Well, there goes the hope of a 162-0 season. The Dodgers dropped their opener to the Pirates, 11-5. Garrett Jones hit two home runs off Dodger starter Vicente Padilla, who allowed the second-most runs by an LA Dodger opening day starter:
Most Runs Allowed, LA Dodger Opening Day Starter | ||||||||
Pitcher | Year | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | Dec |
Derek Lowe | 2006 | 5.0 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 2 | L, 11-10 |
Vicente Padilla | today | 4.1 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 2 | L, 11-5 |
Kevin Brown | 2002 | 4.0 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 5 | L, 9-2 |
Hideo Nomo | 2004 | 5.0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 1 | L, 8-2 |
Among the positives today:
- Carlos Monasterios made his major league debut, and retired all three batters he faced
- Russ Ortiz made his Dodger debut, and pitched a scoreless inning. The only batter he allowed on base reached via error by Casey Blake
- Matt Kemp delivered a two-run single in the first inning, giving the Dodgers what would be their only lead of the game.
- Andre Ethier didn't have an extra-base hit in 94 plate appearances against left-handers on the road last season, yet laced a double off southpaw Zach Duke in his first plate appearance of 2010.
- The Dodger offense did have a good day, scoring five runs on 12 hits. Kemp, Manny Ramirez, Casey Blake, and Blake DeWitt each had two hits. Once down 8-2, they managed to get the tying run to the plate in the eighth inning, but both Ethier and Russell Martin struck out to end the threat.
- Garret Anderson got a base hit in his first plate appearance as a Dodger
- Today the Dodgers extended their radio broadcast contract with 790 KABC through 2011
Tomorrow is an off day. Clayton Kershaw faces Ross Ohlendorf on Wednesday evening.
WP - Zach Duke (1-0): 5 IP, 7 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts
LP - Vicente Padilla (0-1): 4 1/3 IP, 6 hits, 7 runs, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts