Mike Bolsinger Dazzles And Joc Pederson Hits Home Run In Dodgers Win
Bolsinger again sat the Padres down in order in the fourth, complete with striking out Kemp on a breaking ball away. As their starter breezed through the game, the Dodgers didn’t make much noise against Kennedy, who didn’t allow a baserunner in the third and fourth innings.
Justin Upton lined out to Kendrick to start the fifth and Will Venable went down swinging for the second out. Bolsinger continued to roll by getting Gyorko to also line out, retiring 14 in a row to that point.
Gonzalez broke up the pitchers’ duel with a two-out single in the sixth and he came around to score on Turner’s RBI double that rolled to the wall in left-center field. Gonzalez was largely able to score thanks in large part to Upton not cleanly fielding the ball after it hit the wall and a poor relay throw.
Ethier worked a full count only to go down swinging to end the inning, but not before the Dodgers extended their lead to 2-0. Bolsinger picked up his sixth strikeout of the game in the seventh and sat the Padres down in order, giving him 20 consecutive batters retired.
Kennedy gave way to Kevin Quackenbush in the bottom of the seventh and the Padres relief pitcher kept his club within two runs of the Dodgers. At only 81 pitches, Bolsinger took the mound in the eighth. He struck out Upton and made a diving stop to smother Venable’s drag bunt attempt and threw from his knees to get the out.
After the Veneable play Upton, who wasn’t pleased with the called strike three on him, continued arguing from the dugout and was ejected by home plate umpire Clint Fagan. The scuttle didn’t throw off Bolsinger as he struck out Gyorko swinging to end the inning.
Kenley Jansen came on in the ninth for his first set of back-to-back appearances since returning from foot surgery. He earned a second consecutive save and third in as many tries as the Dodgers beat the Padres, 2-0.
[divide]Mike Bolsinger Discusses Pitching For The Dodgers
