April 3, 2017

The Dodgers started the 2017 season off on a positive note by pounding the Padres 14-3 on opening day at the Ravine.

Joc Pederson hit a grand slam home run in the 3rd inning, and Yasmani Grandal followed with his first of two homers after that, and the Boys in Blue cruised to victory.  Clayton Kershaw scattered just 2 hits in 7 innings of work for his first victory of the season.  Kershaw struck out 8, walked 1, and retired 19 straight batters before giving up a solo home run to Ryan Schimpf in the 7th.  It was the only earned run the Dodgers’ ace would allow.

The win was the 7th consecutive opening day victory for the Dodgers.  Corey Seager homered in the 5th inning for LA, a 3-run blast, and Justin Turner contributed 3 hits and 2 runs.  The Dodgers hit a  franchise-record four opening day home runs.

The Padres got on the board in the 1st inning, taking advantage of a two-base error by Seager.  A wild pitch, followed by a single from Yangervis Solarte gave the Padres a 1-0 lead.  However, a Pederson sacrifice fly in the bottom-half of the inning tied the score at 1-1.

After Pederson and Grandal broke the game open in the 3rd, the Dodgers continued their onslaught in the 4th.  Justin Turner hit a two-run double, and LA would tack on two more runs off of two wild pitches from Padres pitcher Christian Bethancourt.  After Seager’s home run in the 5th, the Dodgers led 12-1.

Kershaw made only 84 pitches, and was replaced by Chris Hatcher, who pitched the last two innings.    Hatcher struggled in spring training, and gave up 1 run and 3 hits in his two innings of work.

Grandal’s 2nd home run of the game came in the 8th inning, and was a 2-run blast.

Game 2 of the four game set will be tomorrow night at Dodgers Stadium.  The Blue Crew will send Kenta Maeda to the mound, while the Padres will counter with Clayton Richard.