On July 7, 2008, Dodgers right-hander Hiroki Kuroda missed a perfect game when he gave up an eighth-inning double to Atlanta Braves first baseman Mark Teixeira. To that point, Kuroda’s performance was better than even the perfect game thrown by Sandy Koufax on September 9, 1965.

How is that possibly, you ask? Because up to and even after Teixeira’s perfect game-ending double to right field, Kuroda never had a three ball count all night. It truly was one of the most dominating pitching performances not just in Dodgers history but in baseball history.

For whatever reason, it seems that just because Mike Bolsinger isn’t a power pitcher, many so-called baseball experts and media types aren’t giving him the credit he deserves as a legitimate (and permanent) member of the Dodgers starting rotation. I couldn’t disagree more.
(Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

On Saturday night Dodgers right-hander Mike Bolsinger was nearly as good as Kuroda was. In fact, in a way he was even better. Whereas Kuroda’s bid for perfection ended after retiring 21 batters in a row, Bolsinger actually retired 23 consecutive batters after allowing only a lead-off single to San Diego Padres first baseman Yangervis Solarte. Solarte was then erased on a perfectly executed 4-6-3 double play off the bat of Padres third baseman Cory Spangenberg.

Even though Dodgers manager Don Mattingly pulled Bolsinger after the eighth inning, thereby denying the extremely humble 27-year-old Chicago native a shot at a complete game one-hitter, Bolsinger had done something that no other Dodgers starter has done this season – he pitched eight full innings. Even defending 2014 NL MVP and Cy Young award winner Clayton Kershaw and former AL Cy Young award winner Zack Greinke haven’t gone eight innings thus far this season.

“I wanted it, but there will be another time, another situation for that,” said Bolsinger of Mattingly’s decision to pull him just one inning shy of a complete game. “We’ll see what happens.”

Although the magnitude of Bolsinger’s tremendous accomplishment seemed almost lost on a guy who some media types feel compelled to call a “fill-in” or “substitute” starting pitcher for the Dodgers, his now 3-0 record and team-leading 0.71 ERA prove that he is absolutely dialed in right now. In fact, he even said so.

“I don’t know,” he said. “Something just clicked in my head and people ask me how I’m feeling and I’m just locked in.”

Although it didn’t take long for Solarte to ruin Bolsinger’s bid for a perfect game no-hitter, it took even less time for the Dodgers to ruin Padres starter Ian Kennedy’s bid for a shutout. On a 1-2 pitch to Dodgers leadoff hitter Joc Pederson in the home half of the first inning, Pederson launched Kennedy’s 92-MPH fastball 400 feet into the Right Field Pavilion to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead in what would eventually become a 2-0 win.

“Pederson [hit] a 1-2 pitch that was, I think, out of the strike zone,” said Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully of Pederson’s second home run in as many at-bats. Pederson also hit a game-winning eighth-inning solo shot on Friday night that traveled 430 feet into the Right Field Pavilion.

Pederson’s leadoff home run on Saturday night came off an Ian Kennedy fastball that was clearly out of the strike zone – as noted by the great Vin Scully. (Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)

Without a hint of frustration – at least visibly – Bolsinger was relieved in the top of the ninth inning by Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen, who retired the Padres in order (aided by an outstanding game-ending defensive play by Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner) to secure the win for Bolsinger and give Jansen his third save in four appearances since returning from the disabled list last Friday.

The Dodgers try for a three-game series sweep of the Padres this afternoon when they send fellow “substitute” starter Carlos Frias to the mound. Frias certainly has his work cut out for him as he will oppose Padres ace James Shields, who is 5-0 with a 3.74 ERA this season. Frias (3-1, 2.55 ERA) is making a bid to become the only Dodgers starting pitcher not named Zack Greinke (5-1) to have more than three wins thus far this season. First pitch is slated for 1:10 pm.