Greinke and Dodgers Defeat Friars in Game Three as Offense Breaks Out

Dodgers 6 7 0

Padres 1 5 2

WP- Greinke (4-2)

LP- Volquez (4-6)

HR- Gonzalez (9), Ramirez (3)

The Dodgers must be enjoying the beautiful San Diego weather, but they sure are not enjoying any wins on the baseball field during this four-game series until game three that is. The Padres, who seem to be full of fight, now sit in second place in the N.L. while the Dodgers still remain in lowly last place. It was a pitcher’s duel Saturday afternoon, and Edinson Volquez had a no-hitter going through five innings until Adrian Gonzalez hit his ninth homerun of the year over the center field wall in the sixth. That opened the door for the Dodgers as Volquez proceeds to allow three runs in the inning thanks to a costly two run fielding error by shortstop Pedro Ciriaco.

#ISeeYou Hanley after your huge homerun in the seventh. Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers score four big runs in the sixth thanks to two errors on the Padres, three walks, and three hits by the Dodgers.  It’s nice to be on the other side of the error fest for once. Hanley Ramirez crushes a humongous homerun to the top deck in the seventh for good measure. Greinke pitches a solid eight frames, and Kenley Jansen shuts the Padres down in the ninth.

Yasiel Puig draws a one out walk in the top of the first inning versus Edinson Volquez. Adrian Gonzalez, who has been struggling recently, strikes out. Hanley Ramirez grounds in to a force out, and the inning is done.

Zack Greinke goes to the mound at Petco Park for the first time since the collarbone breaking brawl sent him to the operating room. Greinke strikes out Will Venable, but he walks Chase Headley to bring up Carlos Quentin amidst a chorus of boos. Greinke proceeds to whiff Quentin for the last out! Payback!

Andre Ethier walks to lead-off the second. Mark Ellis grounds out, but Ethier moves over to second on the play. Juan Uribe hits a little grounder, and Volquez throws to third and gets Ethier out. Ethier should not have been running on that play. A.J. Ellis strikes out looking, and the Dodgers remain hitless.

Greinke retires Mark Kotsay, Yasmani Grandal, and Alexi Amarista in order in the bottom of the second.

Volquez strikes out Greinke and Schumaker, and Puig flies out center field in the top of the third. The Dodgers offense is asleep at the wheel so far.

Zack Greinke responds with a 1-2-3 inning of his own for the bottom of the third while striking out both Volquez and Logan Forsythe. We are locked in a pitching duel.

Adrian Gonzalez strikes out for the second time to begin the fourth inning. What is wrong with Gonzo? Hanley and Ethier make outs two and three, and Volquez has a no-hitter through four.

The first hit of the ball game comes in the bottom of the fourth with a one-out single by Chase Headley. Greinke rears

June 22, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Edinson Volquez (37) throws during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

back and strikes out enemy #1 Carlos Quentin for the second time of the day. Kotsay strikes out, and that’s Greinke’s sixth whiff of the game.

Uribe, A.J. Ellis, and Greinke draw back-to-back-to-back walks in the top of the fifth to load the bases up. Volquez has yet to allow a hit, but he already has walked six Dodgers. The Dodgers are able to squeak out a run on a fielder’s choice. Skip Schumaker hits a groundball to second, and Greinke is out at second but the umpires call the head first sliding Skip safe at first! That was a lucky break for the Dodgers as they take a 1-0 lead with no hits. Puig strikes out to end the inning.

Greinke pitches yet another nice 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the fifth.

Adrian Gonzalez finally picks up his first hit of the series with a monster solo homerun to center field! That also breaks up Volquez’s no-no. The Dodgers take a 2-0 lead. Ethier draws a one-out walk, and Mark Ellis singles. Ethier goes from first to third on the base hit. Uribe strikes out on a check swing. With one Ellis at bat (A.J.), the other Ellis (Mark) steals second. That’s Mark’s third SB of the year. Ellis reaches on a error by Pedro Ciriaco as the ball ends up in center field. Two runs score on the play! The Dodgers take a 4-0 lead. Greinke walks, and that’s going to be all for Volquez. Brad Boxberger, a right-hander, will come in to pitch with two outs and two on. Skip Schumaker proceeds to single to center field, and A.J. scores to increase the Dodger lead to 5-0. Yasmani Grandal makes an error on the play when he can’t hold on to the ball on the throw home. Puig draws his second walk of the game, and the Dodgers have the bases loaded. Gonzalez strikes out swinging, and all the base runners are left stranded, but not before the Dodgers hang four runs on the board.

Edinson Volquez pitched 5 2/3 innings and allowed 5 runs on 2 hits with 7 strikeouts and 7 walks on 108 pitches.

Chris Denorfia singles to lead-off the bottom half of the sixth for the Friars. Forsythe erases the hit when he hits into a double play, and Greinke strikes out Venable to end the frame quickly.

In the seventh, Hanley Ramirez hits a monstrous solo homerun all the way to the third level of the left field top deck at Petco Park. The Dodgers now lead 6-0.

Carlos Quentin is retired in the bottom of the seventh on a grounder to second base, and the thuggish left fielder can’t do anything against Greinke. He is 0-for-3 with 2 strikeouts. Greinke retires the side in order once again.

Jesus Guzman will pitch the eighth for San Diego. Schumaker singles with two outs. Yasiel Puig strikes out for the second time to end the inning.

June 22, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis (17) slides safely around a tag attempt by San Diego Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal (12) during the sixth inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Grandal doubles to lead-off the home half of the eighth inning. Jesus Guzman follows suit with a double, and the Padres get on the board.

Ciriaco grounds out to first, and Guzman advances to third. Denorfia reaches on a fielder’s choice as Juan Uribe runs down Guzman half way to home. Denorfia takes second on the play. Forsythe flies out to center, and the damage is contained to one run.

Zack Greinke pitched 8 innings and allowed 1 run on 4 hits with 8 strikeouts and one walk on 111 pitches.

Anthony Bass comes out of the San Diego bullpen for the top of the ninth. Ethier drives a double to left field, and Mark Ellis singles. The Dodgers have runners at first and third with two outs. Juan Uribe strokes a well hit ball to right field, but Chris Denorfia makes a great catch to rob Uribe of an extra base hit.

Kenley Jansen will come in to try to shut the door on the Padres in the bottom of the ninth. Kenley strikes out Venable, but Headley dunks a single to right field. Hundley also whiffs against Kenley for the second out. Kotsay pops out, and the Dodgers win!

The Dodgers improve to 31-42. The Dodgers also do not make any errors on the night which should be mentioned as well.

The series finale will feature Chris Capuano who will be pitching on short rest on Sunday. Andrew Cashner will start for the Padres as the Dodgers look for the series split.