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The Dodgers have done their share of scoring in the first inning this season, as their 82 runs in the opening frame is sixth in the National League. But that first inning scoring has dried up in the last 10 games, and the Dodgers have been playing from behind.
The Padres scored in the first inning in each of the last three games, and took two of the three games. The Dodgers didn't score in the first inning any of the three games, and in fact they haven't scored in the first inning in any of the last 10 games.
| Date | First Inning Score | Final Score |
| Aug. 27 | Rockies 1, Dodgers 0 | Rockies 10, Dodgers 0 |
| Aug. 28 | Rockies 4, Dodgers 0 | Rockies 8, Dodgers 4 |
| Aug. 29 | scoreless | Dodgers 10, Rockies 8 |
| Aug. 30 | scoreless | D-Backs 2, Dodgers 0 |
| Aug. 31 | scoreless | D-Backs 4, Dodgers 3 |
| Sept. 1 | scoreless | Dodgers 2, D-Backs 1 |
| Sept. 2 | scoreless | Dodgers 5, D-Backs 4 |
| Sept. 3 | Padres 2, Dodgers 0 | Dodgers 4, Padres 3 |
| Sept. 4 | Padres 1, Dodgers 0 | Padres 6, Dodgers 3 |
| Sept. 5 | Padres 3, Dodgers 0 | Padres 4, Dodgers 3 |
The Dodgers are 45-21 (.682) when they score first this season, and in their last 10 games won all three games in which they were the first to score. In the other seven games, the Dodgers were 1-6.
The Dodgers and Giants begin a series in San Francisco on Friday night. The team that has scored first in their meetings this season has won 10 of the 12 games. Each of the last three series have resulted in a sweep, and in the most recent series the Giants scored in the first inning in all three games at Dodger Stadium from Aug. 20-22 en route to a road sweep.
The lesson here: score early, score often. Just score.