SAN DIEGO -- Even on a night the Dodgers rested every regular, they had a chance to win in the ninth inning. But with the tying runs on base, Padres closer Huston Street struck out pinch hitters Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp to preserve a 2-0 victory for San Diego in the opener of a three-game series at Petco Park.
The post-celebration Dodgers were just a step slow on Friday night, and could manage much against Padres starter Robbie Erlin, who pitched scoreless ball into the eighth inning for the win. His 7⅔ innings marked his longest performance to date.
San Diego also ran around making the Dodgers look like they were standing still. Five different Padres stole a base, including catcher Nick Hundley. It was the most players to steal a base against the Dodgers in a game since five Cardinals did so on May 21, 1999.
Dee Gordon threw away a ground ball by Chris Denorfia with one out in the first inning, allowing Denorfia to reach second base. It was Gordon's seventh error in his 22nd start at shortstop this season. Denorfia then stole third and scored on a ground ball, though replays showed that first baseman Drew Butera's throw may have beaten Denorfia to the plate.
That was all ex-Padre Edinson Volquez would allow until Jedd Gyorko hit a solo home run in the sixth inning, his 20th of the season. But the two runs allowed by Volquez, technically his best start with the Dodgers, were enough to hang him with the loss.
The Dodgers rallied in the ninth against Street, with a double by Skip Schumaker and a single by pinch hitter Adrian Gonzalez. But the Padres closer recovered to fan Puig and Kemp to convert his 32nd save of the season.
Notes
- Michael Young entered the game in the seventh inning and played the rest of the game at second base, his first game at the position this season. He played 16 games at second base in 2012 for the Rangers, including 14 starts. Manager Don Mattingly said before the game he would use Young at second base for a few games in the final week of the season just in case he needed to use him at the position in an emergency situation in the playoffs.
- Young also had a hit in his only at-bat, extending his hitting streak to five games. Young has only started one of those games and is 6-for-9 (.667) during the streak. Young is 14-for-36 (.389) as a Dodger.
- Skip Schumaker entered the game with no extra-base hits in 14 games and 37 plate appearances in September, but went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles on Friday night.
- Jerry Hairston went 0-for-4 on Friday night, extending his current slump to 0-for-14 and 3-for-40 (.075).
- Gyorko, who drove in both Padres runs, became just the fifth rookie second baseman with 20 home runs in a season, joining Joe Gordon (24 home runs for the 1938 Yankees), Dan Uggla (27 for 2006 Marlins), Alexei Ramirez (21 for 2008 White Sox) and Danny Espinosa (21 for 2011 Nationals).
- The Dodgers are 26-25 against left-handed starting pitchers this season.
- Carlos Marmol faced seven batters and struck out three and walked three. Sixteen of his last 17 appearances have been scoreless, with a 1.08 ERA, 15 walks and 23 strikeouts in 16⅔ innings during that span.
Up next
The Dodgers are guaranteed to have more regulars in the lineup on Saturday behind Clayton Kershaw on the mound, starting on a full seven days rest. Somebody named Burch Smith starts for San Diego.
Friday particulars
Home run: Jedd Gyorko (20)
WP - Robbie Erlin (3-3): 7⅔ IP, 4 hits, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts
LP - Edinson Volquez (9-12): 6⅓ IP, 5 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), 4 walks, 6 strikeouts
Sv - Huston Street (32): 1 IP, 2 hits, 2 strikeouts