Recap: Kershaw, Dodgers Cruise Through San Diego

It was all Dodgers in this one, as the combination of Kershaw, Goeddel, and Ferguson held the anemic Padres offense to just 2 runs, taking game 1 of the four-game series with a final score of 8-2.

Kershaw further demonstrated his return to form, tossing 6 innings of 2-hit baseball to go along with 5 strikeouts and a single walk on 89 total pitches.  Kershaw’s gem added to his brilliance against Padres, where in his last 13 starts he has a 0.89 ERA and 117 strikeouts.

The bullpen looked just as sharp, with the only stumble coming in the bottom of the 9th, in the form of a Will Myers solo home run and booted ground ball.

But the offense was the real treat in this one.  After struggling to piece together big innings in the Freeway Series, the late addition of fan-favorite Andrew Toles proved to be exactly the kind of spark the bats needed.  The offense exploded for 5 runs in the top of the 4th, bringing 8 hitters to the plate, including run scoring doubles from Yasmani Grandal and Andrew Toles.

Andrew Toles showed off his impressive tools scoring on a ground ball hit by Joc Pederson with the infield in, and getting just beneath the tag of former-Dodger AJ Ellis to score the final run of the inning.

No chance. #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/LejCd3RJtZ

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 10, 2018

Matt Kemp added another run in the 7th on a sacrifice fly and Justin Turner capped off the scoring with a 2 RBI single in the 8th.  The squad finished with a healthy 14 hits, and Turner, Bellinger, Grandal, Taylor, and Toles all turned in multi-hit games.

Despite being in San Diego, it was a special moment for Max Muncy as Dodgers’ fans treated him to an audible “Vote Max Muncy” chant.  You can do you part to get Muncy into his 1st All Star Game here.

When it’s not a home game but the #VoteMuncy chant takes over the park. ?

?: https://t.co/SSqaZ6SgNN #VoteMuncy | #ASGiancarlo pic.twitter.com/sXaUYJWld1

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 10, 2018

Analysis:

By now we’ve come to expect a dominant Kershaw every time he faces the Padres.  He did not disappoint.

Oh yeah, and “Andrew Toles is good.” – FRG