Capuano Makes First Start As Dodgers Look To Even Series

Dodgers Lineup vs. San Diego

Jason Marquis-0-1 vs. Chris Capuano-0-0

Last night’s 6-3 loss to the Padres was a disgrace to the legacy of Jackie Robinson. The Dodgers did not make Jackie proud last night after another irritating game that went nowhere. I’m a bit frustrated if you can’t tell. It’s getting harder and harder for me to stay upbeat since the team is experiencing similar problems from last year. It feels like 2012 all over again. No hitting with RISP. Terrible bullpen management. Useless bench, bad base-running. Those are all problems that continue to plague the Dodgers, and the coaching staff again, seems clueless as to how to solve the issues. The biggest issue is they can’t beat teams in their own division. Last season the Dodgers had problems beating their divisional rivals, and this year they are only 4-6 against the NL West after ten games. That is going to have to change if they want to have any chance at winning the division.

Can Cappy get the Dodgers back on track?-Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

The shortened homestand and three game series against the Padres continues tonight, with game two. The Dodgers will give the ball to Lefty Chris Capuano, who is making his first start of the season in place of the injured Zack Greinke. San Diego will counter with veteran right hander Jason Marquis.

The Dodgers have seen Marquis many times over the years. He was the opposing starter on the mound during last Wednesday night’s game at Petco Park that saw the benches clearing brawl, and Greinke break his collar bone. In that game, Marquis pitched five innings, allowing two runs, walking four and whiffing five. He eventually earned a no-decision, as the Dodgers went on to win 3-2.

Jason Marquis is 6-4 against the Boys in Blue with a 2.63 ERA in 15 games. He has pitched a shut-out, and has a save against the Dodgers. He’s historically been very tough at Dodger Stadium as well, posting a 4-3 record, and a 2.60 ERA in nine career starts. He’s allowed just three home runs at Chavez Ravine, and posted a 1.048 WHIP while pitching in Los Angeles.

Of course as I pointed out last time, the Dodgers are only hitting.216 (32 for 148), and they only scored two runs off of him last week. Adrian Gonzalez has done most of the heavy lifting against Marquis with a .292 (7 for 24) average against, with three doubles, and a home run. Juan Uribe has also hit Marquis well in the past .286 (6 for 21) with two doubles, and a home run.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Jason Marquis (21) gestures during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at PETCO Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers will counter with left Chris Capunao. Cappy is making his first start of the season, filling into the rotation for Zack Greinke. Cappy has only pitched two innings this season, both out of the bullpen. The Dodgers originally put Cappy in the bullpen since they didn’t have a rotation slot for him at the time. Cappy was one of the three extra starters the Dodgers had coming into camp. That surplus has dissolved quickly, after Harang was traded to Colorado, Greinke got hurt, forcing the Dodgers to place Cappy in the rotation, and Ted Lilly is still rusty and grumpy.

Cappy is 5-4 with a 3.34 ERA in 11 career starts against San Diego. Capuano has certainly shut down the current group of Padres, if the numbers are any indication, Cappy has held the Padres to a .200 (18 for 90) batting average against. Only Yonder Alonso has hit above the Mendoza line against Cappy. He’s hitting .455 ( 5 for 11) with a double. Nobody has homered off of Cappy, and he’s held San Diego to a miniscule .510 OPS against. Let’s hope this trend continues tonight.

With thug-life Carlos Quentin serving his eight game suspension, there was no problems during last night’s game. Let’s hope that it stays that way tonight. The last thing we need is anymore injuries. Of course the rest of the world is fully aware that Carlos Quentin is a retard, and he has a little weenie.

Tonight’s game will probably go the same way every Dodger game goes. The lineup will only score two runs, but still collects 12 hits, They will leave at least 10 men on base, while playing station to station Baseball with no speed on the base-paths. Capuano will pitch well probably 6 or 7 innings of one-run ball, before he will be removed in the seventh inning for the blowpen. With the game tied at 1-1, or 2-2, the Bumpen will blow the game away by walking the world and that will be that as they say.

I really hope somehow that’s not the case, and we can watch a different script tonight. I’ll be up in the press box for tonight, so I’ll have a bird’s eye view of the game. Please surprise me Dodgers, and win. And can we please, please score some runs?

Tune in tonight at 7:10 PM to find out what happens to our Boys in Blue. We’ll have our usual Dodger coverage and recap after the game. Go Blue