Dodgers Hang Tough to Beat Padres in 12

Mike Bolsinger looked to continue his “magic carpet ride” (as Charley Steiner likes to say) today against James Shields and the Padres at Petco Park. Bolsinger pitched well early, but the hero of last year’s American League Playoffs was too much for the Dodgers hitters through the first 6 innings. But this game would be decided late as Adrian Gonzalez drove in the game winning run in the 12^th giving LA a 4-2 victory in the series finale.

Dodgers 4 10 1

Padres 2 11 0

Ravin (W) Thayer (L) Jansen (S)

Neither team produced much in the first couple of innings. In the third, after doubling off the center field wall, Alberto Callaspo tried to score off a Joc Pederson single to right. He was thrown out at the plate on a great throw from Matt Kemp. The decision to send Callaspo would haunt the Dodgers nearly the rest of the game.

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Bolsinger was always going to be on a very short leash going up against the undefeated Shields. Unless the Dodgers gave him solid run support (which they didn’t) he was probably going to be pulled at the first real sign of struggle. After limiting the Padres to 3 hits through the first 4 innings, and after putting down 8 Padres in a row, Bolsinger appeared to run out of gas in the 5th.

With 2 outs, Shields singled to right, igniting the unraveling of Bolsinger. Will Venable then singled to right, sending Shields to third. After Venable stole second base, Yangervis Solarte walked, loading the bases. Justin Upton singled to right, scoring both Shields and Venable and giving the Padres a 2-0 lead. Bolsinger then walked Matt Kemp and his night was done.

Bolsinger was pulled in favor of JP Howell after 4.2 innings having given up 6 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks and 7 strike outs.

The Dodgers finally got on the board in the 7^th when Andre Ethier took Shields deep into the right field corner, cutting the Padres lead to 2-1.

In the eighth, with Joaquin Benoit on the mound for San Diego, Yasiel Puig drew a 2-out walk on a fierce at-bat before being driven in on a double by Adrian Gonzalez, tying the game at 2-apiece.

Into extra innings we went with the bullpens of both teams giving up very little until the 12^th inning. After another Callaspo double, Enrique Hernandez and Joc Pederson both walked, loading the bases for Alex Guerrero. Facing Dale Thayer, Guerrero lined out to Kemp in very anti-climactic fashion. Adrian Gonzalez, however, did not. He delivered again, singling softly to center, scoring both Callaspo and Hernandez. This gave the Dodgers their first lead of the day at 4-2.

With the slim lead, the Dodgers called on Kenley Jansen to collect the save. The big right hander struck out two and gave up an infield single to Kemp on his way to finally ending this game after 12 innings.

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Call to the Pen

After their 2-1 defeat in the second game of this series, today’s game had an eerie feeling of de ja vu until Gonzalez tied it up in the 8th. After Bolsinger’s exit in the 5th, the motley bullpen crew of Howell, Hatcher, Juan Nicasio, Adam Liberatore, Josh Ravin (who earned the win), and Jansen shut the Padres down  to the tune of 5 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk and 8 Ks over 7.1 innings.

The only thing that could have made this day better would be another Giants loss. Oh, wait! That happened, too!

The Dodgers travel to Arlington, TX, to face the Rangers in inter-league play tomorrow. Carlos Frias will face Yovani Gallardo.