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Friday, April 8, 2011

Dodgers Try to Get First Road Win in San Diego

Dodgers @ San Diego
7:05 pm
Game 1



The Dodgers will have to pick up the pieces after losing both games in Colorado, and regroup in order to face the San Diego Padres for the first time this season at Petco Park. The Dodgers are now 3-3 and the Padres have a 3-2 record thus far. The Dodgers have an overall record of 28-35 in Petco Park since 2004. In this battle of the lefties, Ted Lily will go to the mound for the Dodgers in his second start of the season, and will be looking for his first win after losing to San Francisco in the 10-0 blowout.  Lily is 6-3 in 11 games and 10 starts with a 3.06 ERA in his career against the Padres. Clayton Richard will pitch for the Pads, and he has a 1-0 record after getting a win against the Cardinals in his first game of the season. Richard is 4-0 with a 2.56 ERA in 5 starts against the Dodgers.

For Tony Gwynn Jr., San Diego is home sweet home. He attended San Diego State University, and came up with the same team where his legendary Hall of Fame father of the same moniker played for years. I really feel old when I see sons of players whom I grew up watching now taking the field. The Padres let him go after a disappointing season in 2010, but Gwynn, although disappointed after being non-tendered, looks to show San Diego that he indeed has that spark and with his new coaching staff is ready to progress and succeed in the game. Mattingly has used three left fielders in two games each. Thames, Paul, and Gwynn have each had a turn, but Gwynn's defensive talents outshine the others. If Gwynn's bat can get hot, he may have a chance to earn a starting job. In the meantime, Donnie continues the three-way platoon.

For Sunday, the rumor is that John Ely will get the call-up and start in order to fill in for rehabbing Jon Garland in the 5th starter position. The 24 year-old went 4-10 in 18 starts with a 5.49 ERA last season in his first stint in the majors. Hopefully Jon Garland will be ready to return around April 15th, and only miss one start. Tonight's game begins a long haul of 20 games in a row without a day off until April 28th for the Dodgers.

Lineup:

Furcal 6
Blake 5
Ethier 9
Kemp 8
Uribe 4
Loney 3
Thames 7
Barajas 2
Lily 1

In other baseball news, Manny Ramirez announced his retirement today. It's speculated he had failed a drug test during spring training. He chose to retire an active player instead of facing a 100 game suspension. Manny had signed with the Tampa Bay Rays during the offseason and was 1 for 17 so far this season.

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