Beckett Counters Ross For Game Two

If last night’s game left you in a foul mood this afternoon, you’re not alone. We’re all in a nasty mood after Friday night’s ninth inning debacle. The Dodgers had that game in the bag. They had it in the refrigerator. The butter was cooling. The jello was jiggling and even the eggs were getting hard. The Dodgers had a 5-3 lead in the ninth inning but let it get away. Kenley laid an egg and that was that. Although let’s give Kenley a break. He’s still the best we’ve got down there. He’s been overworked and has had pitch control/movement problems since spring training.

I would love to see more of this-Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Dodgers Lineup @ San Diego

Gordon 2B

Hanley SS

Puig RF

Gonzalez 1B

Kemp LF

Ethier CF

Turner 3B

Butera C

Beckett P

Josh Beckett-4-4 vs. Tyson Ross-6-6

So we move on. Although we can’t have that happen again tonight. The Dodgers cannot blow another opportunity to gain ground on the Giants, who seem intent on going right down the toilet. The Dodgers have to be able to put together a winning streak. The club still had been unable to win more than three in a row this season.

So the club will try and even the series tonight in game two. Josh Beckett will take the mound in search of his fifth win. Beckett lost his last start against Arizona on June 15. That game he allowed three earned runs on five hits in seven frames. Although he did whiff six and walk none.

Beckett is 4-4 this year with a 2.49 ERA. He’s whiffed 76 and walked just 24 in almost 80 innings. He’s been great all year long. He’s pitched well against San Diego in his career. He’s 5-2 with a 2.41 Era in eight starts against the Padres. At Petco Park he’s evened his books at 2-2 with a 3.16 ERA in five starts. Beckett has pitched well on the road this year too, going 3-1 with a 2.27 ERA away from Chavez Ravine.

The Padres have struggled against Beckett. The San Diego club is hitting just .214 (9 for 42) with one home run against Beckett.

San Diego will counter with righthander Tyson Ross. The 27-year old Norcal native has pitched well this year despite having some control problems. Ross has a 6-6 record, with a 3.27 ERA in 15 starts. His 40 walks gives him a 3.8 walk per nine rate. However he has whiffed 90 in a little over 93 innings.

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Ross has faced the Dodgers in five games and three starts. He’s winless with an 0-2 record, and a 3.60 ERA. He’s thrown 20 innings against the Dodgers. The Dodgers have faced him once this year, back on April 2. In that game they beat him. Ross allowed four runs on five hits across five innings in that game. He walked four that day and whiffed seven.

The Dodgers are hitting .267 (12 for 42) with one home run against Ross. The only home run was hit by Yasiel Puig. If you remember that was the bomb hit behind the center field shrubbery.

We’ll have to wait and see if Yasiel Puig will be able to play tonight. He’s been playing with a sore hip for a while now and receiving treatment before and after games. It may end up being a game time decision. But here’s some good news. Juan Uribe could be activated for Sunday’s game. He’s been rehabbing and apparently it’s been going well. Here’s hoping we seem him back sooner rather than later.

Catch the game at 7:10 PM, and then we’ll be back afterwards with our recap.

Go Blue!