Quiet Offense, Slow Defense in Dodgers Loss to Padres – 4/23/21
Just like last weekend, we had a Kershaw vs. Darvish match up again tonight. Kershaw wasn’t as masterful as he was in his previous outing, but he did pick up another quality start. Dodgers knocked a couple of more hits this time, but Darvish still held a relatively quiet offense to one run over seven innings.
Dodgers Strike First, But Padres Answer Quickly
The scoring started much earlier in this one for both teams. The Dodgers scored a run in the first inning for the first time since April 14. Mookie led off the game with a ringing double down the third baseline. Betts would go to third on Seager’s ground out and come across to score on Muncy’s single.
It didn’t take long for the Padres to tie the game up as Wil Myers would lead off the second with a solo shot to center. Kershaw settled in and set down the next three batters. He got out of the inning with the game tied at 1-1. Tatis had a special night at the plate on the anniversary of his dad’s two grand slams at Dodger Stadium; he hit two solo shots of his own, giving the Padres a 3-1 lead.
The Dodgers had another opportunity to score in the 3rd when Mookie led off the inning, getting hit by a pitch on the left arm, and then stole second with one out. Turner and Ríos would go down looking and leave him stranded. Kershaw got things started for the offense in the 5th with the Dodgers’ third hit of the game. Unfortunately, the Padres defense doubled up Kershaw at first when Pham made a sliding grab in the outfield and rocketed the ball back to first before Kershaw. What seemed like an inning to get things going was spoiled once again by the Padres’ defense.
Kershaw’s best inning of the night came in the seventh when he struck out the side on ten pitches. He racked up seven strikeouts on the night. All of them came on his slider except for one on a curveball and one on his four-seamer. Kershaw’s final line: 7 IP, 5, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO, 3 HR.
Quiet Offense, Slow Defense
With Kershaw finishing up his night after seven innings, the offense had yet another chance to cut the Padres lead in the bottom half when Raley laid down a bunt to reach safely with one down. This was the Dodgers’ first hit (outside of Kershaw’s in the 5th) since Muncy’s single in the 1st inning. Barnes drew a walk, putting the tying run on base with pinch-hitter Neuse coming to the plate. He struck out, bringing Betts to the plate. Mookie put a charge into a pitch but a diving Machado robbed him of a hit. The Padres’ defense spoiled another inning for the Dodgers.
To make matters worse, Knebel came into pitch the inning, and after throwing his fifth pitch to Hosmer, he walked him, and Knebel was in noticeable pain. It would be a complete guess to try and figure out what happened, but some thought it could be his pitching arm based on his reaction. Santana took over on the mound with nobody out, and things did not go well for him. He gave up three runs, two earned, on two hits and two walks over an inning of work.
Dodgers quiet offense did nothing in the ninth, but DJ Peters made his MLB debut and quickly grounded out. That’s about the only memorable thing coming out of this game for the Dodgers.
For last night’s recap, click here.
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