Roger Arrieta
Carl Crawford had done several good things coming into tonight’s game: he’d overcome injury concerns that have plagued him since he was in Boston, carried a struggling Dodgers lineup, and vindicated management’s decision to keep rookie sensation Yasiel Puig in Class-AA.
Wednesday night was no different, as the Dodgers beat the Padres 4-3 in Chad Billingsley’s season debut.
Funny what a week-and-a-half of hindsight could do.
The Dodgers wasted no time in reversing yesterday’s lack of offense, as Crawford continued his spectacular form by leading off the game with a home run off Padres starter, former Dodger Eric Stults.
A.J. Ellis padded the Dodgers’ lead in the second, hitting a two-run home run to left field with Luis Cruz aboard to make the score 3-0.
Billingsley also got off to a hot start through the first three innings before getting into trouble in the fourth, giving up one run off a double by Chris Denorfia, who has been carrying the Padres’ lineup the in similar fashion to Crawford.
Carl Crawford tripled in the fourth inning, and a Mark Ellis single to center gave the Dodgers a 4-1 lead, which they would keep for good.
Mark Ellis missed an opportunity to extend the lead for the Dodgers in the sixth inning, as he struck out looking with the bases loaded.
Billingsley allowed one run off five hits in six innings in his first start of the year, walking three and striking out three.
Ronald Belisario bounced back from yesterday’s bad relief effort to retire the Padres in the seventh with two strikeouts.
Left fielder Skip Schumaker got Kenley Jansen out of a jam by making a diving catch to end the inning with two Padres stranded. A dropped ball surely would’ve meant two runs for the Padres.
Brandon League came in and retired the the first batter in the ninth, then allowed a double and two singles to make the score 4-2.
League then struck out Chris Denorfia with two outs, seemingly ending the game. But a passed ball by A.J. Ellis that went to the backstop gave the Padres another run, and put the tying and winning runs on board.
Luckily for League and the Dodgers, Yonder Alonso popped up to center field, giving the Dodgers an unnecessarily difficult 4-3 win.
Although the Dodgers’ offensive output was enough tonight, they continued to struggle with runners in scoring position, going one for eight and stranding twelve baserunners.
Matt Kemp and Justin Sellers, both whom have struggled thus far, went 2-for-5 and 2-for-3 respectively.
The Dodgers and Padres will face each other tomorrow night at 7:10. The game will be back on FSN Prime Ticket
Zack Greinke (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will make his second start for the Dodgers after a stellar debut and Jason Marquis (0-1, 3.00 ERA) will take the mound for the Padres.
– Francisco J. Reyes
@fjr3487
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