Dodgers 5 Padres 1: Won The Trade

The Dodgers got another dominant pitching performance out of their deadline acquisition in game two against the Padres.

The Dodgers were finally on the right side of a no-hit threat. The Padres’ first hit came with two outs in the sixth inning. Meanwhile, they cashed in on their hits en route to a 5-1 victory.

Dodgers Starter

Rich Hill got his second start as a Dodger. He was supposed to start at Coors, but the rain delay forced him to warm up and not pitch. Rather than push anything, the Dodgers decided to scratch him and save him for the weekend.

His replacement, Bud Norris, did not pitch well in Colorado. However, Hill’s start today could not have gone too much better.

Hill walked the leadoff hitter. The next Padre baserunner came in the fifth inning with two outs on another walk.

Hill tossed 5.2 hitless innings before losing his no-no on an Alexei Ramirez single in the sixth. Hill finished off the inning by getting Wil Myers to foul out. He was pulled after six innings and 89 pitches. A bit on the conservative side, but no point in keeping him in with a sizeable lead. Keep his blister healthy and have him toss more innings in October.

Hill finished those six innings with one hit and no runs allowed. He struck out eight batters and walked two.

That’ll play. His pitch count probably would have been lower, but I’m pretty convinced home plate umpire John Hirshbeck has never seen a curveball in his life. Hill wasn’t getting any calls on that pitch.

Dodgers Offense

The Dodgers bats kept hitting the ball well in today’s game. Unlike yesterday, the Dodgers actually turned those hits into runs.

The Dodgers were scoreless through three, but scratched in the fourth. The heart of the order came up and did the damage. Corey Seager led off with a single and moved to third on a Justin Turner single. Adrian Gonzalez singled Seager home, and everyone came home on Yasmani Grandal‘s 22nd home run of the season.

Josh Reddick added on to the offense in the sixth with his first homer as a Dodger. Reddick had two shift-beating singles prior to that, so it was nice to see him get going on offense.

After the dinger, the Dodgers failed to score again. They finished the game with nine hits, so that makes 22 in their last two games.

Dodgers Bullpen

Joe Blanton was the first out of the pen today. He struggled a bit, as he allowed a clean single and a walk. He was bailed out on a nice catch in the outfield by Chase Utley and ended up getting through the seventh unharmed.

Casey Fien lost the shutout in the eighth. Louis Sardinas crushed a double to the left-center gap and scored on a Myers single. It could have been a lot worse, but Howie Kendrick made a great running catch to save another double.

With a four-run lead, Kenley Jansen got the ninth. He struck out the side to give the Dodgers a 5-1 win.

Other Stuff

The Giants beat the Cubs, so the Dodgers remain two games up in the West. The Giants finish off their series with the Cubs tomorrow night and the Dodgers close out their series with San Diego.

A pair of Dodger pitchers threw at Rancho today on rehab assignments. Clayton Kershaw tossed three innings and only allowed one infield single. He thinks he’ll be throwing in four days (I think at the major league level is implied). The Dodgers probably won’t rush him to throw the finale against the Diamondbacks, but with a day off Thursday he could start the opener in Miami on Friday.

Kershaw was relieved by Brett Anderson, who did not have as much success. He allowed nine hits and five earned runs in two innings. I’ve been a fan of Anderson for his career, but maybe it’s best for him to not hurry back.

Jose De Leon will make his debut tomorrow in the finale. Christian Friedrich will start for the Padres. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10.