May 5, 2017
Dodger rookie Cody Bellinger had his 2nd two-homer game in the last 7 days, and the Dodgers beat up the Padres 8-2 on Friday night at Petco Park.
Bellinger started at 1st base after the Dodgers put Adrian Gonzales on the disabled list for the first time in his 14-year career. Bellinger delivered a solo homer in the 4th inning, and a 3-run homer in the 9th, which highlighted LA’s victory.
“I’ve said it before, him going on the DL, you never want to see it,” Bellinger said. “He’s been awesome to me. He’s been a guy that I looked up to growing up and he’s kind of taken me under his wing. A healthy Adrian is a scary Adrian for opposing pitchers.”
Kenta Maeda got the start for the Dodgers. He went 5 innings, giving up 2 runs (1 earned) on 3 hits, while walking 3 and striking out 8. Sergio Romo (1-1) got credit for the win after getting the final two outs of the 6th with the based loaded. Josh Fields threw 1 1/3 innings for his first save of the season. Maeda and 5 relievers combined on four-hitter.
After Bellinger put the Dodgers up 1-0 in the 4th, the Padres tied it in their half of the 4th after Cory Spangenberg came through with a leadoff double, which was the Friars first hit of the night off Maeda. Yangervis Solarte walked and Ryan Schimpf delivered an RBI single, knotting the game at 1-1. Solarte was thrown out by Yasiel Puig on the play.
San Diego actually took a 2-1 lead in the 5th inning after Manuel Margot had a sacrifice fly, which was an unearned run. The Padres took advantage of a Bellinger throwing error on a sacrifice bunt by Jhoulys Chacin just before Margot’s sac fly.
Chacin allowed just one run on four hits in 5 1/3 innings. Jose Torres (1-2) took the loss for San Diego after allowing a 2-run double by Andrew Toles in the 7th inning, which put the Dodgers back in front 3-2.
LA would add to the lead in the 8th inning on an infield single from Chris Taylor, which scored Puig. Yasmani Grandal made it 4-2 in the 9th, which another infield single, scoring Corey Seager. Then it was Bellinger delivering the big 3-run blow to make it 8-2.
Even after Gonzales is healthy enough to return, the veteran 1st baseman feels that there still could be a place for Bellinger. “If he keeps playing well, obviously there should be a spot in the lineup for him,” Gonzalez said.
The Dodgers and Padres will be back at it on Saturday evening at Petco Park. It will be a pair of Clayton’s going at it. LA will give the ball to their ace, Clayton Kershaw (4-2; 2.61 ERA), while the Padres go with Clayton Richard (2-3; 4.29 ERA).