The Los Angeles Dodgers will hold Filipino Heritage Night tonight when they face the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium to conclude a seven-game homestand.
The Filharmonic will sing the national anthem. The Filipino American a cappella group portrayed the group Manila Envy in “Pitch Perfect 2.”
Al Downing, who pitched for the Dodgers from 1971-77 and is best remembered for allowing Hank Aaron’s record-setting 715th home run in 1974, will sign autographs in the left field pavilion plaza from 5-7 p.m.
The entire Los Angeles Sparks team will participate in pregame ceremonies, four days before the WNBA team plays its home opener at Staples Center against the Seattle Storm.
Forward Jen Lacy, whose father Lee Lacy was a Dodger second baseman- outfielder from 1972-78, and guard Erin Phillips will throw the ceremonial first pitch.
Forward Farhiya Abdi, guard-forward Alana Beard, centers Jennifer Hamson, Jantel Lavender and Marianna Tolo and guard Temeka Johnson will start the game by declaring, “It’s time for Dodger baseball.”
Guard Andrea Hoover and forward Nneka Ogwumike will announce the Dodgers’ starting lineup.
Basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson is part of the Dodgers and Sparks ownership groups.
The Military Hero of the Game will be U.S. Navy Operation Specialist Second Class Anna Gallegos of Pomona, who joined the Navy after graduating high school.
Gallegos was initially stationed aboard the USS Howard as an operation specialist, assisting in counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia and providing humanitarian assistance in the Philippines following the 2008 typhoon.
Gallegos also served deployments to Camp Lemmonier in Djbouti for a year and to DaNang Province in Vietnam. Gallegos will depart on her third deployment to the Persian Gulf this summer.
Auto gates will open at 4:40 p.m. and stadium gates at 5:10 p.m. for the 7:10 p.m. game. Pregame ceremonies will begin at 6:55 p.m.