Steve Webb
SAN DIEGO — It was billed as a potential pitchers’ duel. It ended up being a blowout. The Dodgers went medieval on Padre starter Sean Manaea and the rest of the Padres staff, bashing three home runs en route to an easy 10-2 victory in this rubber game of the first series between these divisional rivals.
Kershaw wiggles out of trouble in the first, goes five strong
It was a Kershaw day at PetCo Park on Sunday, and while he didn’t have his best stuff we’ve seen this year, he was plenty good. However, in the bottom of the first, after the Dodgers had staked him to 1-0 in the top of the inning, Clayton got himself into some early trouble. He hit the leadoff man, Austin Nola on an 0-2 count and after Jake Cronenworth singled off the glove of Freddie Freeman, the Padres had runners on the corners with nobody out. However, there is a reason Clayton Kershaw is who he is. He induced a weak popup to Mookie Betts from Manny Machado, and then got Jurickson Profar to ground into an inning ending double play.
He would give up one earned run in the fourth on a little doink shot into right, but that was it on the day. He got a ton of run support on this one, so he was lifted after only five innings of work. After another win, his third straight of 2022, his ERA sits at 2.65, and he is only three strikeouts short of Don Sutton‘s career record for the franchise. He will take a shot at getting into first place on the leader board on his next start day, which looks to be Friday against the Tigers. Kershaw’s final line for the day: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 K.
Dodgers pile up runs up and down the lineup
Clayton was able to relax after only five because his teammates were jumping all over Padres pitching. After the one run in the first (on a JT sac fly), Freddie Freeman smoked a two-run home run to right field on Sean Manaea. It was the first hit from a lefty off Manaea this year. It wouldn’t be the last today.
Now leading 3-0, the Dodgers got some very welcome power from Cody Bellinger. He hit a solo shot in the fourth off Manaea, and then the death blow to the Padres came in the fifth, a three run blast to put the Dodgers up 8-1. Cody Bellinger continues to impress after his rough go of it in Camelback Ranch. Maybe Spring Training doesn’t matter after all…
The Dodgers added on runs before and after that to ring up a ten-spot on the day, the first time this year they’ve scored double digits. In all five Dodgers had RBI in this one, making very efficient use of a eight-hit attack. In addition to JT, Freddie, and Cody, Chris Taylor and Max Muncy drove in a run apiece in what turned out to be quite the laugher.
Onto to Phoenix…
Now a league-best 11-4, the Dodger train heads into Arizona for a three-game set with the Diamondbacks. It gets underway on Monday night, with Walker Buehler on the mound. The game starts a bit early, 6:30 LA time, so set your alarms accordingly.
Cans of Corn…
- Clayton didn’t get a lot of swing and miss today, but weak contact is almost better than the punch-out at this point in his career. Most likely, he’ll pass Sutton’s record on Friday
- Cody Bellinger shared a nice moment with his young son after one of his home runs, and had an extended hug from Gavin Lux
- Freddie Freeman’s dad had a seat right next to the Dodgers’ dugout. After his son’s homer, he gave the younger Fred a high five through the protective netting.
- Belli’s OPS is now over .900, right behind Freddie Freeman for the team lead.
- The Dodgers are on track for matching their 15-5 start of 2021.
- Craig Kimbrel got in some work in the ninth, pitching a scoreless inning.
- Reyes Moronta has joined the team from OKC, replacing David Price on the roster. Price, who has pitched well so far, went on the IL with something “non-baseball related”
- Moronta, a hefty Dominican, got into the game today, and pitched a scoreless inning in the seventh.
- Looking forward to seeing Clayton set that record next weekend.
