Center fielder Jackson Merrill and the San Diego Padres didn’t waste much time fretting over Monday night’s 8-7, 10-inning loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“Last night was fun, and it was a great game,” Merrill said following an 11-1 Padres rout on Tuesday that squared the three-game series. “We flushed it. We have to do the same thing tomorrow.”
The memory will have to be even shorter this time because the Padres and Dodgers will settle their first series of the year with a day game on Wednesday at San Diego.
Both teams enter the rubber game with more rested bullpens as a result of Tuesday night. Dylan Cease gave San Diego the long start it needed by working seven shutout innings, allowing manager Mike Shildt to give a taxed bullpen a break.
“That was important for us,” Shildt said. “Going deep into the game and not having to force it is a starting point. We had a little breathing room, which is important.”
Meanwhile, Matt Sauer simply took the beating, absorbing a 13-hit, nine-run pummeling over 4 2/3 innings for Los Angeles. Manager Dave Roberts waved the white flag early, summoning utility man Enrique Hernandez after the Padres established a 9-0 lead in the sixth and leaving him out there for the final 2 1/3 innings.
If this year’s performances of the Wednesday starters are any guide, both teams will dip into their bullpens early. Dodgers left-hander Justin Wrobleski (1-2, 7.20 ERA) and San Diego right-hander Randy Vasquez (3-4, 3.69) have totaled only 78 1/3 innings in 16 appearances (15 starts) between them.
Wrobleski last pitched Friday in St. Louis, suffering a 5-0 loss. He lasted six innings, permitting four Cardinals runs off six hits and three walks while striking out five. This will be his first career appearance against the Padres.
Vasquez also started Friday in his team’s 2-0 win at Milwaukee but departed after only 4 2/3 innings, one out shy of qualifying for the win. He gave up just two hits but walked four while issuing two strikeouts. Free passes have been a problem for the former New York Yankees pitcher, as he’s allowed 34 in 63 1/3 innings.
This will be his first career outing against Los Angeles, whose lineup figures to be tougher with the return of Will Smith behind the plate. After homering and knocking in three runs on Monday night, Smith got Tuesday night off.
Although the Dodgers lost on Tuesday, they received good news on the injured pitcher front before the game. Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell made good strides in their most recent practice outings toward returning to the mound sooner instead of later.
Ohtani recorded six strikeouts in a three-inning simulated game against a pair of Single-A hitters, while Glasnow and Snell enjoyed successful bullpen sessions. Snell’s 15 pitches were his first since a setback in April delayed his return from shoulder inflammation.
“Really encouraging,” Roberts said. “You can start to see us get to the other side. It’s stuff to look forward to.”
Los Angeles enters the series finale with a half-game lead over San Francisco in the National League West, while San Diego is a game back.
–Field Level Media
