Chris Capuano Injured During Crushing Loss to San Diego

Dodgers 2 4 0

Padres 9 15 0

WP- Marquis (1-1)

LP- Capuano (0-1)

This was one of those game where things go downhill very quickly. The seats weren’t even warm yet, and the Padres had already plated five runs off Chris Capuano. Capuano, who was selected to replace the injured Zack Greinke in the rotation, had a very rough start to say the least. Not only was he hammered in the first inning, but he had to leave the game after the second inning with an injury to his calf. The extent of the injury is still unknown, but if he has to go the disabled list the Dodgers would have to start either Ted Lilly or Stephen Fife in Greinke’s spot next.

It didn’t help that it was a cold, windy night at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers could only muster three base hits and one run off righty Jason Marquis. The highlight of the game for the Dodgers was a stellar Justin Sellers play at short in the sixth inning. The Padres clobbered the Dodgers with 15 hits.

Jason Marquis pitches splendidly at Dodger Stadium over his career. Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The disaster of a first inning includes nine San Diego runners and four runs. Chris Capuano, who has only pitched 2 2/3 innings in relief this season, proceeds to allow a lead-off single to Chris Denorfia. Everth Cabrera‘s sacrifice bunt moves Denorfia into scoring position. Yonder Alonso singles allowing the first run of four to score. Jesus Guzman singles. Jedd Gyorko flies out, but a groundball single to first by Kyle Blanks loads the bases up for Diego. Capuano walks Nick Hundley to walk in a run. Rick Honeycutt goes out to talk to Cappy, but promptly thereafter Alexi Amarista singles in two more runs. An obligatory wild pitch then occurs, and the fateful inning finally comes to an end on a ground out from Jason Marquis but not before it’s 4-0 Padres.

The Dodgers go down in order in the home half of the first on three consecutive fly outs from Carl Crawford, Mark Ellis, and Matt Kemp.

Capuano settles down a bit in the second inning, and he induces three groundouts from Denorfia, Cabrera, and Alonso for a scoreless inning.

The Dodgers don’t do anything in the second as they go down 1-2-3.

April 16, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Diego Padres left fielder Kyle Blanks (88) slides into home to score a run in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

San Diego tacks on another run in the third. Capuano walks Guzman, and apparently Capuano strained his left calf while running over to the first base bag. We will keep you updated on his injury as we find out more. The Dodgers are forced to bring in Matt Guerrier to replace Cappy. A Kyle Blanks double and a Hundley sacrifice fly combine for a fifth San Diegan run.

Chris Capuano only made it through 2 innings, allowing 5 runs on 5 hits, no strikeouts, 2 walks on 43 pitches.

The Dodgers get on the board in the bottom of the third, but they once again strand runners and waste a perfect rally opportunity. Juan Uribe singles to lead-off. Justin Sellers is hit by a pitch from Marquis, and he is awarded first base. It was unintentional, and there is no exchange of words. Matt Guerrier, who is now batting, strikes out attempting to bunt. Carl Crawford walks to load the bases up for the Dodgers. Uribe is able to score on a sacrifice fly by Mark Ellis, but Matt Kemp strikes out swinging to end the inning and strand all three runners. 5-1 San Diego.

Denorfia singles in the fourth, and Cabrera hits into a force out. With Alonso at the plate, Cabrera steals second. They end up walking Alonso intentionally, and Guzman flies out to end the frame.

In the fourth, A.J. Ellis hits a two-out single up the middle. That is all.

Josh Wall comes in to pitch the fifth inning, and Luis Cruz will take over at third. Wall strikes out Gyorko and Blanks. Nick Hundley doubles inside third with two-out. Amarista singles home Hundley, and Matt Kemp’s off line throw to home allows Amarista to take second on the play. 6-1 San Diego. Marquis flies out to end the inning.

The Dodgers go down in order again against Marquis in the bottom of the fifth.

Denorfia leads-off with a double to start the sixth. That’s Chris’s third hit on the night. Cabrera strikes out. Denorfia steals third with Alfonso in the box. Alonso proceeds to double to right field, and the Padres plate their seventh run. Justin Sellers makes a great play with a diving stop to rob Guzman of a base hit. Gyorko doubles to left field. Alonso scores, and it’s officially a blow out. 8-1 Padres.

Jason Marquis strikes out Matt Kemp for the second time. Adrian Gonzalez strikes out, and the Dodgers go down quietly in the sixth.

Paco Rodriguez is in for the seventh inning. Matt Kemp is replaced by Skip Schumaker in center field. There’s only a Nick Hundley single which is San Diego’s thirteenth hit of the game. The Dodgers have just two hits.

Justin Sellers makes a diving stop in the sixth inning. Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers are just rolling over now, and they go down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh.

Kenley Jansen becomes the fifth Dodger pitcher of the night. Cabrera strikes out swinging. Alonso singles, and that’s his third hit of the game. Guzman flies out. Gyorko strikes out.

Carl Crawford doubles down the right field corner with two outs in the eighth for the third hit of the night for the Dodgers. That’s going to be all for Jason Marquis who pitched very well. Flame thrower Andrew Cashner comes in. He gets Mark Ellis to fly out to end the inning.

Jason Marquis pitched 7 2/3 innings, allowing 1 run on 3 hits, with 5 strikeouts and 1 walk on 107 pitches.

Brandon League will pitch the ninth for the Dodgers. Ramon Hernandez is at first base and Jerry Hairston Jr. is in left field now. League promptly hits Kyle Blanks with a pitch. An obligatory wild pitch moves Blanks over to second, and a Hundley fly out moves him to third. Amarista singles, and the Padres now have nine runs on 15 hits.

Hairston singles to center as Will Venable‘s diving attempt traps the ball. Ramon Hernandez, first baseman, flies out. Andre Ethier draws a walk. A.J. Ellis strikes out. Skip Schumaker walks to load the bases up. Cashner embarrassingly walks Nick Punto, and all of a sudden the Dodgers have a second run. Luis Cruz strikes out swinging to end our misery.

Tomorrow the Dodgers will try to save face and stave off a sweep by sending Clayton Kershaw to the mound in a 7:10 p.m.  game.