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Recap: Joc Pederson Helps Dodgers Score Just Enough In Win Over Padres

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

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After failing to generate any offense up north against the San Francisco Giants, the Los Angeles Dodgers returned home to begin a three-game set with the San Diego Padres. While plenty of attention was placed on the Dodgers’ 31-inning scoreless streak, the Padres entered play without having scored a run in 14 straight innings.



Zack Greinke continued to exert his dominance over National League West opponents as he retired the side in order in the first inning. The Dodgers didn’t fare any better against Andrew Cashner as he sat the Dodgers down on a strikeout and pair of grounders.

For a second consecutive inning, Greinke needed just one pitch to record the first out. Derek Norris went down looking before Will Venable became the game’s first baserunner on a bloop single to left field. Nothing would come of it however, as Will Middlebrooks flied out.

Adrian Gonzalez drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the second and it was followed by a Yasmani Grandal base hit. As has been the case over the Dodgers’ offensive drought, their momentum was quickly stopped, this time on a Justin Turner ground ball.

With Gonzalez 90 feet away from ending the Dodgers’ scoreless streak, Andre Ethier put a charge into one that Matt Kemp tracked down on the run at the warning track in right field. Clint Barmes struck out swinging in the third, which was another quiet inning for the Padres.

Joc Pederson beat the Padres’ shift with two outs, but again, it didn’t amount to any runs. And again, Kemp had a hand in it as he came charging in to make a diving catch on a Jimmy Rollins blooper.

Cory Spangenberg attempted to reach on a drag bunt but was out on Gonzalez’s diving tag. Justin Upton reached on a two-out single before Greinke completed another scoreless inning. The pitchers’ duel continued in the bottom of the fourth with the Dodgers’ best threat to get a run across coming on Grandal’s deep fly ball to center.

After flying out to end the fourth, Grandal was replaced by A.J. Ellis in the fifth. Grandal was struck on the mask by Yangervis Solarte’s backswing in the third and took a Kemp foul ball off the mask in the fourth. The change behind the plate didn’t affect Greinke as he threw another 1-2-3 inning.

CONTINUE READING: Dodgers End Scoreless Streak, Take Late Lead

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