Padres rout Dodgers to avoid getting swept- May 2015
The San Diego Padres were determined not to get swept in the final game of their 3 game series and fall deeper behind the first place home team at Dodger Stadium. Carlos Frias came into the game with a 3-1 record and 2.55 ERA but that will change big time as he gave up 12 hits and 10 earned runs in 4 innings. After a double by leadoff hitter Solarte, he walked Venable and ex-Dodger Matt Kemp. Justin Upton blasted a grand slam on a hanging curveball to make it 4-0. Upton followed with a bases loaded double in the second for his 6th rbi of the day. Will Middlebrooks also homered and James Shields (one of their big signings over the winter along with Kemp, Will Myers- on the DL and catcher Derrick Norris who drove in a couple runs), breezed to go to 6-0 on the season. The final was 11-3 as Guerrero hit a 2 run HR off Shields. Manager Don Mattingly said Frias’s spot in the rotation is not in jeopardy because of this start.
The Padres have been struggling as they were supposed to challenge for the division this year especially after trading for closer Craig Kimbrel early in the season. Their power hitting first baseman Alonso has been missed while on the DL. The Dodgers are still without Puig and Crawford and new starting catcher Grandal just went on the 7 day DL which allowed Austin Barnes to make his major league debut on Sunday. They also just learned the #3 starter Ryu will be out for a long while and maybe the season with his arm injury.
The Dodgers dropped to 26-17 but still in front of first place San Francisco by 2 games entering Sunday despite getting swept and shut out all 3 games earlier this week. Zach Greinke has been carrying the pitching staff while Kershaw has been average. They have had nice support from rookie Pederson, who has 12 HR’s, Kendrick, Ethier, Cuban rookie Guerrero and Justin Turner to name a few. It is a long season but thank goodness for the depth the team has this year and new GM Friedman making some big pickups. More at dodgers.com