Dodgers Cash in Michael Young Clutch Double to Take San Diego Series

Dodgers 1 4 1

Padres 0 2 1

WP- Howell (4-1)

LP- Cashner (10-9)

S- Jansen (27)

In a meaningless game in San Diego on a lazy Sunday and with the division crown already atop their heads, the Dodgers weren’t about to run on all cylinders. Game three was a pitcher’s duel between Zack Greinke and heat throwing Padre Andrew Cashner. The game was scoreless through six innings before the Dodgers finally broke through thanks to a Michael Young RBI double combined with the sloppy defense by Venable in right field on the play. Greinke pitched 5 scoreless frames and only allowed two hits before being relieved early in order to protect the pitcher for the postseason.

Zack Greinke pitched 6 scoreless innings but isn’t involved in the decision. Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The Padres threatened in the bottom of the seventh. Chris Withrow looked a bit shaky, but he was able to wiggle out of the jam while the Padres stranded a man on third. Kenley Jansen comes in and shuts the door on the Padres in the bottom of the ninth by striking out the side. The Dodgers win the series and their 90th game of the season.

Yasiel Puig strikes out swinging against Andrew Cashner to open up the top of the first at Petco Park. Carl Crawford grounds out to first. Hanley Ramirez whacks a line drive single on a 3-2 pitch to right field. He’s such a natural hitter. Cashner strikes out Adrian Gonzalez with a 96-mph fastball to end the inning.

Zack Greinke also strikes out the lead-off hitter in the bottom of the first. Alexi Amarista goes down swinging. Ronny Cedeno grounds out, and Will Venable flies out in the perfect inning by Greinke.

Cashner easily retires the Dodgers 1-2-3 in the top of the second.

Jedd Gyorko has a lead-off single in the bottom of the second, but Logan Forsythe grounds into an inning ending double play.

In the third, Tim Federowicz strikes out looking. Greinke hits a ground-rule double over the third base bag, and a fan interferes as the ball bounces over the fence. Greinke advances to third on a Puig groundout, but Crawford uselessly strikes out to strand Greinke.

Greinke walks Reymond Fuentes to open up the bottom of the third. Rene Rivera

Andrew Cashner pitched well, but a Michael Young double and Venable error was all it took. Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

follows with a single, and the Padres have two on and nobody out. Andrew Cashner successfully bunts the runners over to second and third. Amarista pops out, and the runners can’t go anywhere. The Padres fail to score as Cedeno grounds out to third. Michael Young makes a nice throw to get him out at first.

Hanley grounds out, Gonzo flies out, and Kemp grounds out in the top of the fourth.

Will Venable strikes out to start off the bottom of the fourth, Gyorko flies out, and Tommy Medica pops out. Greinke and Cashner are locked in a two-hit shutout through four.

The Dodgers once again go down without so much as a whimper in the top of the fifth. FedEx strikes out for the second time against Cashner to finish off the inning.

After Greinke shuts the Padres down in the fifth, he has now retired nine in a row.

Zack Greinke is finished for the afternoon. He pitched five innings and only allowed two hits while striking out 3 and walking one on 72 pitches.

Jerry Hairston Jr., who is pinch-hitting for Greinke to lead-off the sixth, grounds out to second. The Dodgers just can’t muster anything off Cashner. Puig pops out, and Crawford flies out. Cashner has retired 11 Dodger batters in a row.

J.P. Howell will pitch in his 65th game of the season as he takes the mound in the bottom of the sixth in relief of Greinke. Howell retires the side 1-2-3, and we are still scoreless.

Will Venable misplays a fly ball hit by Michael Young. Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Cashner strikes out Hanley in the top of the seventh. Adrian Gonzalez singles to right field, which is only the third Dodger hit of the day. Matt Kemp strikes out swinging. The scoreless tie is finally broken with two outs after a Michael Young double over the head of Venable. Venable also commits a fielding error, and Adrian Gonzalez is able to score even though he hesitated. 1-0 Dodgers. Skip Schumaker grounds out to end the mini rally. Great clutch hit by Michael Young, and that’s why he’d be very valuable off the bench in the postseason.

Andrew Cashner pitched 7 innings and allowed 1 run on 4 hits with 7 strikeouts and no walks on 110 pitches.

Chris Withrow, the new father of Walker, comes in to pitch the bottom of the seventh for the Dodgers. Withrow allows a lead-off walk to Will Venable (ironically the same person who had just contributed to the Dodger run in the previous inning). With Gyorko at the plate, Venable steals second. Gyorko grounds out to short, and Venable takes third on the play. Withrow proceeds to walk Medica. Rick Honeycutt will come out to talk to Chris. Logan Forsythe strikes out looking for the big second out. Mark Kotsay hits a little comebacker, and Withrow is able to get out of the jam unscathed.

Nick Vincent, a righty, is in for the top of the eighth, and he strikes out the side. FedEx strikes out for the third time today. Nick Punto is also struck out. Puig strikes out.

Withrow is still in for the bottom of the eighth. Chase Headley reaches safely after Adrian Gonzalez bobbles and throws away a little grounder for a rare error. Chris Denorfia strikes out on a foul tip. Cedeno grounds into a force out to end the inning.

Colt Hynes, a left-hander, will pitch the top of the ninth. Crawford strikes out swinging, and he ends up going 0-for-4. Hynes gets his man, and with Andre Ethier coming off the Dodger bench to pinch-hit, the Padres will bring in a new pitcher to face him. Luke Gregerson will face Dre. Ethier is struck out with a curveball. His ankle was in a protective brace, and it looked like it was still bothering him. Gonzalez also strikes out, and we head to the bottom of the ninth.

Kenley Jansen will get some work and a save opportunity. Venable strikes out swinging for the first out. Jedd Gyorko strikes out. Tommy Medica strikes out. Kenley strikes out the side and picks up his 27th save on the season.

The Dodgers win their 90th.

Today is the first day of fall, and you can feel the changes in the air. October baseball is almost upon us, Dodger fans! Thanks for sharing the season with us!

Tomorrow is the Dodgers last off day of the regular season. Tuesday they will begin their second-to-last series, a three-game set with San Francisco at home. They will conclude the season with a three-game series versus Colorado. Hyun-jin Ryu is scheduled to start at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday.