A new all-time record was set on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Unfortunately it is not one of those records that will be reflected upon many years from now with fondness. Instead it is a record that will be recalled with a head shake or an eye roll.

According to the Dodgers official post-game notes, Friday night’s 16-1 shellacking by the Philadelphia Phillies if front of 48,828 at Dodger Stadium was “…the worst home loss in Los Angeles Dodger history and the worst (home loss in franchise history) since July 3, 1947 against the Giants in a 19-2 defeat at Ebbets Field.”

After two stellar outings, Dodger left-hander Chris Capuano was anything but on Friday night, allowing 7 runs (5 earned) on 10 hits, striking out 4 and walking one. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

On the brighter side and if history can repeat itself, that 1947 Dodger team went on to win the National League pennant due primarily to a rookie phenom on their roster by the name of Jackie Robinson.

“I remember Cincinnati beating the Dodgers (by a similar margin) at the L.A. Coliseum in 1959,” said Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully when I mentioned the dubious new record to him after the game. “It was something like a 14 or 15 run deficit,” added the Dodger legend.

If Vin Scully says it is so you can take it to the bank. On June 21, 1959, the Reds beat the Dodgers by a score of 17-3 in front of 24,965 at the L.A. Coliseum. Ironically, that 1959 Dodger team went on to win the World Series, the first in Los Angeles Dodger history.

“The close ones that you lose that you think you should have won have a tendency to linger with you a little bit more,” said Dodger manager Don Mattingly after the record-setting loss. “This one here you just take a beating and get ready to play tomorrow.”

The silver lining to Friday night’s disaster at the Ravine is that 2013 Dodger rookie phenom Yasiel Puig went 1 for 3 on the night with a walk to keep his average at an impossible .424 and OBP at .459. Puig also made an incredible diving attempt on a line drive hit to him in right field by Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz that got past him, yet Puig recovered quickly enough to hold Ruiz to a double on what most likely would have been a triple if fielded by anyone else.

Yasiel Puig continued his hot hitting with a sharp single to right in the 4th inning of Friday night’s game – one of only five Dodger hits on the night.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Another highlight of Friday night’s laugher was Skip Schumaker making his second relief appearance of the season in the top of the 9th. And though Schumaker pitched himself into a bases loaded jam, he managed to escape the inning without allowing a run – the only Dodger pitcher on the night to do so. Schumaker now has the best ERA on the team, a perfect 0.00.

Schumaker was the only Dodger pitcher on Friday night who did not allow a run. He also collect a strikeout. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)