Set to play split-squad games on Sunday afternoon, the Los Angeles Dodgers lost two starters before first pitch at Camelback Ranch against the San Diego Padres.
First, Scott Van Slyke was scratched from the lineup with a hip flexor, then minutes before he was set to take the mound, Mike Bolsinger was scratched due to abdominal tightness. Bolsinger is the perceived frontrunner in the competition for the Dodgers’ fifth starter job.
Jeremy Kehrt was called on for the emergency start and he promptly gave up a leadoff single to Jon Jay. Cory Spangenberg lined a base hit to right field, but an out was recorded as Yasiel Puig cut down Jay on his attempt to go first to third base.
Kehrt completed a scoreless frame by getting Matt Kemp to ground out and striking out Wil Myers. Robbie Erlin set Howie Kendrick, Yasiel Puig and Justin Turner down in order.
The wheels quickly fell off for Kehrt in the second inning. Yangervis Solarte was hit by a pitch and he scored immediately after on a Derek Norris RBI double. After an Alexei Ramirez single put runners on the corners, Melvin Upton Jr. drove both in on a double down the left field line.
Jay lined a one-out single to center, extending the Padres’ lead to 4-0 and the rout was on. Kemp and Myers both hit an RBI single, with the latter knocking Kehrt out of the game. Carlos Frias needed one pitch to induce an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.
Joc Pederson hit a two-out single to center in the bottom of the second, but was stranded as Corey Brown grounded into a force out. Frias retired the Padres in order to keep the Dodgers’ deficit at 6-0 heading to the bottom of the third.
CONTINUE READING: Dodgers load the bases in sixth inning, Yusniel Diaz makes debut
