Editorials

Opening Day Recap: Kendrick And Rollins Power Dodgers To Win

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

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The Los Angeles Dodgers season kicked off the 2015 season on a beautiful Monday afternoon at Chavez Ravine. The reigning National League Cy Young and MVP Clayton Kershaw was on the hill to face former teammate Matt Kemp and the San Diego Padres.



Wil Myers led the game off and fell behind in the count only to get bailed out as Kershaw hit him on the knee. Kershaw struck out Derrick Norris then went toe-to-toe with Kemp, who received a standing ovation in his first at-bat.

After Myers stole second base, Kemp promptly hit an RBI single to give the Padres a 1-0 lead. In his official Dodgers debut, Jimmy Rollins hit a leadoff single. Yasiel Puig struck out, and Adrian Gonzalez lined out to third. However, the Dodgers remained scoreless as Kendrick also failed to drive Rollins in.

The second inning was an efficient one for Kershaw as he needed just two pitches to get two outs. He then ended the inning by striking out Clint Barmes. James Shields continued to sail in the early going as he retired the Dodgers in order in the bottom half of the second, ending the inning on a Joc Pederson strikeout.

Norris broke Kershaw’s streak of seven consecutive hitters retired with a two-out double to left-center in the third. The extra-base hit wouldn’t hurt the Dodgers as Kershaw retired the next batter. Rollins drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the third and moved into scoring position by stealing second base with Puig at the plate.

Shields ended the threat by getting Puig to ground out. Carl Crawford made a sliding catch in the fourth for the second out of the inning, which loomed large as Kershaw again gave up a two-out double, this time to Jedd Gyorko. However, the Dodgers’ ace again kept the runner stranded as he struck out Yonder Alonso.

CONTINUE READING: Dodgers Twice Battle Back From A Deficit

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2 Comments

  1. What a win today. Kendrick and Rollins, just absolute consummate professionals. Glad to see A-Gon not missing a beat. Pederson looked great at the plate; just zoned in and not worried about anything else. And that GREAT CATCH, WOW!! Puig will come around, probably still shaken up by Kendrick’s elbow. Worried about Uribe, but at least we have Olivera (hopefully healthy) waiting on the wings. And how about that bullpen? Phenomenal!!

    Feel bad (not) for the Padres; no amount of heavy hitters can make up for their lack of defense. Myers losing the ball, Kemp bobbling it around, Kelly/Alonso bobbling the ball for Ethier, etc. Will haunt them all year long. Sorry, Padre fans. And their bullpen just lost it. Can’t just rely on hitters, starting pitchers, and Kimbrel. Did they not learn from our mistakes from last year? LOL. GO DOYERS!!!

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