Ethier, Padilla, Kemp Provide Just Enough Cushion
by Eric Stephen on Apr 16, 2010 10:31 PM PDT
in Dodgers Game Recaps
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PrintAndre Ethier and Matt Kemp provided the offense, and Vicente Padilla provided the much-needed lengthy outing from a Dodger starter, as the Dodgers withstood a late rally to defeat the Giants 10-8 in the series opener at Chavez Ravine.
Kemp put the first runs on the board in the first inning with a two-run home run to right field. Kemp is the first Los Angeles Dodger to hit a home run in each of the first four home games of the season, and has homered in five of his last six games. The only LA Dodger with a longer home run streak at any point in the season was Shawn Green, who homered in five straight games in July 2001.
Ethier followed Kemp's home run in the first with one of his own, then for good measure added a grand slam in the second inning, the first grand slam of his career. Tonight was the ninth multi-home run game of Ethier's career, and since the start of the 2009 season only Albert Pujols has more multi-homer games, with 12. In Ethier's last 81 home games, the equivalent of half a season, he has ridiculous numbers:
| Last 81 home games | PA | R | 2B | HR | RBI | BA/SLG/OBP | OPS |
| Andre Ethier | 358 | 57 | 25 | 25 | 77 | .316/.388/.646 | 1.034 |
The Dodgers needed Vicente Padilla to eat innings tonight, and he delivered. Padilla pitched seven strong innings, giving up three runs on four hits, walking two and striking out seven, and even took a no-hitter into the fifth inning. Staked to a 7-0 lead after two innings, Padilla just had to throw strikes, and that's what he did, throwing 67 of his 103 pitches in the strike zone.
Russ Ortiz Done
The Dodgers took a 10-3 lead into the eighth inning, thinking the lead safe enough to pitch Russ Ortiz. Ortiz pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning, but struggled mightily in the ninth, allowing two runs and two more to reach base before getting pulled with two outs. Because Ortiz couldn't finish off a game with a huge lead, for the second Friday in a row, Ramon Troncoso was asked to get the final out, pitching his seventh game out of 10. Troncoso allowed a three-run home run to the first batter he faced, Eugenio Velez, but got Edgar Renteria to bounce back to the box for the final out of the game.
| Worst Career OBP Allowed, LA Dodgers (min 5 IP) | |||
| Pitcher | Year(s) | BF | OBP |
| Juan Marichal | 1975 | 34 | .500 |
| Brian Barnes | 1994 | 29 | .483 |
| Jerry Stevenson | 1970 | 34 | .471 |
| Rick Gorecki | 1997 | 32 | .469 |
| Jose Nuñez | 2001 | 42 | .463 |
| Jon Meloan | 2007 | 38 | .459 |
| Sid Fernandez | 1983 | 33 | .455 |
| Russ Ortiz | 2010 | 31 | .452 |
| Scott Stewart | 2004 | 60 | .441 |
| Robinson Checo | 1999 | 85 | .435 |
In his last three outings, Russ Ortiz has allowed eight runs in three innings. At this point, there is no lead safe enough for him to pitch. If tonight wasn't his final appearance as a Dodger, it's an organizational failure.
Other Notes
- Manny Ramirez left tonight's game after three innings with tightness in his right calf
- James Loney had three hits, his fifth straight multi-hit game. During that streak, Loney is hitting .480 (12 for 25)
- Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reported "most of the regulars" will get a day off over the next two days
- Hong-Chih Kuo will make his second rehab appearance on Sunday with Inland Empire
- Ronald Belisario threw 25 pitches and in two innings today in an extended spring training game in Arizona
- Charlie Haeger faces two-time defending Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum tomorrow at 1:10
WP - Vicente Padilla (1-1): 7 IP, 4 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts
LP - Todd Wellemeyer (0-2): 4 IP, 6 hits, 7 runs, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts
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I don't really care about the HBP.
Rowand’s stance + stride make it so he gets hit A LOT. I blame Rowand in this case.
by Seanny Rotten on Apr 16, 2010 11:13 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Russ for sure, and Monasterios is much more likely than Ramon O IMO
by Eric Stephen on Apr 16, 2010 10:40 PM PDT up reply actions
I’m actually fine with Ramon Ortiz staying. He’s the best of a bad situation, but he actually pitched well his last few outings. He at least has command which Russ and Monasterios hasn’t displayed.
Agree with that
Ramon has shown both command and decent stuff. Russ has shown neither. And Monk may not be worth keeping around given some of the other options the Dodgers have or will have.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Most regulars rested over next two days
Who likely gets rested tomorrow vs Lincecum? Manny? Martin due to Haeger pitching? I wouldn’t rest the lefties.
vr, Xei
waiting for the Russ Ortiz DFA
any minute now
by SeanMillerSavior on Apr 16, 2010 10:43 PM PDT reply actions
likely won’t happen until Monday, the off day
by Eric Stephen on Apr 16, 2010 10:44 PM PDT up reply actions
or Sunday, after the game…not sure when they are flying to Cincy
by Eric Stephen on Apr 16, 2010 10:44 PM PDT up reply actions
I would bet money Kuo is activated for Tuesday’s game
by Eric Stephen on Apr 16, 2010 10:46 PM PDT up reply actions
Relief pitchers at triple A already on the 40 man roster are
Schlitching and Leach.
Lindblom isn’t on the 40 man roster yet, and I doubt he gets called up before May
We talked about the Dodgers starters not pulling their part
On Billingsley, Padilla, and Kershaw the past couple of days. But as we saw in tonight’s game. the bullpen is still shoddy. It wouldn’t matter if the starters went 8 deep every night with big leads if Russ Ortiz is asked to pitch for this team.
anyone think that one of the giants pitchers might pelt someone tomorrow??
"Just by the aura of D.J. Mbenga being there, the shot missed."
I hope they do
Lincecum is hard to reach base against
by Eric Stephen on Apr 16, 2010 10:53 PM PDT up reply actions 3 recs
I thought they would tonight
with the game kind of out of hand. I think it is reasonably likely it happens Saturday or Sunday., probably early in the game with nobody on base. They’d probably go after either Kemp or Ethier.
vr, Xei
I was surprised
that Padilla didn’t get knocked down when he came up to bat – esp considering his headhunting background.
vr, Xei
History is one thing
but in that situation it was plainly clear it wasn’t intentional. Padilla had allowed 4 of 5 batters to reach base that inning, including a walk to the previous hitter. Plus it was 7-2
by Eric Stephen on Apr 16, 2010 11:05 PM PDT up reply actions
The Giants didn’t think it was intentional
by Eric Stephen on Apr 16, 2010 10:56 PM PDT up reply actions
also, from Andrew Baggarly:
Aaron Rowand getting a CT scan. He was lucid when he left, Bochy said. Teammates didn’t read intent on Padilla’s part for fastball
by Eric Stephen on Apr 16, 2010 10:57 PM PDT up reply actions
Per Rotowire:
Andre Ethier (OF) LA 4/16/2010
Ethier had a big game Friday against the Giants, blasting a pair of home runs, including his first career grand slam. Ethier now sits at .387/.441/.710. Ethier and Matt Kemp are the best pair of outfielders in baseball right now. That third guy in LA isn’t so bad himself.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Padilla on the pitch that hit Rowand: "I threw inside and the pitch ran in on him. He was right on the plate. With that kind of lead, there was no reason for me to start a conflict."
by SeanMillerSavior on Apr 16, 2010 11:02 PM PDT reply actions
Good. I retract my ill-advised comments from earlier tonight.
by silverwidow on Apr 16, 2010 11:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Perhaps you should attend Padilla’s anger management class.
by RawhideBlue on Apr 16, 2010 11:12 PM PDT up reply actions
Nah, I’m a pretty calm person in real life. It just a heat of the moment deal, really.
by silverwidow on Apr 16, 2010 11:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Well, there was that one time you murdered that guy :)
by Eric Stephen on Apr 16, 2010 11:14 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I totally forgot this joke. What’s it from?
by silverwidow on Apr 16, 2010 11:15 PM PDT up reply actions
On Rowand getting hit, Per SI.Com:
… Rowand has been hit by a pitch 88 times since the start of the 2005 season, and 111 times during his 10-year career.
Maybe his body and head has some electromagnetic pull that reverses the polarity of Dodger Stadium and draws flying objects..
It's his "thrust my genitals towards home" stance combined with his
lunge forward and towards home with my head stride that make him a good candidate to get beaned often.
by Seanny Rotten on Apr 16, 2010 11:17 PM PDT up reply actions
Rowand is a HBP waiting to happen
Rowand’s stance and stride don’t give him a chance to get away from a pitch. He’s also built like a tank, so I think he knows he can take a hit.
Ronald Belisario threw 25 pitches in a game at extended spring training. Torre said that Belisario could rejoin the major league club as soon as he gets control problems straightened out… Torre said he plans continue carrying 12 pitchers even after Kuo and Belisario return. Of his five-man bench, Torre said, “We have too many necessary people.”
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-dodgers-fyi-20100417,0,4805818.story
Belisaro has control problems? Monk might save his job yet.
I believe he started last year with control problems right? Can it be worse than what we have now? I mean come on.
by RawhideBlue on Apr 16, 2010 11:06 PM PDT up reply actions
Well
if you consider throwing wild to home on a PITCH OUT control problems, well then yeah he did start with control problems.
by Seanny Rotten on Apr 16, 2010 11:18 PM PDT up reply actions
I doubt those control problems are enough to keep Belisario off the roster past April 25. It’s just a matter of which day during the first two series of the road trip will he be activated, as he has to be taken off the restricted list by next Sunday.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 16, 2010 11:07 PM PDT up reply actions
I think the offense would be more potent with Belliard
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy DeWitt’s patience, but we could use Belly’s power at 2B, too.
maybe we can morph
Dewitts plate discipline and Belliard’s power into one
by SeanMillerSavior on Apr 16, 2010 11:13 PM PDT up reply actions
I was supposed to go to this game tonight.. FUCK!
I wasnt home, what happened to Rowand? From the comments, Im guessing he got beaned in the head by Padilla?
by lakersdodgersyankees4life on Apr 16, 2010 11:16 PM PDT reply actions
I was going to do this earlier after coming home from seeing "How to Train a Dragon"
and seeing the Dodgers were up 7-0 but then I got wrapped up in the Ortiz Experiment. This is how 7-0 made me feel…
He's a big fatso
who we gave a ton of money to in the offseason so now he decides to stink up the joint.
by Seanny Rotten on Apr 16, 2010 11:36 PM PDT up reply actions
Reminds me of Andruw Jones
only not quite as fat and not quite as much money.
by Seanny Rotten on Apr 16, 2010 11:36 PM PDT up reply actions
Yes IMO
Belliard will play 3B
Ellis will almost certainly catch
Sunday will probably see Carroll at 2B against the LHP, along with Belliard at 1B.
I don’t know the severity of the calf injury, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see Manny sit out 2 games and get 3 days off (GA Sat, Reed Sun)
by Eric Stephen on Apr 16, 2010 11:42 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
We all knew Manny is getting up there.
Manny will turn 38 on May 30 and not many guys that age play day to day. He has had a couple of rest days already this year, and I’m thinking that if he starts a hundred games, that would be a goal of Torre. I wouldn’ t mind seeing GA play a couple games straight, or split time with Reed Johnson.
I’m thinking that if he starts a hundred games, that would be a goal of Torre.
Are you claiming that Manny will rest 62 games? That’s insane.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Apr 17, 2010 11:20 PM PDT up reply actions
They also won the final game in Pittsburgh followed by the Marlins’ home opener.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 16, 2010 11:43 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Talking about Dodger game now on MLB Network
by lakersdodgersyankees4life on Apr 16, 2010 11:49 PM PDT reply actions
Hahahahaha
Watching the replay a couple funny things. Kemp killed that ball. Even funnier… where the ball lands in RF, there is a fan who tenses up when the ball hits him, and a guy almost knocks him over. On the 1st Ethier HR, where the ball lands, one guy is literally pushed DOWN the stairs by someone trying to get the ball. Even worse is all 4 guys were Dodger fans.. what we will do for a ball hit by the kids…
Really classy by Dodger fans clapping for Rowand being able to get off the field on his own feet. They realized thats a scary moment, and the rivalry took a pause there for a moment.
Honestly, what the hell was Velez thinking? He hits a HR and acts like he won the fuckin World Series. Note to Velez, your team was still down and it wasnt even THAT big of a shot…
by lakersdodgersyankees4life on Apr 16, 2010 11:56 PM PDT up reply actions
I was at the game and was totally disgusted by the number of people cheering the Rowand beaning. While I love the Dodgers and most of the fans I meet online or out and about, many fans at the stadium are truly classless. There was also plenty of the “Giants Suck!” chant throughout the game.
I didnt mention that I wasnt able to see the game
and in the MLB Network replays of Rowand walking off, you could hear the crowd clapping because he was able to walk off on his own power. Not sure about right after it happened.
One thing that I though of while watching the game today and they showed replays of it. You know it wasnt intentional if you watch Martin. He grimaces and then goes to check on Rowand
There is always Giants Suck chants though. Same with the Beat LA and Dodgers Suck when in SF
by lakersdodgersyankees4life on Apr 17, 2010 4:55 PM PDT up reply actions
His bat flip was deliberate and far more “disrespectful” than either Kemp getting dumped or Rowand getting dumped. Keep in mind the brushback pitch and bean ball are way more than likely NOT deliberate.
by Seanny Rotten on Apr 17, 2010 8:39 AM PDT up reply actions
It would be nice if Velez starts today
if Haeger uncorks an 82 MPH heater right in the small of Velez’ back!
by Seanny Rotten on Apr 17, 2010 8:42 AM PDT up reply actions
i dont know why, but the bat flip really pissed me off
he isnt a HR hitter, he isnt Barry Bonds, and like I said, it wasnt an amazing homerun either..
by lakersdodgersyankees4life on Apr 17, 2010 4:56 PM PDT up reply actions
Ouch...
I assume that means he is out for a while? It looked like he took it on the cheek with no protection. Scary stuff.
Bochy said something today that hed probably go on DL
but Rowand wants to play Sunday…
by lakersdodgersyankees4life on Apr 17, 2010 4:56 PM PDT up reply actions
a win-win-win-win
padilla looked sharp (other than one inning – thanks gene velez!!)
hopefully we rid ourselves of russ ortiz
gene velez hits home run = giants management continues to believe he’s a major league player
dodgers win
- I do hope rowand is ok – I am sure that any fans cheering were in the small minority – on tv I heard concerned silence and then applause as he sat up
and krukow on the giants broadcast was attempting to stir **** for the entire rest of the game “well NORMALLY that isn’t when you would hit a guy but with padilla you never know…” and they acted like kemp trying to steal with a 6 run lead was the equivalent of mooning the dugout
absolutely absurd – especially given outr bullpen struggles – as proven by the final score
by lchristmas on Apr 17, 2010 8:28 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
But who had more Ks in his last start
Haegar or Lincecum?
by StolenMonkey86 on Apr 17, 2010 9:22 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
Not sure why all the starters taking a break this weekend.
The Giants are in first place, a sweep by the Dodgers would tie them for first, so why sit the starters against SF now? With a day off Monday, and road games against a real weak schedule(Cin, Nats and Mets – come on), if I’m Torre, that’s when I’m sittin’ starters.
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