Dan Haren Makes Sharp Dodger Debut in Diego

Dodgers 5 9 1

Padres 1 6 1

WP- Haren (1-0)

LP- Ross (0-1)

Before the game started on Wednesday night, the Dodgers officially placed Brian Wilson on the disabled list. It was another huge blow to the Dodger pitching staff so early into the season. The good news came later after Dan Haren made a stellar start in his Dodger debut. Haren retired the first nine batters in a row to begin the game, and he only allowed 1 run over 6 inning while walking no one. Now I can see what others mean by him being a control pitcher. Haren not only did not walk a man, but his cool and easygoing pitching style is sure to be a great addition to the rotation especially since Clayton Kershaw is disabled. With Kershaw on the DL, it becomes even more important for Haren to step up.

The Dodger pitching really kept San Diego in check, and the Friars could only muster one run all night. Paco, Wright, Howell, and Perez all combined for 3 shutout innings in relief. The Dodger bats began to perk up as well. Crawford and Ethier had 2 hits apiece, Hanley’s big two-run double really triggered the five-run offensive game.

A.J. thinks the call is full of fertilizer! Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

There were a few annoying close calls which angered Bud Black and Don Mattingly, but neither manager submitted a challenge. A.J. Ellis was pegged with catcher interference on a subjective call, but Mattingly didn’t argue about it too long.

Carl Crawford leads off with a long stand-up double to left field. Yasiel Puig bunts for a base hit between home and the pitcher’s mound, and Ross’s flustered throw to first pulls Alonso off the bag. Crawford is safe at third and Puig is safe at first. Bud Black comes out of the dugout to talk with the umpires and will try to argue his case. Black was trying to argue that Puig was running outside the base path causing Alonso to be pulled off the bag, but the play is held up and ruled a sacrifice and a throwing error on Tyson Ross. Hanley Ramirez doubles down the third base line, and Crawford and Puig both score! 2-0 Dodgers. The Dodger onslaught continues as Adrian Gonzalez comes up with his first hit of the series, a RBI single up the middle. The Dodgers are up 3-0, and there is still nobody out. Ross finally gets an out by striking out Andre Ethier looking. Juan Uribe hits a little flare to second, and Jedd Gyorko turns the doubles play to end the inning. Ross made 23 pitches in the frame and allowed 3 runs on 3 hits.

Dan Haren takes the mound in his Dodger debut. Dan is a So Cal native, and he went to school at Pepperdine University. Haren has a very good, easy 1-2-3 inning retiring Everth Cabrera, Seth Smith, and Chase Headley in order.

Ross strikes out A.J. Ellis to begin the top of the second inning, but he makes a mistake by walking Dee Gordon. Gordon easily steals second with Haren at the plate. That’s Dee’s first stolen base of the season. Haren strikes out. Ross is definitely struggling a bit as he walks Crawford spurring a coaching visit to the mound for San Diego. Ross walks Puig, and that’s the third man he has walked in the inning. Ball four to Puig was nearly a wild pitch, but Nick Hundley is able to save it. Here comes Hanley with the bases loaded. Hanley hits into a force play at second, and the Dodgers leave the bases loaded.

Haren comes back out for the bottom of the second, and he is looking in control. He strikes out Gyorko and Venable in the perfect inning.

Tyson Ross picks up the loss. Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

This Haren looks so much better than that last disaster of an exhibition start he had.

With one out in the top of the third, Andre Ethier hits a base hit to left field with one out. Uribe pops out in foul territory. With A.J. at the plate, Andre Ethier steals second! The straight steal from Dre is a rare event, but Hundley’s throw was late. All is for naught since A.J. strikes out anyhow to end the inning.

Haren is rolling right along… and by the end of the third inning he has retired nine batters in a row.

Tyson Ross has settled down, and he sends the Dodgers down in order in the fourth striking out both Gordon and Crawford.

Haren finally does give up a base hit in the bottom of the fourth to Everth Cabrera. Seth Smith then reaches safely on what the umpires call catcher interference. Don Mattingly and A.J. are furious at the call on the 3-2 pitch which looked like Smith swung and missed without any interference from A.J. Chade Headley hits a slicing fly ball, and Ethier is able to catch up to it while Cabrera tags up and moves over to third. Alonso singles to center, and Cabrera scores making it 3-1. Gyorko chases a bad ball way off the plate, and he goes down on strikes for the second out. With Will Venable batting, Alonso steals second. Haren gets out of the jam by striking out Venable to end the inning!

In the fifth, Ross walks Hanley with one out after Puig popped out to second. Hanley steals second with Gonzo at the plate. Hanley advances to third on a grounder from Gonzo. Ethier then comes up with his second single of the game, a line drive to right field, and Hanley scored the fourth run of the game for the Dodgers.

Tyson Ross made his 100th pitch to finish off Juan Uribe on a strikeout, and that will likely be the young right-hander’s last inning. Ross allowed 4 runs on 5 hits with 7 strikeouts and 4 walks over 5 innings.

Nick Hundley blisters a double to the left field with one out in the bottom of the fifth. Haren doesn’t seem rattled, and he comes back to strikes out Xavier Nady and Cabrera back-to-back.

Tim Stauffer will come out of the San Diego bullpen in relief of Tyson Ross. A.J. Ellis drives a deep fly ball to right field, but Will Venable crashes into the wall to make the catch. Ellis returns to the dugout, now 0-for-3 on the night. Gordon strikes out, and that’s the eighth whiff for the Dodgers tonight against San Diego pitching. Haren grounds out to end the inning.

Dan Haren looked great in his Dodger debut. Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Headley singles past Hanley Ramirez with one out in the bottom of the sixth. Alonso pops out to A.J. Ellis in foul territory, and A.J. makes a fantastic sliding catch on his knees to make the play. Gyorko grounds out to the vacuum a.k.a. Uribe at third, and the Padres leave a man.

Stauffer is in for another inning. Crawford strikes out, Puig grounds out, and Hanley angrily strikes out.

Paco Rodriguez will take over for Haren in the seventh. Paco does his job, and he induces a groundout from Venable. Mattingly will go to the bullpen again, and this time he’ll go to Jamey Wright. Dee Gordon makes a fine defensive play to make a “smothering catch” on a Denorfia line drive as described by Vin Scully. Hundley singles to left field. Pinch-hitter Tommy Medica strikes out on a check swing to end the inning.

Dan Haren pitched a solid Dodger debut. He allowed 1 run on 4 hits with 6 strikeouts and no walks on 92 pitches over 6 innings.

Robbie Erlin, a lefty, will start the eighth inning for the Friars. Erlin retires Gonzo on a pop out in foul ground, and he finally strikes out Ethier after a 10-pitch at-bat. Donn Roach, a right-hander, will come out of the SD bullpen to pitch to Uribe in his Major League debut. Uribe hits a grounder to deep short, and Cabrera’s throw pulls Alonso off first. Uribe gets the infield single, although the effort by Cabrera was good. A.J. Ellis singles to left, and the rookie has given up back-to-back hits. Gordon doubles to center field, and Uribe brings in the fifth Dodger run. Mike Baxter makes the final out of the inning, fittingly.

Dee Gordon is now hitting .385.

J.P. Howell will pitch the eighth inning for the Dodgers. Cabrera doubles on what should have been an out at second. Puig throws a great off balance throw to Dee Gordon who relays the ball to Hanley in an attempt to get Cabrera out at second. The throw is there in plenty of time to get him, but Hanley Ramirez can’t handle it as the ball bounces out of his glove. Smith flies out to center for the first out. Headley is caught looking and strikes out. Alonso grounds out, and we head to the ninth inning.

The Dodgers will have the top of their order in the ninth. Crawford singles to left off the rookie Roach. Yasiel Puig has a bad at-bat. He misses

Apr 2, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez (13) is congratulated by center fielder Andre Ethier (16) after scoring during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

a sign which costs Crawford to lose a stolen base, and then he grounds into a double play. Hanley grounds out.

Don Mattingly will go to Chris Perez to pitch the bottom of the ninth. Gyorko hits a very deep ball to center, but Ethier makes a great catch at the warning track. Venable hits a line drive right to Ramirez, and the Padres are down to their last out. Denorfia pops out to Gordon, and the Dodgers win!

The Dodgers improve to 4-1 on the season, and they have won both series they have played in so far this season.

Thursday is another off day for the Dodgers, but Friday they will take on the Giants for their home opener at Dodger Stadium at 1:10 p.m. PT. Hyun-jin Ryu will counter Ryan Vogelsong.