For everything that went in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ favor on Opening Day, the scales balanced out in a shutout loss Tuesday night to the San Diego Padres. Clayton Richard turned in eight shutout innings, triggering memories of last season when the Dodgers struggled against left-handed pitching.
Yasiel Puig from eighth to fifth in the lineup didn’t make much of an impact, as he finished 0-for-3. Though, Puig certainly wasn’t alone in failing to produce. While the Dodgers managed to get runners on base, they grounded into three double plays through four innings. They later hit into a fourth, and finished the game with just five hits.
Although Puig was among the Dodgers who went hitless on the night, he managed to make another highlight-reel catch in the third inning.
As tracked by MLB’s Statcast technology, Puig ran 89 feet and made a basket catch on a ball that’s caught less than 40 percent of the time. Nearly as impressive, Puig avoided colliding with the security guard and short wall.
The athletic grab further proved Dodgers manager Dave Roberts’ point of the team being in better position when Puig is manning right field. Roberts said this spring he believes the 26-year-old belongs in the discussion for best defensive right fielder in baseball.
