center field. A catchable ball in normal circumstances, but with center fielder Kiké Hernandez and left fielder Cody Bellinger playing incredibly shallow the ball fell for a double for the pitcher Blach, now 3-for-5 against Kershaw in his career. Kershaw’s reaction to the hit was priceless. A ground ball to second base off the mound followed, but Chris Taylor couldn’t throw to first in time, giving the Giants a real scoring opportunity. Kershaw responded with two strikeouts, then got Buster Posey to roll over to shortstop, only to see the ball get under Corey Seager’s glove for an RBI single and a 1-0 lead. After the third inning, Kershaw retired 12 of his final 14 batters faced, and struck out seven in his seven innings for his fourth win. Pedro Baez got the first two outs of the eighth inning before Kenley Jansen was brought in to face Posey and attempt a four-out save. Posey and Crawford singled off Jansen, but he struck out Brandon Belt on a full count to end the threat, then set the Giants down in order in the ninth for his fifth save. The debut Cody Bellinger was 1-for-3 with a walk in his major league debut. The walk was intentional, making him just the third Dodger since at least 1913 to be intentionally walked in their major league debut, joining Chico Fernandez (1956) and Dick Nen (1963). Bellinger’s first hit was an infield grounder near third base which, against the shift, was in no man’s land enough for Bellinger to beat the throw to first base. Neil Ramirez was the pitcher.

Up next The Dodgers continue their parade of left-handed pitchers, starting Alex Wood on Wednesday night, another 7:15 p.m. PT start. Johnny Cueto starts for the Giants. Tuesday particulars Home runs: none WP - Clayton Kershaw (4-1): 7 IP, 6 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts LP - Ty Blach (0-1): 5 IP, 4 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts Sv - Kenley Jansen (5): 1⅓ IP, 2 hits, 2 strikeouts Devin Smeltzer strikes out 8 in Loons 9-0 win By Craig Minami Dodger minor league pitchers only gave up runs in two of the 36 innings they pitched today. That was good for three big wins and a one-run loss. Player of the day Several players could be named player of the day but I am going with Great Lakes left-handed pitcher Devin Smeltzer. Smeltzer pitched six scoreless innings and struck out eight in the Loons 9-0 win. Those six innings extended his consecutive scoreless inning streak to 15 innings pitched in his last three appearances. The 21-year old has struck out 21 and walked just two in his 18 innings of work in April. Triple-A Oklahoma City Oklahoma City had to get up early for their late morning start time but it paid off as they won their second straight game by a 6-0 score over the Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals). Jair Jurrjens pitched six innings and gave up no runs, four hits, one walk and struck out four. Patrick Schuster and Layne Somsen followed Jurrjens and did not allow any runs or hits in their work on Tuesday. Willie Calhoun and O’Koyea Dickson had big games at the plate. Calhoun was 3-for-5 with a double and his first home run of the season. Dickson also doubled and homered, he also walked twice and scored three runs. Double-A Tulsa

The Drillers scored first but a three-run second inning by the Arkansas Travelers (Mariners) was just a little too much and the Travelers won 3-2 to take the second game of their series. Isaac Anderson gave up the three runs in his 4⅓ innings of work. Tim Shibuya and Yaisel Sierra kept the Drillers close by finishing the game with no more runs scored by the Travelers. Edwin Rios and Matt Beaty each had three hits. Rios has done everything but walk (two walks in 72+ plate appearances) in the early season, he is hitting .386/.403/.614 with three home runs and seven doubles. Class-A Rancho Cucamonga The Quakes won their fifth straight game on Tuesday night taking down the San Jose Giants 9-1 behind some more excellent pitching and hitting. Grant Dayton, Los Angeles Dodgers left-handed reliever, made a rehab start and he struck out the side. However, Dennis Santana was the pitching star of the night at Rancho Cucamonga. Santana pitched six innings, allowed a run, six hits, one hit-by-pitch and he struck out seven. The Quakes offense produced nine runs, 12 hits and received eight walks. Ibandel Isabel hit a two-run home run in the fourth that gave the Quakes the lead that they never relinquished. Isabel was 3-for-4 with that home run, he also hit a double and scored three runs. Drew Jackson had two hits, Yusniel Diaz, Drew Jackson and Luke Raley each had two hits. Will Smith extended his hitting streak to ten games with a single. Class-A Great Lakes The Loons won their third straight by defeating the Lake County Captains (Indians) 9-0. It was a 1-0 game until the Loons scored eight runs in the sixth inning. Smeltzer faced only one batter over the minimum in his six innings. In his last three games, Smeltzer has struck out 19 and walked one in 15 innings pitched. The Loons had 14 hits, two were extra-base hits, a Cody Thomas double and a home run by Brendon Davis. Carlos Rincon and Mitchell Hansen each had three hits, Oneil Cruz, Davis, Cody Thomas and Keibert Ruiz had two hits apiece. Transactions Triple-A: Los Angeles selected the contract of 1B/outfielder Cody Bellinger from Oklahoma City; Los Angeles optioned outfielder Brett Eibner to Oklahoma City. Double-A: Tulsa activated outfielder Johan Mieses from the 7-day disabled list; outfielder Logan Landon assigned to Rancho Cucamonga from Tulsa.

Class-A: Los Angeles sent left-handed pitcher Grant Dayton on a rehab assignment to Rancho Cucamonga; infielder Garrett Hope assigned to Dodgers Extended Spring Training from Rancho Cucamonga; right-handed pitcher Miguel Urena assigned to Great Lakes from Arizona Dodgers. Tuesday scores Oklahoma City 6, Memphis 0 Arkansas 3, Tulsa 2 Rancho Cucamonga 9, San Jose 1 Great Lakes 9, Lake County 0 Wednesday schedule 10:35 a.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Walker Buehler) vs. San Jose (Jake McCasland ) 11:05 a.m.: Great Lakes (A.J. Alexy) vs. Lake County (Juan Hillman) 2:05 p.m.: Tulsa (Colt Hynes) vs. Arkansas Travelers (Tyler Herb)

DODGER INSIDER

Dodgers’ top prospect Bellinger arrives By Rowan Kavner The Dodgers’ top prospect and baseball’s top first-base prospect has arrived. Cody Bellinger, the Dodgers’ fourth-round selection in 2013 whose OPS sits at 1.055 through 18 games at Triple-A Oklahoma City, had his contract selected Tuesday and is set to make his Major League debut. Bellinger, who called it “a dream come true,” told reporters he found out the news around 2 a.m. Monday night. “Once I got off the phone, I called my parents,” Bellinger said. “I think they started crying on the phone, so it was a pretty cool moment for me.” To make room on the active roster, the Dodgers optioned outfielder Brett Eibner, who had been recalled Monday when Joc Pederson went on the disabled list with a groin strain. To create room on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers designated pitcher Joe Gunkel for assignment. While Bellinger is the top first base prospect, his defensive skill set goes beyond that position. The Dodgers are shorthanded in the outfield with Andre Ethier (10-day disabled list) and Franklin Gutierrez (10-day DL) still sidelined and Pederson going to the 10-day DL to start the week.

The vast majority of Bellinger’s innings this year with Oklahoma City have come at first base, but he’s also logged 17 innings in center field and nine in left field, getting plenty of work at those two spots as he’s worked his way up the Dodger farm system since 2013. And wherever he goes, the power follows. Now in his fifth professional season, Bellinger has posted a .343/.429/.627 slashline with five home runs, four doubles and 15 RBI in 18 games with Oklahoma City, continuing his Triple-A power display from September 2016, when he mashed three home runs in three games for Oklahoma City. Bellinger launched 30 home runs in his lone season at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga in 2015, also adding 33 doubles and knocking in 103 runs. It was then on to Double-A and Triple-A action in 2016, spending more time in the former, hitting 23 home runs in fewer than 400 at-bats for Tulsa. He’s posted a slugging percentage better than .500 each year since 2015, but he can also m ove for a 6–4, 210-pound first baseman. Bellinger’s recorded at least eight stolen bases each of the past three years, and he’s already stolen seven bases without getting caught in 2017. Bellinger’s promotion comes after the 21-year-old started 2017 ranking in the top 10 in the Pacific Coast League in home runs, RBI, runs, stolen bases, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS. Plus, the lefty has shown an ability to hit both righties and lefties. While he’s only recorded nine plate appearances against left-handed pitchers this year, Bellinger was just as strong against lefties last year (.284/.348/.578) as he was against righties (.266/.370/.484). In his first big-league game, he’ll be playing behind Clayton Kershaw and will see a lefty in San Francisco’s Ty Blach, who’s stepping in for the injured Madison Bumgarner. Interestingly enough, Bellinger signed his contract exactly 59 years to the day Don Drysdale’s contract was approved. Roberts: Urías to start Thursday By Rowan Kavner Cody Bellinger won’t be the only highly coveted young star to join the Dodgers this week. Manager Dave Roberts said Monday that Kenta Maeda’s start would be pushed back to Friday, and he confirmed to reporters a day later that Thursday’s start will go to Julio Urías, who most recently pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday. He said the Dodgers would like to see Urías with the team for the “duration,” which is why the 20-year-old pitcher was being built up in extended spring and the Minors. Urías only threw 3 2/3 innings in his first start for Oklahoma City, then an inning longer in his next start and finally another inning longer in his third and final start at Triple-A. Much like Bellinger, Roberts said the Dodgers feel confident about Urías’ confidence. Roberts expressed his excitement for return of Urías, who held a 1.93 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 14 innings over three starts at

Triple-A this year after making his Dodger debut last year, going 5–2 with a 3.39 ERA and 1.46 WHIP with 84 strikeouts in 77 innings over 15 starts as a rookie. Other Notes: · The other biggest news of the day happened earlier, with the Dodgers selecting the contract of their top prospect, Cody Bellinger, who’s in the starting lineup making his MLB debut Tuesday. Roberts said the Dodgers needed healthy bodies with injuries throughout the outfield, and left field is where he’ll play most with the big-league club. · Roberts said he believes Joc Pederson (10-day DL — groin) will be ready when his 10 days are up. · The Dodgers are looking to snap a six-game losing streak at AT&T Park and avoid tying their longest losing streak in San Francisco since April 21-Sept. 28, 2015. · Clayton Kershaw enters Tuesday tied for the league lead in wins with three. He’s pitching in a location that’s always been comfortable for him. In 18 career games at AT&T Park, he’s posted a 10–4 record with a 1.36 ERA while holding opponents to a .170 batting average and striking out 128 batters against just 24 walks. · Justin Turner enters Tuesday on a 10-game hitting streak, one game shy of tying his career high of 11 consecutive games with a hit, set Aug. 26-Sept. 11, 2011. Corey Seager enters the night having hit safely in 11 of his last 14 games, raising his slashline for the season to .311/.381/.514. · Farm Talk: 2016 first-round pick Will Smith was named California League Player of the Week on Monday, earning the first award of his pro career, hitting safely in all seven games for the week for Rancho Cucamonga and going 11-for-25 with three home runs, three doubles and four stolen bases. Back in action, Jansen saves for Kershaw By Cary Osborne Kenley Jansen had not been used since April 19. And the results showed early as he entered Tuesday night’s game with two outs and none on and the Dodgers clinging to a 2-1 lead in San Francisco. Buster Posey slugged the first pitch he saw from the Dodger closer into center field for a single. Then Jansen started Brandon Crawford with two balls. Three pitches later Crawford singled to put runners on the corners. Facing Brandon Belt, he kept attacking him up in the zone and eventually the standoff led to a full count. Jansen, at that point went from trying to earn a four-out save, to saving himself. “The approach is just continue to attack with my best stuff, see if he would chase elevation,” Jansen told SportsNet LA’s Alanna Rizzo after the game.

Cutter. Waist high. Outside corner. One of Belt’s hottest zones. Swing. Miss. Inning over. Jansen retired the last three batters he saw in the ninth inning to deliver a 2–1 win for the Dodgers, snapping a six-game losing streak for the Dodgers at AT&T Park. It was Jansen’s eight save of at least four outs since the start of the 2016 season — a Major League high for any reliever. Jansen just hasn’t had the opportunity to get in a game in nearly a week with the Dodgers’ only win prior to Tuesday being a 6-2 victory against Arizona on Sunday. Kershaw continues AT&T Park domination Clayton Kershaw went seven innings, allowed six hits, one walk, an earned run and struck out seven. He’s now at 1,957th career strikeouts, which passed Hall of Famer Whitey Ford for 28th place for most strikeouts by a left-hander. Hunter Pence led off the game with a grounder that bounced off Kershaw’s right calf muscle, but the Dodger ace recovered and got Pence out at first. In the third inning, Kershaw hobbled out of the batter’s box on a ground ball, but after the game he said he was fine. He was more annoyed by the first and third innings, in which the Giants got five baserunners on against him. “My stuff wasn’t great,” Kershaw said. “I had to grind through it a little bit. … When I wanted to throw something the way I wanted to, it didn’t happen. Fortunate to get through seven and we got a win.” Kershaw is now the National League’s first four-game winner. He now has a 1.36 ERA in 139 innings at AT&T Park. To Cody … Dodgers top prospect Cody Bellinger made his Major League debut and went 1-for-3 with an intentional walk. He collected his first Major League hit in the top of the ninth inning off Neil Ramirez. He was up 3-0 in the count and delivered an infield single to the third-base side with the Giants’ infield shifted to the right. “It’s not how I imagined it would be, but I’ll take it,” Bellinger told Rizzo after the game. Bellinger popped up to shortstop Brandon Crawford on the first pitch of his first Major League at-bat in the third inning. Aggressive baserunning pays off A day after Justin Turner was picked off to end the game, Turner’s aggressive baserunning provided the Dodgers what turned out to be the game-winning run.

With Turner on third base and Yasiel Puig on first and no out, Adrián González grounded to first base. Brandon Belt threw to second for the force out and Turner raced home. Turner beat the throw from Crawford home. Turner’s commentary.

YAHOO SPORTS

Dodgers call up top prospect Cody Bellinger in hopes of an offensive boost By Mike Oz Finding themselves in a little bit of an April rut, the San Francisco Giants on Monday summoned their top prospect, 21-year-old Christian Arroyo, to the big leagues. Then, the Giants eked out a 2-1 win against the rival Los Angeles Dodgers in Arroyo’s MLB debut. The Dodgers are in a bit of an April rut too. They’ve lost six of their last eight games after that loss to the Giants. So on Tuesday they summoned their top prospect, 21-year-old Cody Bellinger, to the big leagues. He figures to make his MLB debut on Tuesday night against the Giants at AT&T Park. The April call-up, apparently, is the thing to do when you’re chasing the Colorado Rockies and the Arizona Diamondbacks in the standings. The arrival of Bellinger is a bit of surprise. He was expected to crack the big-league roster this season, but April? That’s taken some unexpected circumstances. Outfielder Joc Pederson went on the DL on Monday with a groin injury. The Dodgers, meanwhile, are hitting .228 as a team dating back to April 16, when this funk of theirs began. That brings us to Bellinger, who was projected as a top-10-in-all-of-baseball prospect by MLB.com and Baseball America on their preseason lists. He’s hit like it so far too. In 18 games in Triple-A, Bellinger slashed .343/.429/.627 with five homers and 15 RBIs. Those are Triple-A numbers, sure, but nobody on the big-league roster has that many homers yet. And only Corey Seager has 15 RBIs. The thing to watch with Bellinger is how he fares in the outfield. He’s viewed as the first baseman of the future for the Dodgers. But the first baseman of the present, Adrian Gonzalez, is still around (he’s yet to homer this season, but that’s another topic altogether). With Scott Van Slyke also seeing time at first base and Pederson out, Bellinger is a better fit to move between left field and center for the Dodgers, two positions with which he’s at least familiar. Bellinger isn’t there to save the Dodgers’ season. First, it’s too early for that and, second, that’s not his responsibility to bear. But with the Dodgers looking for a boost, they might be able to find it in Bellinger.

USA TODAY

Clayton Kershaw masterful again in ‘must-win’ versus Giants By Jorge L. Ortiz SAN FRANCISCO — Clayton Kershaw pitching brilliantly at AT&T Park fits into the “dog bites man’’ category for newsworthiness. Kershaw excelling in the city by the bay with a bruised calf, well, at least that adds a twist. Facing what manager Dave Roberts called, perhaps a tad hyperbolically, “a must win for us,’’ the Los Angeles Dodgers had just the right man on the mound Tuesday night against the San Francisco Giants. Kershaw has made a habit of tormenting the Giants, his career 1.61 ERA against them shrinking to 1.36 when he pitches at their ballpark. Only twice in the 36 times he has faced the Giants has the three-time Cy Young Award winner yielded more than three earned runs. Tuesday wasn’t one of them. Despite getting nailed in the right calf by a comebacker off the bat of Hunter Pence, the first batter he faced, Kershaw threw seven innings of one-run ball in a 2-1 victory that snapped L.A.’s six-game skid in San Francisco. The defending NL West champions had lost six of their last eight games to fall to a disappointing 9-11 to start the season, until Kershaw came to the rescue. “For him to go seven innings and throw the ball the way he did with a banged-up calf, it adds to his legacy,’’ third baseman Justin Turner said. “It adds to his ridiculousness.’’ Turner had made a baserunning blunder in Monday’s series-opening 2-1 loss, getting picked off second base by Giants catcher Buster Posey for the final out of the game with Adrian Gonzalez at the plate. He more than redeemed himself with a risky but smart decision that wound up making the difference Tuesday. Giants starter Ty Blach cruised through the first three innings but the Dodgers tied the game 1-1 in the fourth by combining a walk with two singles, putting runners on the corners with no outs. Turner was at third when Gonzalez hit a hard grounder fielded at first by Posey, who threw to second in hopes of starting a double play. Turner then dashed for home and made it safely when the throw from strong-armed shortstop Brandon Crawford skipped under the mitt of catcher Nick Hundley. It proved to be the game’s decisive run. “Sometimes you’re aggressive on the bases and you look like an ass, and sometimes you’re aggressive on the bases and it wins a ballgame,’’ Turner said. “It worked out.’’

Kershaw and the bullpen — especially Kenley Jansen, who earned a four-out save — took it from there. They had no margin for error because Blach, starting in place of the injured Madison Bumgarner, and the Giants relievers allowed no more liberties. Despite improving to 19-8 lifetime against the Giants, Kershaw felt he wasn’t on top of his game, not so much due to pain in the calf but because his pitches lacked sharpness. He still held Giants batters to six hits and retired 11 of the last 12 he faced, leaving after 90 pitches because Roberts was wary of the calf becoming a problem. So, was this a must-win game? “I always want it to be when I pitch,’’ Kershaw said after chuckling at the question. “It feels good to get a win here. We’ve been struggling here, that’s no secret. It’s good to get a win here and hopefully get back on the right track.’’

UCLA NEWSROOM

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts keeps close ties to the Bruins By Paul Feinberg Los Angeles Dodgers manager David Roberts, who graduated from UCLA in 1995, remembers his four years as a student and Bruin athlete as some of the best of his life. Going to basketball and football games and playing baseball at Jackie Robinson Stadium are among his favorite memories. “But, for me, just the daily walk up and down Bruin Walk every day was something that made me realize just how fortunate I was to go to UCLA,” Roberts said recently. “When I talk to my kids about where they can go to school, [I tell them] UCLA just really impacted me, from the professors to the student body. [It’s] a really special place.” So it’s no surprise that Roberts, who has begun his second season in the Dodgers’ dugout, has kept close ties to his alma mater after a career of playing and coaching around the major leagues. Roberts recently talked about his close relationship to Bruin sports — as well as Bruins in Major League Baseball — as he and the Dodgers get ready to host the Bruins at UCLA Night at Dodger Stadium on Friday, April 28, when the team takes on the Philadelphia Phillies. Roberts has cultivated friendships with UCLA’s head baseball coach John Savage and head men’s basketball coach Steve Alford. And he’s spent time with Gary Adams, his own head coach while playing in Westwood, and with fellow Bruin Torey Lovullo, now manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks. He also keeps track of UCLA alumni now playing in the big leagues, including Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole and shortstop Brandon Crawford of the Dodgers’ rival San Francisco Giants. At a recent pre-game ceremony that linked UCLA with the L.A. Dodgers, past and present, Roberts welcomed Rachel Robinson, Jackie Robinson's widow, and family members on the field, following the

unveiling of a statue of Jackie on April 15, the day when all Major League Baseball teams annually celebrate the breaking of the color barrier by one of UCLA's most honored alumni. “I know that Jackie was very proud about his time at UCLA and how that university just really embraced him, and I feel the same way,” Roberts said. “There’s a lot of pride in knowing that one of the great social icons in our lifetime spent his years at UCLA. He paved the way for a lot of people, and for me to continue to extend his legacy is a big responsibility that I take a lot of pride in.” Roberts said he sees some striking parallels between his Bruins and his Dodgers. “It's really hard for me to put into words, but emotionally it's over the top. You know, UCLA's got a worldwide brand. And we feel that the Dodgers have that same brand,” the manager said. “And there are only so many universities or sports franchises that can even come close to entertaining the thought of rivaling the Dodgers or UCLA." The Dodgers manager has high hopes for his second season with the team. In his first season as Dodgers’ skipper, the team won the National League’s Western Division, but fell to the eventual World Series-winning Chicago Cubs in the next round of the playoffs. The experience nevertheless proved valuable to Roberts. “You can't make everyone happy,” Roberts said. “There were a lot of things that didn't go the way we had hoped, but there's always tomorrow. I just really have great coaches, and the thing for me is just having a process in place to make the best decisions for our club. I've got a lot of good support. For me, that's something that I want to continue to trust in.” Bruins will have a chance to share in that mutual pride when the Dodgers celebrate UCLA Night. Roberts is hoping for a big blue-and-gold turnout. “It's a great mix, and it's going to be a lot of fun,” Roberts predicted. UCLA students, faculty, alumni, and fans are invited to wear blue and gold to the game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Following the game, there will be fireworks presented by Denny’s.