Editorials

A.J. Ellis Comes Up With Key Hit, Dodgers Cruise To Win After Padres 3-Run Error

Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

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Seager led off the third inning with a base hit that skipped off Solarte’s glove at third base, and the rookie quickly stole the first base of his young career. The Dodgers were unable to capitalize however, as Pederson and Anderson both struck out swinging, dropping the team to 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position to that point.



After Anderson retired the side in order in the bottom of the fourth, Rollins drew a leadoff walk in the fifth and stole second base with one out. The veteran shortstop pressed his luck by attempting to steal third base and was thrown out to end the inning.

Anderson worked around a two-out walk in the bottom of the fifth to keep the game tied at 1-1. Battling a high pitch count, Cashner gave up a leadoff double to Turner in the sixth. Ethier followed with a flare single to left field that was just out of Gyorko’s reach; the close play forced Turner to hold at second base.

Turner then managed to tag and advance on Seager’s fly ball that was caught in front of the center field fence. Ellis delivered with runners on the corners, receiving some help from Upton who failed to make a sliding catch and the Dodgers took a 2-1 lead.

Cashner limited the damage by getting Pederson to ground into a 1-6-3 inning-ending double play. While Upton failed to come up with a catch against Ellis, he was robbed of a base hit by Turner’s diving stop up the middle and throw from his knees for the second out in the bottom of the sixth.

The play loomed large as Anderson walked Norris and gave up a two-out base hit to Myers. Anderson’s day quickly came to an end as he was removed with an apparent injury. J.P. Howell came on in relief and needed only three pitches — and plenty of luck — to retire Upton on a ground ball that hit off Seager’s glove and rolled in Rollins’ direction for the unconventional 5-6-3 putout.

The Dodgers loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh and Ethier cleared them by reaching on Nick Vincent’s three-base error as he fielded a tapper up the first base line and threw high of the bag. Luis Avilan gave up a leadoff single in the bottom of the seventh before retiring the next three batters to protect the Dodgers’ 5-1 lead.

Jon Edwards walked two in the eighth, but also struck out two and prevented the Dodgers from adding to their lead. Facing Yimi Garcia, Kemp extended his streak of reaching safely to 26 games with a leadoff double in the eighth to right-center, just out of Pederson’s reach.

Kemp was stranded as Upton flied out, Norris struck out swinging and Myers fouled out. Pedro Baez entered in the ninth to record the final three outs of the Dodgers’ 5-1 win, which helped them keep pace with the San Francisco Giants who also won on Sunday.

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