One night after Scott Kazmir made his first start at Dodger Stadium with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Japanese native Kenta Maeda did the same against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Saturday’s contest was the last at Chavez Ravine until the Dodgers host the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 12 in their home opener of the 2016 season. The new setting didn’t affect Maeda as he retired the Angels in order in the first inning.
Hector Santiago gave up a base hit to Yasiel Puig in a nine-pitch at-bat, however Justin Turner followed by grounding into an inning-ending double play. Maeda again set the Angels down in order, collecting his first strikeout of the game in the process.
After hitting a leadoff single in the bottom of the second, Adrian Gonzalez was erased from the bases on a force out. With two outs and Joc Pederson batting, Carl Crawford was caught stealing to end the inning.
Geovany Soto and Rafael Ortega combined for back-to-back singles in the third to put runners on first and second base with none out. Maeda got his second strikeout, but then gave up an RBI single to Yunel Escobar.
Ji-Man Choi’s RBI groundout extended the Angels’ lead to 2-0 before Maeda worked his way out of the inning. Santiago powered his way through the bottom of the third by striking out the side consisting of Pederson, Corey Seager and Maeda.
Maeda retired Kole Calhoun, C.J. Cron and Andrelton Simmons in order in the fourth, which as expected, was his final inning of work. The Dodgers didn’t muster any offense against the Santiago in the bottom of the fourth.
CONTINUE READING: Dodgers find some life in eighth inning
