Outside of an ultimately fruitless seventh-inning rally, the Dodgers offense was mostly dormant Wednesday night. Tim Stauffer and the Padres bullpen combined for a 3-0 shutout, preventing an L.A. sweep and ending the Dodgers' five-game winning streak over San Diego. Single runs in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings did the Dodgers in.
We as a collective fan base, myself included, have become so accustomed to Ted Lilly allowing home runs that there is an almost automatic reflexive groan once it happens. Yes, Lilly allowed a home run tonight, and he allowed it to Jason Bartlett, who had five home runs in 850 plate appearances since the beginning of 2010. But that was the only blemish for Lilly on the night, who was otherwise very effective.
Lilly allowed four hits and a walk, and struck out seven on the night. He was lifted for a pinch hitter in the top of the seventh, during the Dodgers' ill-fated attempt at a rally. The Dodgers loaded the bases with one out in the top of the seventh inning, but Dee Gordon lined out and Aaron Miles struck out looking to end the threat. San Diego retired the final eight Dodgers of the game in order.
The Padres added single runs in both the seventh and eighth innings, padding their lead off relievers Matt Guerrier and Blake Hawksworth.
Notes
- Tonight was the ninth loss of the season by the Dodgers in which their starting pitcher allowed run or less. Only three major league teams have more such losses, led by the Padres with 14.
- Matt Kemp was 0-for-3 on the night, snapping his 10-game hitting streak and six-game multi-hitting streak, but he was also intentionally walked in the sixth inning, meaning he has reached base in 12 straight contests.
- Tony Gwynn Jr. had two hits tonight, and on the season is hitting .344/.417/.375 in 12 games against his former team.
- Lilly has allowed the third-most home runs in the National League this season, with 24, and has given up the second-most stolen bases in the NL, also 24. No Dodger pitcher has ever given up 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in the same season.
- Rubby De La Rosa is scheduled to have Tommy John surgery performed on Tuesday, per Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times.
- Bartlett is the fifth player this season to have a home run and a stolen base in the same game against the Dodgers.
- Former Dodgers general manager Dan Evans was a guest on this week's Baseball Prospectus podcast with Kevin Goldstein and Jason Parks.
Upcoming Series
The Dodgers are off Thursday but open a three-game series in Phoenix against the Diamondbacks on Friday. Chad Billingsley starts the opener for the Dodgers. Josh Collmenter was going to be skipped in the rotation, but he will now start on Friday for Arizona, per Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic.
Don Mattingly decided against skipping what would have been Rubby De La Rosa's rotation spot, and it's looking as though Nate Eovaldi might make his major league debut on Saturday, per Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. Clayton Kershaw will start Sunday.
WP - Tim Stauffer (7-8): 6 1/3 IP, 6 hits, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts
LP - Ted Lilly (7-11): 6 IP, 4 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts
Sv - Heath Bell (31): 1 IP, 1 strikeout