Dodgers 9 Padres 5: RIP Pace of Play

The Dodgers got the W and avoided a sweep, it only took six hours and 17 innings of play. Even the Petco Park sprinklers turned on before the game was final.

Kenta Maeda pitched five complete innings, struck out five, walked one and allowed four earned runs. Maeda was great and did not allow a run until the bottom of the fifth inning. Melvin Upton Jr. would lead off the inning with a single to center and it went down hill after that. After two more singles and a walk, Wil Myers would come up to the plate with the bases loaded and clear all of them with a triple. All of a sudden the Padres jumped ahead to a 4-0 lead.

The Dodgers would manage to score three in the top of the sixth inning. Enrique Hernandez led off with a walk, Chase Utley singled, Corey Seager singled, Adrian Gonzalez singled and a wild pitch would help the Dodgers come just one run shy of the Padres by the end of the inning.

In the top of the seventh inning Justin Turner would send a ball into the center field seats in order to tie the game at four and then in the top of the eighth inning Howie Kendrick hit a solo shot and for the first time the Dodgers had the lead. Louis Coleman was sent to the mound for the bottom of the eighth inning he would get two outs but allow a walk to Myers. Dave Roberts then brought in Kenley Jansen with two outs in the inning and Jansen was looking for revenge. The first batter he faced was Upton and once again Upton ruins the lead for the Dodgers. He tripled and Myers scored, which tied the game again at five.

Today the defense struggled. There were many attempts to slide and catch balls that made it past the outfielders. Joc Pederson did it, Yasiel Puig did it and Trayce Thompson. Puig made a mental error in the top of the ninth inning when he led off with a single, but then did not leave second base when A.J Ellis tried to bunt him over to third. Ellis ran down the line to first yelling at Puig and trying to get his attention. It would not have mattered anyways, but it just showed that the Dodgers have mentally checked out.

The game would remain tied and head into extras. The Dodgers had a few opportunities with the bases loaded and no outs but did not score. One of the most exciting things that happened was when Clayton Kershaw pinched hit for J.P Howell in the top of the 15th inning. The crowd broke out in an “MVP” chant. Gotta love Dodger Stadium South.

The Dodgers finally gained the lead in the top of the 17th inning when Kendrick led off with a ground rule double, Gonzalez was intentionally walked, Pederson was intentionally walked and Puig came up with the bases loaded and singled to center. It was perfect since Puig made the mental error running the bases in the ninth, that he was the hero of the evening. Dodgers would score again on a wild pitch and a fielder’s choice to give them a four run lead.

Ross Stripling got the win this evening after pitching three scoreless innings. Today’s game was the longest game for the Dodgers all season and to surprise many the bullpen was great. They only allowed one run all day. It was also the longest game by innings that has been played so far this season.

This whole series with the Padres has been pretty painful losing on two straight walk offs, maybe this is exactly what the Dodgers needed. In extra innings you could find Hernandez in full catching gear, Alex Wood with 7 pairs of sunglasses on and rally caps all around. They seemed united, probably because they too were desperate for the game to end, but it seemed to have lit a fire under each one of them. Hopefully a full team victory like this one will give the Dodgers some confidence heading into their series with the Cincinnati Reds which starts tomorrow.

Today’s long game changes a lot for tomorrow. The lineup is likely to feature many Triple A Oklahoma players in order to rest all of the starters. Ellis caught all 17 innings tomorrow so he for one will not be in the lineup tomorrow, Austin Barnes is likely to take his spot.

Let’s get the win tomorrow, but not in six hours. This game was far too stressful and filled with agony until that 17th inning when the joy appeared.