When Orel Hershiser broke Don Drysdale‘s consecutive scoreless innings streak on September 28, 1988 at historic Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, the legendary Hall of Famer was in the house broadcasting the game for the Dodgers. After the game Drysdale was among the very first to congratulate the (then) 30-year-old right-hander. It was one of those moments that warms the heart, especially since it was one Dodger breaking the record of another Dodger.

On Saturday afternoon 22-year-old Dodgers rookie shortstop Corey Seager stepped to the plate in the bottom of the fifth inning tied with former Dodgers great and 1992 NL Rookie of the Year Eric Karros in most doubles by a Los Angeles Dodgers rookie at 30. One pitch later there was a new LA Dodgers rookie doubles leader as Seager lined Red Sox right-hander Matt Barnes‘ 86-MPH slider into the right field corner for an RBI double, his 31st of the season to break Karros’ record. (Note: The all-time Dodgers franchise record for doubles by a rookie is 51 set by Brooklyn Dodgers outfielder Johnny Frederick in 1929).

Having set a new LA Dodgers record for doubles in a season by a rookie, Seager has 52 games in which to hit 22 more to break the all-time franchise record of 51 set in 1929 – doable but difficult.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

As luck would have it, Karros was also in the house on Saturday doing the television broadcast for Fox Sports 1. And though the now 48-year-old former Dodger did not get to personally congratulate Seager after the game, he spoke of the young Dodgers shortstop and his pending milestone before the game with AM 570 LA Sports and DodgerTalk radio host David Vassegh.

“I’m looking forward to it, he’s having a great season,” Karros said. “I was looking at something the other day and he has the second highest OPS of any Dodger rookie besides Mike Piazza with nine-something, a Hall of Famer. (Piazza’s was .932, Seager’s is .880). What we’re seeing out there you kind of take for granted – an All-Star year – and this is a guy who is going to be a staple in the organization for many many years.”

Although the storybook Drysdale-Hershiser-like ending didn’t happen – at least not on this day – Seager spoke after the game about his new record and about wanting to meet with Karros.

“It’s cool. The long history of the Dodgers it’s just cool to get in the books no matter how it is. It’s exciting for sure,” Seager said. “I didn’t get a chance to see [Karros] but that would have been cool. I’m going to probably have to go say ‘Hey.'”

It’s obvious that the extremely humble Charlotte, North Carolina native doesn’t particularly enjoy talking about his own personal accomplishments but he realizes that such things are important to Dodger fans and to the media.

But Seager’s wasn’t the only milestone on Sunday afternoon. Newly arrived Dodgers right fielder Josh Reddick also had a milestone of sorts, although nothing as big as Seager’s and somewhat on the dubious side – he finally collected his first hit since joining the team after last Monday’s non-waiver trade deadline to break an 0 for 15 slump.

“Would have liked to have it a little bit earlier, got it out of the way now,” Reddick told reporters after the game. “The positive thing is I’ve been swinging at great pitches and I’ve been hitting the ball well. Could be worse; I could be striking out twice, three times a game, but that’s not the case. I think that’s the one thing that kept me sane.”

After going 0 for 15 since joining the Dodgers, right fielder Josh Reddick finally collected his first hit on Saturday afternoon – an eighth inning single to right. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Of course neither of these two milestones would have been as enjoyable had the Dodgers not pulled off the 3-0 shutout win over the Beantowners on Saturday afternoon after having been shut out themselves the night before. To accomplish this against the best offense team in all of baseball right now was no easy task, although by all appearances it looked that way behind the brilliant pitching performances of rookie right-hander Ross Stripling and rookie reliever Grant Dayton, who threw a combined seven shutout innings.

“Can’t say enough about Ross and the effort he gave us today,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts after the game. “We put him in some tough spots that we’ve talked about, but he’s always risen to the occasion and gave us a huge lift today that we needed.”

Stripling was brilliant in his five innings of work on Saturday. “I wanted to go back out there but I understand the pinch-hitting thing,” said the extremely polite 26-year-old Bluebell, PA native.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Stripling admits that there were several tough moments during his five innings of four-hit ball with one walk and four strikeouts to improve his record to 3-3 and lower his ERA to 3.79.

“You don’t want to give them any opportunities,” Stripling said. “After you start getting a few guys out, things start falling in line for you. Pitching out of the windup is nice … able to get in a rhythm. Before you know it, five innings are behind you and the team gets a win.”

Things weren’t any easier for Dayton, who managed to strikeout four of the seven batters he faced while allowing no hits and only one walk in his two innings of work. One of those batters was Red Sox slugger and former Dodger Hanley Ramirez, who Dayton struck out on four pitches in the seventh inning with a runner on base.

“The way [Dayton] carries himself on a big league mound with such little service is rare,” said Roberts of the 28-year-old Huntsville, Alabama native. “The fastball plays, he throws strikes and he doesn’t scare off.”

Dayton’s seventh-inning strikeout of pinch-hitter Hanley Ramirez pretty much sealed the deal for the Dodgers on Saturday. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)