Dodgers Use Forfeit Lineup and Lose to San Diego, to No One’s Surprise

Dodgers 2 5 1 Padres   4 6 1 WP-Richard-2-5 LP-Capuano-5-1 SV-Thayer-4 HR-Headley-6

This game was lost the minute Manager Don Mattingly filled out the lineup card. The Dodgers fielded a lineup filled with minor leaguers, Utility players and Adam Kennedy. The game featured Chris Capuano losing his first game of the season, and of course Mattingly added in another bases loaded pitching change in the seventh inning, and using Loney as a pinch-hitter in the ninth. Clayton Richard, who sucks against the rest of the league but for some reason is like Koufax when pitching against the Dodgers, pitched seven effective innings to get the win. Richard only allowed two runs on four hits, no walks, and he whiffed seven Dodgers. Chase Headley would provide all of the offense for San Diego, with a solo home run, and a two-run double, to help San Diego beat a weak Dodger lineup 4-2.

The Dodgers only had one hit from the fourth inning on. Face it, this was another forfeit game. I don’t know what Mattingly is thinking, but there is no reason to “experiment” with the lineup and use another game full of Minor leaguers, just because Bison is hurt.

Mattingly did not have either Ellis play, and Gordon sat as well. Elian Herrera played second base, and picked up his first major league hit, and double. Jerry Sands played first base, and the outmaker was again at third base, with Justin Sellers playing shortstop.

The Dodgers scored their two measly runs in the first inning. Tony Gwynn back in center field today, singles to lead off the first inning. Elian Herrera in his first major league start smacks a double right down the third base line. The ball rolls all the way down into right field, scoring Gwynn from first base. The Dodgers lead 1-0. That’s the first ML hit for the youngster, and his first RBI. Bobby Abreu grounds out to second. Herrera advances to third. Andre Ethier plates the youngster with a sac fly to center field. Jerry Sands ends the inning with a ground out. The Dodgers take an early 2-0 lead.

Bottom of the first. The Padres get one back. Cameron Maybin pops out. Chase Headley homers into the left field seats. 2-1 Dodgers. Chris Denorfia flies out to Gwynn. Jesus Guzman whiffs to end the first.

The Padres would take the lead by scoring two runs in the bottom of the sixth off of Cappy. They use three consecutive hits, two singles and a double. Cameron Maybin reaches on an infield single. Sellers makes a great stop, but can’t throw Maybin out. Chris Denorfia singles Maybin to third. Chase Headley who homered earlier in the game, clears the bases with a two-run double. San Diego takes the lead 3-2.

The Padres would another run in the bottom of the seventh. Hudson singles. Cappy can’t field a bunt, and throws the ball away for an error. There is a walk to load the bases. Mattingly makes his obligatory bases loaded pitching change, to bring in Javy Guerra. Javy of course walks in a run to make it 4-2 San Diego, before finally getting the last out. That was about it. The Dodgers would just go down quietly, much like they did yesterday. Except for a single from Abreu in the ninth inning, the Dodgers would not be heard from since.

This is the second forfeit game in a row, and I am not happy about it. There is no reason to put out a lineup like this. None. I don’t care if it is a day game after a night game. We could lose a lot of ground in these next two weeks, if Don Mattingly keeps putting out these stupid lineups. It just seems to me like he never learns from his mistakes. It’s like hitting yourself in the head with a hammer over and over again. Tomorrow the Dodgers play game two against San Diego, before coming home to play the Cardinals. Aaron Harang takes on Edinson Volquez. Tomorrow is a 710PM game.

Oh by the way, tonight at 8PM, I will be talking Baseball with Daniel Shoptaw of http://www.Cardinal70.com. If you can tune in, and listen to the last LasordasLair podcast of the month. If any of you wonder why I don’t like Mattingly, it’s days like this that are a prime example. If he does this again tomorrow, I am going to be very un-happy. We are just losing ground like this. This is no time to be experimenting with the lineup, and giving guys a “look”