First-Place Dodgers Begin Eighth Homestand of Season Against New York Mets 4th of July Weekend

LOS ANGELES - The Dodgers' eighth homestand of the season begins with a three-game series against the New York Mets tomorrow, July 3 (RHP Noah Syndergaard vs. LHP Clayton Kershaw), Saturday, July 4 (RHP Matt Harvey vs. RHP Zack Greinke) and Sunday, July 5 (LHP Steven Matz vs. RHP Mike Bolsinger). Tomorrow's game against the Mets begins at 7:10 p.m. with auto gates opening at 4:40 p.m. and stadium gates opening at 5:10 p.m. Saturday's game is set for 4:10 p.m. with auto gates opening at 1:45 p.m. and stadium gates at 2:15 p.m. Sunday's contest begins at 1:10 p.m. with auto gates opening at 10:40 a.m. and stadium gates at 11:10 a.m. Right-field and left-field plaza gates will open early at 10:40 a.m. for Photo Day. Tickets for games against the Mets can be purchased by calling 866-DODGERS or by visiting www.dodgers.com/tickets.

Levy Restaurants will be offering the Independence Day Dog on the 4th of July. This specialty dog (image attached) consists of a quarter pound all beef Super Dodger Dog served with Applewood smoked bacon, pickled chips, potato salad and pickled red onions. The Independence Day Dog will be available at the Extreme Loaded Dogs locations on field, loge and reserve levels. Levy Restaurants will also offer for this homestand, the BLT Pizza (image attached), available only at Tommy Lasorda's Trattoria which features a fresh dough pizza slice with shredded mozzarella cheese, Applewood smoked bacon, topped with shredded iceberg lettuce, diced tomatoes and drizzled with creamy Ranch dressing.

The Dodgers will offer a few merchandise specials this homestand. All headwear will be $10 off Friday through Sunday only. Logo baseballs, fan hands and mini bats are 1 for $6, 2 for $11 or 3 for $15.

The Dodgers will celebrate Independence Day Weekend with a three-day ticket special. All reserve level tickets are 50 percent off for the game on Wednesday, July 8 against the Phillies. The first 40,000 fans in attendance Wednesday receive a Hello Kitty Plush presented by Time Warner Cable. Complete details can be found by visiting www.dodgers.com/special. This offer begins tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. while supplies last.

Fans are invited onto the field for Friday Night Fireworks presented by Denny's immediately following tomorrow's game. Country Rock is the theme for tomorrow's show featuring classic country songs covered by rock artists: Buck Owens covered by The Beatles, Merle Haggard covered by The Grateful Dead, Marty Robbins covered by Old 97's, Dolly Parton covered by The White Stripes and Johnny Cash covered by Social Distortion. In an effort to continue to be good neighbors to the residents surrounding Dodger Stadium, fireworks shows will take place before 11:00 p.m. and are subject to cancellation due to length of game.

Dodger alumnus Mickey Hatcher will sign autographs in the left-field pavilion from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The Military Hero of the Game is U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant Kris Preston.

As part of Kids 4 Dodgers Baseball presented by Nike, 414 youth from Proyecto Pastoral in Boyle Heights, Azusa Pacific University, Fernando Pullum Community Arts Center in Crenshaw, The Boys to Gentlemen Leadership Program and Jordan High School in South L.A. will be in attendance. Kids 4 Dodgers Baseball provides Los Angeles area inner-city youth with a Dodger game experience courtesy of the Dodgers. Transportation to and from Dodger Stadium in a customized Dodger bus, Reserve level tickets, a voucher for a Dodger Dog and beverage and a Kids 4 Dodgers Baseball T-shirt are included.

The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) conducts silent auctions throughout the season featuring more than 25 signed pieces of memorabilia from Dodger players, coaches and alumni. Auctions will take place behind the Vin Scully press box on the club level. The items up for auction on Friday include a Joc Pederson autographed photo, Zack Greinke autographed baseball and Clayton Kershaw autographed Dodger jersey. The auction will end at 8:45 p.m.

Tomorrow, July 3

The Dodgers take on the Mets at 4:15 p.m. on Independence and the club will present a 4^th of July Postgame Musical Performance and Fireworks Show presented by Kurios From Cirque Du Soleil. Fans are invited to enjoy both a patriotic musical performance by the USO Show Troupe and 4^th of July fireworks spectacular presented by Kurios From Cirque Du Soleil after the game. Auto gates open at 1:45 p.m. and stadium gates open at 2:15 p.m.

U.S. Coast Guard Second Class Petty Officer Mike Dalager, accompanied by Grand Folk Railroad guitarist Bruce Kulick, will perform the national anthem. U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Maria Guerra of Chino Hills and U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Samara Arias of Van Nuys will both throw a ceremonial first pitch. A color guard unit will be on hand and a giant flag will be unfurled in center field by more than 100 members of all branches of the military - U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Coast Guard. Dodger alumnus Al Downing will sign autographs in the left-field pavilion from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The Military Heroes of the Game are U.S. Navy E4 Bobby Prevost and U.S. Navy E4 Kelly Prevost.

Saturday, July 4

The Dodgers conclude their series against the Mets on Sunday. Auto gates open at 10:40 a.m. and stadium gates open at 11:10 a.m. Left-field plaza and right-field plaza gates will open early at 10:40 a.m. for Photo Day and Sunday's game time is 1:10 p.m. It is Photo Day and fans are invited to take photos of their favorite Dodgers on the field prior to the game. Fans can enter the field through center field and photos opportunities will take place from 11:15 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Fans can take photos of players, but are asked not to ask for photos with players. Autographs will also not be permitted.

Former Miss Nevada, Ellie Smith, will perform the national anthem. Dodger alumnus Kenny Landreaux will sign autographs in the left-field pavilion plaza from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Viva Los Dodgers presented by State Farm and Time Warner Cable at the historic 76 station will begin at 11:00 a.m. and will feature musical entertainment by DJ Raul Campos and Ballet Folklorico Otomi. Dodger broadcaster Fernando Valenzuela will make a special appearance from approximately 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Valenzuela will take photos with fans and fans will receive a complimentary photo printout courtesy of Blue Print.

Levy Restaurants also offers Dodger dogs, carne asada tacos and Montejo beer for purchase at Viva Los Dodgers. Viva Los Dodgers takes place each Sunday of every homestand, two hours prior to the game. The season-long initiative celebrates Latino culture in Los Angeles and the legacy of Latino Dodgers past and present at a family-friendly pregame festival at the historic 76 station. Current Dodger players also make appearances throughout the season. All fans are welcome and can attend with a ticket to Sunday's game.

As part of Adrian Gonzalez's Viva Los Dodgers program, families from Children's Lifesaving Foundation will attend Sunday's game courtesy of Gonzalez and wife Betsy. The Gonzalez family plays host to 72 fans per Sunday home game (18 families of four) and provides one parking pass per each group of four throughout the 2015 season. Tickets in the All-You-Can-Eat right-field pavilion are provided and include unlimited Dodger dogs, nachos, popcorn, peanuts and Coca-Cola products. The Dodgers will also present a community hero award to Children's Lifesaving Foundation Founder and President Maria D'Angelo. Children's Lifesaving Foundation was formed in 1993 and since then, D'Angelo and the Children's Lifesaving Foundation have served more than 75,000 at-risk and homeless youth, more than 85 percent of which are Latino families.

The Military Hero of the Game is U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Justin Lits.

As part of Kids 4 Dodgers Baseball presented by Nike, 355 youth from the Upward Bound Program at Chaffey College in Fontana, The Violence Intervention Program in Lincoln Heights, and Bell Gardens Elementary will be in attendance. Kids 4 Dodgers Baseball provides Los Angeles area inner-city youth with a Dodger game experience courtesy of the Dodgers. Transportation to and from Dodger Stadium in a customized Dodger bus, Reserve level tickets, a voucher for a Dodger Dog and beverage and a Kids 4 Dodgers Baseball T-shirt are included.

The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) conducts silent auctions throughout the season featuring more than 25 signed pieces of memorabilia from Dodger players, coaches and alumni. Auctions will take place behind the Vin Scully press box on the club level. The items up for auction on Sunday include an Andre Ethier autographed photo, Adrian Gonzalez autographed baseball and Yasiel Puig autographed Dodger jersey. The auction will end at 2:45 p.m.

For most Sunday home games, children 14 and under can run the bases for Kids Run the Bases presented by New Balance. Youngsters can enter through center field following the game.

Sunday, July 5

Tickets to games against the Mets can be purchased by calling 866-DODGERS or by visiting www.dodgers.com/tickets.

The Dodgers have capped their 2015 season-ticket sales at 35,000 full-season equivalents, but fans can be added to the waiting list by visiting www.dodgers.com/seasontickets. The Dodgers will offer special ticket packages throughout the season, www.dodgers.com/events, and will continue to offer affordable group tickets starting at just $10 for groups of 30 or more, www.dodgers.com/groups.

Register today at www.Dodgers.com/RUN for the New Balance Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation 5K & 10K Run and Kids Fun Run, presented by your SoCal Honda Dealers, to take place at Dodger Stadium, on Sunday, September 13. The fee is $45 for the 5K and 10K and $25 for the Kids Fun Run. A fantastic race day is planned, complete with amazing views of Dodger Stadium and downtown Los Angeles, a scenic run through Elysian Park for 10K runners, cool-down run around the Dodger Stadium warning track and guest appearances by Dodger alumni. All proceeds benefit the LADF.

The July 2015 Dodger Insider magazine and the 2015 Yearbook are available at all Dodger team stores, and can be ordered at dodgers.com/magazine.

In the July 2015 issue of Dodger Insider magazine (image attached), we connect the past to the present and the West to the East, in a special 17-page section that details the birthplaces of Dodger players great and small, state-by-state (as well as around the world). From Don Drysdale (California) to Zack Greinke (Florida) and everyone up, down and in between, it is a rich, diverse geographic history of an indispensable American team.

"A Nation of Dodgers" is one of more than two dozen features in this month's issue of the official team magazine, including stories on how catchers Yasmani Grandal and A.J. Ellis conquer baseball's most painful position and the mystery behind the missing ball from Kirk Gibson's 1988 World Series home run. And, you won't want to miss Vin Scully talking about his favorite photo at Dodger Stadium.

Dodger Insider magazine serves as a companion to the team's official blog, Dodger Insider (dodgers.com/insider), updated multiple times daily.

The 2015 Los Angeles Dodgers Yearbook celebrates the life and career of legendary Dodger lefty Fernando Valenzuela in a special 21-page section, "The Man Behind the Mania." It is entirely in Valenzuela's words - beginning with his first memories of playing baseball at age 13 - and features never-before-seen photos. This year marks the 34th anniversary of the year that Valenzuela (who famously wore No. 34) pitched an Opening Day shutout at age 20, launching Fernandomania.

The July 2015 Dodger Insider magazine and the 2015 Yearbook are available at all Dodger team stores.

SportsNet LA is the home of all local Dodger game telecasts, takes fans behind-the-scenes, and offers in-depth access into the organization, providing an immersive experience with never-before-seen content and thousands of hours of comprehensive Dodger programming. SportsNet LA will produce and televise a record-setting 150 live regular season Dodger games in English, Spanish as well as bring fans a Korean SAP offering. The network is available on Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks and Champion Broadband. Time Warner Cable customers in Los Angeles, the Desert Cities and Barstow can watch live Dodger games and all of the original programming offered by SportsNet LA on channel 319 in high definition. Spanish-language Dodger game telecasts in high definition are available for Time Warner Cable customers on channel 324. Bright House Networks customers can watch SportNet LA on channel 1107 in high definition and the live Spanish-language game offerings for Bright House Networks customers is available on channel 632. SportsNet LA is now available on Charter Spectrum TV Select, Charter's most widely subscribed to top tier of service, on channel 44 SD/ 789 HD in the Los Angeles DMA, channel 44 SD / 773 HD in San Luis Obispo, and channel 44 SD in Porterville. SportsNet LA's Spanish-language game telecasts as well as its Korean-language Secondary Audio Programming (SAP) are also available to Charter customers. For more information about SportsNet LA or to demand the network from your provider, visit www.ineedmydodgers.com or www.quieromisdodgers.com or call 1-844-I-NEED-MY (1-844-463-3369). Follow the network on Twitter at @SportsNetLA, Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SportsNetLA and Instagram at @SportsNetLA.

iHeartMedia Los Angeles and the Dodgers will broadcast all games on the all-new AM 570 LA Sports. All Dodger games in Spanish will be broadcast on Univision America 1020 KTNQ. Friday's game will be televised on ESPN and Saturday's game will be televised on Fox.

Media interested in applying for daily credentials should apply 24 hours prior to game time at http://credentials.mlb.com. For questions, please contact the Dodgers' Public Relations department by replying to this email or calling (323) 224-1301.