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Dodgers Battle Cancer All Weekend, Cubs Tonight
Today and tomorrow, ThinkCure!, the Dodgers’ official charity hosts its second annual Radiotelewebethon. ThinkCure! aims to bring Southern Californians together to work towards curing cancer. Their efforts are in conjunction with City of Hope and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
The multimedia fund raising drive, ThinkCure! Weekend, will feature celebrity guests such as The Jonas Brothers, Larry King, Rob Lowe, George Lopez, John Cena, Nathan Followill of Kings of Leon, and more.
Tonight at 7:10 the Dodgers take on the Chicago Cubs for the second of four games. On the strength of Russell Martin’s sixth inning grand slam, the Dodgers won 7-2 last night, finding some desperately needed offense.
“We feel good about ourselves,” said Dodgers skipper Joe Torre. “Winning is the best tonic for any team, especially a sport you’re playing every day. If we could put about three games together where we could win ball games, I think it could really do a lot for our confidence.”
Randy vs. Randy
Dodgers pitcher Randy Wolf seeks his eight win of the season against Cubs rookie Randy Wells (9-5.) Wolf’s last outing saw him striking out ten, slugging his first homerun of the year, as well as hitting third double.
“Lately he’s been in a good groove,” said Torre. The “last two starts, they were important. We win three games on the trip, he wins two of them.”
But will the Dodgers improve upon last night’s winning ways?
“Other sports if you lose, you then have a couple days to get your psyche back,” said the future Hall of Fame manager. “But this game, you have to go right back at it all the time. That’s why it’s a tougher game to play mentally than physically.”
Torre revealed one strategy he uses to help his players between the ears. “Of course, if I’m talking to a pitcher I’ll say the hitter’s on the hot seat, and if I’m talking to a hitter I’ll say the pitcher’s on the hot seat.”
Tonight’s SoCal August evening is not a picturesque night for America’s pastime. There’s a 20% chance of rain, along with partly cloudy skies. By the time the postgame Friday fireworks conclude, temperatures may have dipped into the mid sixties.
Tonight’s lineups:
Chicago Cubs (61-58)
- Ryan Theriot, SS
- Milton Bradley, RF
- Derrek Lee, 1B
- Aramis Ramirez, 3B
- Jeff Baker, CF
- Alfonso Soriano, LF
- Geovany Soto, C
- Sam Fuld, 2B
- Randy Wells, P
Los Angeles Dodgers (72-50)
- Rafael Furcal, SS
- Matt Kemp, CF
- Andre Ethier, RF
- Manny Ramirez, LF
- Casey Blake, 3B
- James Loney, 1B
- Russell Martin, C
- Orlando Hudson, 2B
- Randy Wolf, P
Who will win tonight's contest: Dodgers or Cubs? Comment Below!
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