NL West Champion Dodgers Bring The Party To Petco Park

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Dodgers Lineup @ San Diego

Gordon 6Hairston 5Schumaker 4Van Slyke 7Fedex 2Buss 8Castellanos 9Butera 3Volquez 1

Edinson Volquez-9-11 vs. Robbie Erlin-2-3

 

The Dodgers are probably still a bit hungover from last night’s celebration after clinching the NL West division crown, their first since 2009. And that’s ok. The Dodgers are in, and now we wait to see who they will play in the division series. But until then, the Dodgers have to finish the regular season.

That means the Dodgers take the party on the road into San Diego and Petco Park to begin a three game series. I’m sure the Padres are relieved that they won’t have to watch the Dodger’s celebration at their home park. I’m sure the Dodgers are relieved that they don’t have to worry about clinching anymore. But the Dodgers don’t stop celebrating, and neither will we for the rest of the regular season. The Dodgers are now 88-65, and have nine games remaining in the regular season.

This final road trip has the Dodgers playing a three game weekend set against the Padres. The Dodgers will have sideways hat wearing Edinson Volquez on the mound tonight. Oh and Here’s Puig doing the worm, and Breakdancing in the clubhouse.

For Volquez this could be a bitter pill as he again pitches against his former team in his old home park. Volquez has posted a 4-7 record, and a 5.72 ERA at Petco Park. This is Volquez’s fourth start for the Dodgers. Volquez has not given up more than three earned runs in his last two starts with the Dodgers, and in his last outing against the Giants he whiffed seven without a walk. The zero walks are key for Volquez, who is still trying to straighten out his control problems. Volquez is 9-11 overall in 2013, with a 5.94 ERA. The Padres are only hitting .179 (5 for 28) off of Volquez. Volquez is 1-1 with a 2.21 ERA in five games against his former club. Those games are from his days with the Reds. The right hander had been battling a blister problem, but says this has resolved itself.

PA

AB

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

BB

SO

BA

OBP

SLG

Ronny Cedeno

10

8

0

0

0

0

1

1

3

.000

.100

.000

Mark Kotsay

9

8

0

0

0

0

1

1

1

.000

.111

.000

Nick Hundley

4

4

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

.250

.250

.250

Chase Headley

3

1

0

0

0

0

0

2

0

.000

.667

.000

Will Venable

3

3

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

.667

.667

.667

Ian Kennedy

2

1

1

1

0

0

0

1

0

1.000

1.000

2.000

Reymond Fuentes

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

.000

.000

.000

Jesus Guzman

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

.000

.000

.000

Jedd Gyorko

1

1

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

1.000

1.000

2.000

Total

34

28

5

2

0

0

2

5

5

.179

.294

.250

San Diego will counter with rookie left hander Robbie Erlin. The 22 year old Oakland native has pitched in nine games this season, and started seven. He is 2-3 with a 5.18 ERA and 1.4 WHIP in 40 frames. He’s whiffed only 26 in those 40 frames, so he does not have much strikeout stuff. Or so it would seem. The youngster has never faced the Dodgers before. The only Dodger to have ever seen Erlin is Michael Young, who has a hit in three at-bats against him. Erlin was a third round draft choice from the Texas Rangers back in the 2009 draft. Erlin was traded to the Padres with Joe Wieland for reliever Mike Adams.

That’s about all I have for today. Expect the Dodgers to roll out the “we just clinched the division crown on getaway day lineup”. That likely means Nick Buss, and Drew Butera, and probably Michael Young, amongst others. For once, I can’t complain. Think about that for a minute. Join us again after the game for our nightly recap. Postseason tickets go one sale to the general public this morning at the Dodger’s main site. Go Blue!

Game Time-7:10 PM

TV-Prime Ticket