Dodgers 3, Padres 0: Pitching Seems Fine, Guys

The Dodgers took game two of the season, beating the Padres 3-0 to secure their first series victory of the season.

The offense struggled in comparison to last night, as they only mustered three runs and six hits off Padres’ starter James Shields. The Pads’ bullpen kept the Dodgers quiet today as they held the Dodgers to one walk over the final three frames, but the Dodgers pitching gave the Padres absolutely nothing to work with.

Scott Kazmir made his Dodger debut and was stellar. Cory Spangenberg reached base in the first on an infield single (with a bit of help from Chase Utley at second), and the Padres’ next baserunner didn’t come until another infield single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Kazmir went six very strong innings, with the only baserunner coming on the infield single. He struck out five Padres and didn’t issue a walk. He was pinch hit for in the top of the seventh with only 75 pitches in his arm, which was slightly surprising and a but worrisome for a while. Pedro Baez and Chris Hatcher pitched perfect seventh and eighth innings, respectively, and Kenley Jansen allowed an infield single but kept the Padres off the board to preserve the Dodgers’ second shutout in as many games.

All the offense came in the fourth, which started with a Corey Seager leadoff single. Adrian Gonzalez ripped a line drive to center and Jon Jay couldn’t find it, and both Seager and Gonzo scored on Yasiel Puig‘s second triple of the season. Carl Crawford hit a grounder through the drawn-in infield for the Dodgers’ third run, and that was more than enough for Kazmir and Co.

Let’s talk about Puig for a second, because he could be the player that determines how far the Dodgers go this season. In the first two games of the season, Puig has come to bat eight times. He’s struck out once and walked twice, so he’s put the ball in play five times. Of those five times, the “weakest” hit ball off his bat has was clocked at 100 MPH. He’s ripping the ball early on, and while it’s only two games, he looks more comfortable at the plate than I can remember.

Again, it’s only been two games and it’s early for judgements, but the Dodgers will probably not allow a run all season. That seems easy enough to keep up. Kazmir and Kershaw each allowed one hit in their starts and the bullpen has been solid early on, as everyone but J.P. Howell and Joe Blanton has appeared so far this season. The offense has looked sharp so far and the Dodgers are scoring without the longball, which was a complaint often heard last season. It’s only the Padres, but two wins on the road with no new injuries is a pretty good start to the season.

The Dodgers will have another debut tomorrow as Kenta Maeda will take the hill for the first time in his major league career. Andrew Cashner gets the ball for the Padres.