In case you missed it: The Yellowship of the Ring

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By Jon Weisman

Kiké Hernandez and his minions took it to the next level Sunday on the flight to Chicago after the Dodgers’ 10-2 victory over San Francisco. Can Bananarama singing the national anthem at Dodger Stadium be far behind?

After all, on the day of the solstice, the Dodgers started out what they hope will be a cruel, cruel summer for the Giants with a 10-2 victory that increased Los Angeles’ lead in the National League West to 1 1/2 games.

Here are some notes from the weekend …

• Brett Anderson’s latest triumph over injury included lasting six innings Sunday despite taking a ball off his ankle, writes Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A.
• Yasmani Grandal, who had two homers and a bunt single Sunday, is the subject of Lyle Spencer’s column at MLB.com.
• Clayton Kershaw talked at length about being a newlydad with Anna Katherine Clemons of ESPN.com.
• The Dodger public relations department charted Sunday’s Dodger rehab efforts with Triple-A Oklahoma City:
  
• I meant to note this one a few days ago: Third-base coach Lorenzo Bundy explained the thought process behind having Hernandez daring to draw a balk in the ninth inning of Thursday’s victory over Texas to Mark Saxon of ESPN LosAngeles.
• Infielder Erisbel Arruebarrena’s 2015 suspension has been reduced to 30 days, aka time served, and he returned to extended Spring Training
• Dodgers Digest co-founder, Dodger Insider magazine contributor and MLB Statcast expert Mike Petriello now has a podcast where he talks shop with baseball experts.
• It’s possible that in the coming years, we might see a female Frenchwoman playing in the World Baseball Classic or college baseball in the U.S., writes Linsday Berra of MLB.com.
  

  At noon on Sunday afternoon, a 16-year-old French girl made Major League Baseball history.

  Melissa Mayeux, a shortstop on the French U-18 junior national team, became the first known female baseball player to be added to MLB’s international registration list, which means she will be eligible to be signed by a Major League club on July 2.

  … Is it possible that Mayeux will be signed? Sure. Is it likely? Probably not, but the simple fact that Mayeux has been added to the list solidifies her status as a legitimate player. Mayeux, for her part, just wants to play. She speaks little English and is unaware that her presence on the registry might be seen as newsworthy in the United States. …

  … MLB Director of International Game Development Mike McClellan has been watching Mayeux play for two years.

  “She’s a legitimate shortstop who makes all the plays and is very smooth and fluid in the field,” he said. “She swings the bat really well and is fearless.”…

  “In 2017, she’ll still be on the young side, but she’s improved steadily over the last two years and will continue to improve,” McClellan said. “So could she play for France in the WBC? In her lifetime, I think she can.”