Kemp Joins 30-30 Club; Second Player from the Dodgers to Accomplish That

Matt Kemp crushed a long home run to center field in the bottom of the seventh innings of the 6-1 win on Friday over the Rockies, making him just the second Dodger to arrive 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases, and the quickest to do so.

Kemp links Raul Mondesi, who accomplished the feat in 1997 and ’99. He performed so on a 3-1 pitch off lefty reliever Matt Reynolds.

As Dodger Stadium followers chanted “MVP”, Kemp got three pitches and fouled one off before he crushed the fastball 427 feet to directly center field.

Kemp said, “I’ve always thought I could do it.  I can run. I can put a little bit of power in it. I just had to put it all together at the same time. It’s pretty special.”

Kemp is striking .323 with 98 RBIs to go together with his 30 homers and 33 steals.  He is in the peak four in the league in the entire three categories.

Kemp said after the game, “I’m just happy I got to do it here in L.A. The fans have always supported me. We still got a long way to go.”

No Dodger has ever reached the 40-40 club, and when Kemp was inquired concerning the mark, he replied, “Maybe one day.”

Manager Don Mattingly admired Kemp both before and after the game, particularly noting how much leadership role of Kemp has destined to the team.

Mattingly said, “It’s been a tremendous season for him in all areas of his game — leadership and the whole thing.  It’s been a joy really to have Matt playing this way, and his leadership in the dugout. The presence he brings, but not only that, this guy gets ready to play every day and plays hard every day.”

In 2009 the last Major Leaguer to arrive the 30-30 club was Texas second baseman Ian Kinsler.

Hiroki Kuroda Rises in Post-Deadline Start

Los Angeles Dodger right-hander Hiroki Kuroda discovered several ways to satisfaction for his loyalty to his team, although in one more punchless performance from the offense in a 1-0 win over the last-place San Diego Padres.

In his first start since refusing an opportunity to be traded to a playoff contender, Kuroda rose to the occasion with seven lock out innings of four-hit ball.

It is no surprise that he was so desired by the Red Sox, Yankees and Rangers.

Kuroda struck out eight and walked two en route to breaking a four-game losing streak, in spite of the lack of run support to which he has all but grown accustomed.  His 7-13 record is only justified by a relatively genuine 2.96 ERA.

Even though there is no award for raising his no-trade clause over the weekend on a team out of contention, Kuroda could get fulfillment from the reality that he stood on standard, as he had assured to stick with the Dodgers for this one season.

Kuroda said, “I have many thoughts about remaining with this team. I know I can’t be sloppy out there on the mound, and wanted to win no matter what. There was no particular pitch that I relied on but I got a lot of movement on the ball. My location was good.”

The only run of the Dodgers came after Dee Gordon bunted for a single in the fourth and went to third on groundouts by Casey Blake and Aaron Miles.  Matt Kemp singled Gordon home for a 1-0 lead.

Hideki Matsui in other action went 3 for 4 to strike securely in his 11^th successive game in a 4-2 win over the Seattle Mariners.  Ichiro Suzuki was 0 for 4 for Seattle.

Nationals Drops Debut of Davey Johnson

Danny Espinosa, Washington Nationals second baseman, put in a few ninth-inning heroics, yet it was not sufficient as the Los Angeles Angels clip the Nationals 4-3 in the debut of latest Nationals manager Davey Johnson.

With the Angels leading 3-2 in the ninth, Espinosa hit yet another new home run to add to his tally, tie the game and place the game into extras.  Espinosa is currently tied with Michael Morse for a team leading 15 home runs.  Espinosa, Morse and Ryan Zimmerman, every one of them, had solo shots throughout the game to include the Nationals scoring.  On the other hand, the Angels were capable to push a run across the plate in the center of the 10^th off reliever Sean Burnett to finish the game.

Starting pitcher John Lannan renounced over two runs for the first time in seven starts and admits his pitches were finding over the plate Monday night.  Lannan went 5.2 innings giving up three runs on 11 strikes, walking two and striking out two.

For Davey’s debut, the game on Monday was a bit of a comedown, although the manager who is 68 years old while disappointed with the outcomes cannot have had a good time:

“I enjoyed every minute of it,” Johnson said of his first game as a Major League manager since October 2000 with the Dodgers, “I enjoyed every minute of it, I probably went a little farther than I should have with Lannan. I wanted to give him an opportunity to get a win. But the bullpen did a good job, we just didn’t hit with runners in scoring position.”

The 68 years old said, “I still enjoyed that one even though it was a loss.  It’s a joy. I love baseball. I enjoy every pitch that’s thrown. That never changes.”

Alfonso Soriano Gets Listed in the 15-day DL After Injury

A day after fielder Alfonso Soriano strained his left quadriceps striving to strike out a groundball, the Cubs placed him on the 15-day disabled list.

On the first innings Monday, Soriano was injured after striking a bouncer to third base.  He pulled up a few feet from first base, holding his left thigh.

Soriano led the team with 12 home runs and 29 RBIs, and is striking .271.  He did not believe a DL stint was important, but comprehended the choice.

He said, “That’s the best for the team because when I come back, I want to come back strong and not even think about my leg.”

Tyler Colvin, outfielder was recalled from Triple-A Iowa.  He was striking .260 with a home run and eight RBIs in the minors.  On May 16 Chicago sent down Colvin striking .113 with two home runs in 62 at-bats.

Colvin said, “It was just a time for me to slow down.” He got 0-for-1 with a sacrifice bunt in the Cubs’ 7-3 loss to Houston on Tuesday.

Dodgers owner Frank McCourt has paid his major-league bill for now.

McCourt was capable to cover Dodgers-connected expenses Tuesday, although several baseball officials considered he didn’t have sufficient money for the last part of the month payroll, according to a person familiar with the status who asked for secrecy for the reason that he was not authorized to speak openly.

Major League Baseball would have taken control of the team and paid its bills, if McCourt was not able to meet payroll.

photo credit: chicagobreakingsports.com