Half-Bakered: Padres Defeat Dodgers Despite Guerreromania

Scott Baker pitched admirably on Sunday afternoon for the Dodgers in his spot start. You can’t ask for more from the right-hander, and he even struck out Justin Upton three times. It was the Dodgers offense that couldn’t muster anything much against San Diego’s Brandon Morrow other than a solo homerun by the infamous Alex Guerrero.

Guerrero also made two strong defensive plays at third base, and the pervasive narrative that Guerrero isn’t capable defensively perhaps quieted down a bit. Guerrero also hit two of the five Dodger hits of the game.

Jimmy Rollins did have one hit, but he has been struggling at the plate in the leadoff spot. Perhaps Don Mattingly should drop Rollins down in the lineup or switch him with Joc Pederson to give the veteran some breathing room. The silver lining is that the Dodgers have a certain hot hitting shortstop named Corey Seager waiting in the wings.

Dodgers 1 5 0

Padres 3 5 0

WP- Morrow (1-0)

LP- Baker (0-1)

S- Kimbrel (6)

HR- Amarista (1), Guerrero (5), Norris (1)

Jimmy Rollins hit a leadoff single off of Brandon Morrow in the top of the first, but the Padres pulled off the strike ’em out throw ’em out double play to end the inning. Derek Norris mowed down Rollins at second while Adrian Gonzalez went down on strikes at the plate.

Scott Baker, the spot starter of the day, started off poorly in the home half of the first. He walked Yangervis Solarte with one out, and then former Dodger Matt Kemp doubled to center field. Luckily Justin Turner threw out Solarte at the plate after a strong relay throw from Joc Pederson, and the crisis was diverted temporarily. Baker made 21 pitches in the inning.

Alex Guerrero, who has been wrongfully considered to be a poor defensive infielder, made a great diving stop at third base before he threw out Jedd Gyorko to end the inning.

Guerrero led off the third with a single which bounced off of Alexi Amarista‘s glove. Joc Pederson was robbed by Justin Upton in left field with a great catch for the first out, and Rollins grounded out after Baker successfully bunted Guerrero into scoring position.

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The Padres were the first to strike. In the bottom of the third, little Alexi Amarista hit a big solo homerun, his first of the season.

The Dodgers couldn’t get any traction on Brandon Morrow. Yasmani Grandal drew a walk, and Justin Turner singled in the fourth, but they couldn’t do much else.

The Padres took a 2-0 lead in the fourth thanks to the dreaded leadoff walk to Matt Kemp and a Derek Norris double.

Alex Guerrero is the real deal. It’s time for the everyone to move into the acceptance phase. Guerrero proceeded to crush his fifth homerun of the season to center field, and the Dodgers finally notched a run on the board.

Since 1914, most RBI by a Dodger in any month with 50 or fewer PA is 17, by Babe Herman in April 1930. Alex Guerrero has 13 RBI in 23 PA
— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) April 26, 2015

"“Those are softball numbers!” –Orel Hershiser on Alex Guerrero."

The Padres launched another homerun off of Scott Baker in the seventh. Derek Norris hit his first homerun of the season over the left field fence, and the Friars led by two.

Scott Baker pitched 7 innings and allowed 3 runs on 4 hits with 6 strikeouts and 2 walks on 102 pitches in his Dodger debut.

Brandon Morrow pitched 7 innings and allowed 1 run on 5 hits with 4 strikeouts and 1 walk on 102 pitches.

Carlos Frias took over for Baker in the eighth. He allowed a single to Wil Myers and a wild pitch. Frias struck out Matt Kemp to end the scoreless frame.

And in came Craig Kimbrel. Ethier struck out. Adrian Gonzalez struck out. Grandal fouled out. The end.

The Dodgers drop to 11-7 on the season, and they finish the road trip going 2-4.

The Dodgers return home to Dodger Stadium on Monday to host the Giants. Hopefully the Dodgers will return the favor by sweeping the pumpkin colored foes. Tim Lincecum will counter Brett Anderson.

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