Steve Webb
A Lazy Sunday Afternoon
With both teams trading body blows Friday night and a very tightly contested, emotional pitching duel Saturday, the Dodgers and Padres had another pitching duel Sunday. The initial two games were hard to follow, as this game did not come with the same intensity. The Dodgers’ bats and defense took most of the day off in San Diego allowing the Padres steal this one late 5-2. Still, the Dodgers took the series 2-1. This was a reminder to all Dodger supporters that we will need to bring our A game against the Padres the remainder of the season.
Starting Pitchers
The matchup featured Trevor Bauer and Blake Snell, the pair both previous Cy Young winners. Trevor was trying to improve his 2-0 start as a Dodger while Snell was trying to bounce back from his previous start. Snell was also battling some inner demons from being pulled from his last outing against the Dodgers in the World Series and ultimately losing the final game and the Series. Snell openly questioned management decisions during the series was then was traded to San Diego in the off season.
Knockdown Blow
The Dodgers opened up the scoring with a Chris Taylor homer. Taylor smashed a Snell pitch for his 2nd longest career home run. The ball travelled 443 feet, bounding high in the second tier of Petco hopefully to a waiting Dodger fan.
The Dodgers’ patience at the plate was on display all during Snell’s outing. Case in point: Will Smith. The Dodgers catcher, fouling off multiple pitches, popped out to end the top half of the 3rd inning, but had worked a nine-pitch at bat. Snell, having already thrown 67 pitches up till this point of the game, finally managed to get into a rhythm, retiring the final seven Dodgers he faced. But by then, his pitch count was elevated. Not unlike his last game against us in the series, he was lifted fora pinch hitter after pitching just five complete innings.
Battling Back
The Padres answered back in the home half of the 4th inning when Jake Cronenworth took a Bauer pitch deep. Bauer, giving up his 4th home run of the season, tightened the game at 2-1. Bauer pitched very effective striking out seven Padres on a total of 98 pitches. Manny Machado was the only Padre that managed to go 2-for-2 against Bauer, who pitched through six innings and turned the lead over to the bullpen.
Stress Relief
The game had a moment showing off some of the character of Trevor Bauer and his attempt at starting his career as an umpire. When third baseman Justin Turner tripped over the bag fielding a pop-up, Bauer declared him safe on the play. The Dodgers didn’t realize at the time that the game would come to hinge on a tight play at that very bag a couple of innings later.
Bullpen Battle
Brusdar Graterol answered the bell by coming off the injured list earlier in the day. Graterol came in against the Padre lineup to start the bottom of the 7th inning. Flashing some early heat, hitting 100 mph, he nevertheless was not sharp overall. He gave up two hits, one walk, one run, and the lead. Scott Alexander came in to shut down the 7th. Graterol induced a weak ground ball by Will Myers stranding the go ahead run at 3rd base and the game was tied Dodgers 2, Padres 2.
More Messy Defense
An error by usually reliable Corey Seager allowed Jurickson Profar to reach first base in the 8th inning. Then it went downhill from there. A walk to Tatis and the Padres had two runners on for Eric Hosmer. He hit a liner to center fielder Taylor who, on the throw in to Turner at 3rd, looked to have Tatis out when he overstepped the bag, thus holding the Padres to only one run. However, the Padres disputed the call and it was overturned. With San Diego up 3-2, Tommy Pham plated two more on a sharp liner down the left field line, scoring both Tatis and Hosmer: Padres 5, Dodgers 2.
Bats?
The Dodgers went quietly in their last at bat. Turner watched a 3rd strike cross the through the shadows and over the plate. Will Smith grounded out to Hosmer, and Chris Taylor ended the game with a weak pop up. The tally to end the game was three Dodger hits with two walks and only an early home run accounting for both Dodger runs.
Player Moves
This was the introduction of Sheldon Neuse to the lineup. He was playing in his first game at 2nd base with the Dodgers. Neuse took the spot on the roster of Gavin Lux, who went on the 10 day DL with a nagging wrist injury. Neuse had a quite day at the plate going 0-2 and did not look comfortable facing the left-handed Snell.
Next Up
The Dodgers will fly up to Seattle and face a Mariner team that is off to a good start. Dustin May (1-0, 1.74 ERA) matches up against the Mariners Justus Sheffield (0-1, 4.91 ERA) The Mariners are currently in 1st place of the AL West with a 10-6 record.
