Dodgers 3, Padres 2: Seth Smith Can Only Hit So Many Homers

The Padres lost a tight game to the Dodgers today. Our boys kept it close, but they were hurt by going an abysmal 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position. Chase Headley was emblematic of the Friars' offensive woes today, going 0 for 4 while grounding into a pair of double plays.

Ian Kennedy ran into trouble early on, giving up a leadoff single to Carl Crawford. Yasiel Puig followed that with a monster home run to left field. He cruised for a while after that, retiring 11 of the next 12 batters. He got into a jam once more in the fourth inning, serving up a double to Juan Uribe. He then walked A.J. Ellis, bringing up Dee Gordon. That should have been a good move, but somehow Gordon hit an RBI single.

Seth Smith answered that run shortly after, hitting his second home run of the season to end Zack Greinke's perfect game. The Padres struck Greinke again in the fifth inning. Well, rather, the Dodgers (mostly) struck themselves. Jedd Gyorko walked, then moved into scoring position on the first of Will Venable's two singles of the day. Gyorko went on to third courtesy of a ground out off the bat of Chris Denorfia. A passed ball by Ellis made the final 90 feet easy for the Mountaineer to cover.

That was, unfortunately, the last of the scoring. Both bullpens were lights out, though Kenley Jansen did load the bases with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Nick Hundley wasn't up to the the task, striking out to end the game. Tyson Ross will take on Dan Haren tomorrow at 7:10 PM. Win the game, win the series!

Wonko was the chattiest today, but abara was Miss Congeniality with 7 recs.