Editorials

Game 2 Recap: Grandal and Rollins Errors Offset Gonzalez’s Big Night

Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

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After a dramatic Opening Day which saw Jimmy Rollins hit a go-ahead, three-run home run in the eighth inning, the Los Angeles Dodgers looked to pick up another victory Tuesday night behind Zack Greinke.



In something not often seen in Los Angeles, rain delayed the start time by 30 minutes. Upon finally taking the mound, Greinke retired the first two batters he faced before giving up a single to Matt Kemp.

As was the case Monday, the San Diego Padres took the lead in the first inning, this time on a Justin Upton double to left field that got past Carl Crawford on his attempt to make a sliding catch. Greinke then ended the inning by striking out Will Middlebrooks.

Tyson Ross retired the side in order in the bottom of the first, collecting two strikeouts along the way. Jimmy Rollis mishandled an Alexi Amarista grounder, which should’ve been the third out of the second inning. It didn’t cost the Dodgers as Ross lined out to Howie Kendrick to end the inning.

Crawford atoned for his mental mistake as he got the Dodgers’ first hit of the night, a two-out double, which didn’t come as much of a surprise given his success against Ross. Uribe followed by drawing a walk, but the Dodgers didn’t capitalize as Joc Pederson flied out to center.

Greinke opened the third inning by striking out Wil Myers swinging, then retired Derke Norris and Kemp on ground outs to keep the Dodgers within a run. Rollins hit a one-out double to the left-center field gap, but was thrown out attempting to stretch it to a triple and the Dodgers were held scoreless in another inning.

After two fly outs in the fourth, Greinke ended the inning with his fourth strikeout of the game. Gonzalez hit a leadoff single in the bottom of the fourth, but was forced out at second base on a Howie Kendrick grounder that likely would’ve been a double play had Amarista not bobbled the transfer.

Kendrick promptly stole second base and Ross Yasmani Grandal that put two on with one out. Still, the Dodgers failed to get their first run as Crawford flied out and Uribe grounded to third. The Padres continued to struggle and couldn’t get on base during the fifth as Greinke increased his streak of consecutive batters retired to 10.

Ross matched his Dodger counterpart as he too retired the side in order in the bottom of the fifth and Padres continued to lead, 1-0. After retiring the first two batters in the sixth, Greinke’s streak of not allowing a runner to reach based ended when he walked Kemp with two outs.

The former Dodger continued to torment his team as he moved into scoring position by stealing second. Whereas Upton cashed in once with Kemp on base, he popped up to third a second time around to end the inning. Yasiel Puig’s leadoff double in the bottom of the sixth ignited a Dodgers offense that was otherwise largely quiet on the evening.

CONTINUE READING: Gonzalez has big night, Grandal and Rollins commit costly errors

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