Vicente Padilla struggled for the first time with the Dodgers, and the Giants used three home runs to get the win, 8-4. The good news is that Jason Marquis of the Rockies also had a rough start, as they fell to the Diamondbacks, 7-4. The lead in the NL West for the Dodgers remains at five games.
The very first batter of the game would provide a bit of foreshadowing for things to come. Padilla got an 0-2 count against Eugenio Valez, but after it was worked to a full count, Valez cranked a solo shot to right to make it 1-0.
Manny Ramirez had a good night, and it started in the bottom of the first. With two outs, Andre Ethier was beaned on a bad curveball from Jonathan Sanchez. Manny then lined one in the left-center gap for an RBI single. Matt Kemp lined one back up the middle that Sanchez made a nice catch on, keeping the score at 1-1.
Padilla ran into a bunch of trouble in the third. Valez again started things with a single and a steal of second. Freddie Sanchez's single put two runners on, setting the table for Pablo Sandoval. Sandoval didn't waste the opportunity, hitting a three-run homer that made it 4-1.
Ethier and Manny again teamed up for a score in the fourth. Ethier singled to left to lead off, and Manny drove a low pitch into the left field stands to cut the deficit to 4-3. A solo homer by Rafael Furcal in the fifth tied the game.
That would be it for the Dodgers on this night, as the last four innings belonged to the Giants. Ramon Troncoso relieved to start the sixth and pretty much was slapped around. Fred Lewis and Velez each hit RBI doubles to make it 6-4.
Chad Billingsley hasn't started since last Sunday in San Francisco, and won't again until Wednesday in Washington. He made a relief appearance to stay "sharp," though that's exactly what didn't happen.
Bills got the first two outs, then gave up a solo homer to Aaron Rowand. Nate Schierholtz singled and stole second. That little Velez struck again, hitting an RBI triple to make it 7-4. It's kind of weird to think that Velez was a single short of the cycle. He became a power hitter overnight I guess.
An RBI single by Juan Uribe in the ninth was the last score of the night. Brian Wilson mowed down the Dodgers in order to preserve the win.
When the game became a battle of the bullpens to start the sixth, it was the Dodgers who were surprisingly the ones to crumble. The only one who did well was Ronald Belisario, who got four outs. Troncoso and Billingsley really got knocked around.
The Giants, on the other hand, used a combination of six relievers to get the job done. None of them went over an innings, so Bruce Bochy did a nice job of making the right moves.
Padilla has been fantastic since he came over to the Dodgers, so it's hard to get on his case for one rough start. It's not like he got shelled, as he gave up four runs in five innings, but he certainly didn't look sharp. Still, I'm sure the Dodgers feel confident with him in there.
The Dodgers will look to pick a game up today as they root for the Diamondbacks as well. It'll be Jon Garland against Brad Penny. Penny was great last Sunday against the Dodgers, but it will be interesting to see how he reacts pitching in Dodger Stadium for the first time since being let go.
It's a FOX game, so enjoy it for those that can see it. I'm not one of them.
No comments:
Post a Comment