With a right-hander on the mound the Los Angeles Dodgers reverted back to their Opening Day lineup, and though it did not produce 14 runs, it resulted in a win over the San Diego Padres. Rich Hill threw five innings, enduring an injury scare in the process.
For the first time in the series, the Dodgers were first to score. Corey Seager and Adrian Gonzalez connected for opposite-field doubles, and Wil Myers later missed a routine throw from third base, which allowed Gonzalez to score.
The doubles and error put Trevor Cahill and the Padres in an early 2-0 deficit. After working around a two-out walk in the top of the second, Hill endured an injury scare in the bottom half of the inning.
He was hit by a pitch on his right wrist and immediately reacted in pain. Hill was checked on by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and head athletic trainer Nate Lucero, but remained in the game. The left-hander didn’t seem bothered by the incident as he retired the side in order in the third, ending the inning with back-to-back strikeouts.
Myers’ leadoff single in the fourth inning broke up Hill’s no-hit bid. Myers was later picked off first base, which proved timely, as Hunter Renfroe followed with a home run. Puig’s booming home run down the left-field line provided the Dodgers with some breathing room in the bottom of the fourth.
Hill worked around a one-out walk in the fifth to complete a scoreless inning. That was it for the veteran lefty, who threw 75 pitches and allowed one run on two hits, issued three walks and collected five strikeouts.
Andrew Toles walked and Justin Turner singled in the bottom of the fifth, but both runners were stranded. Sergio Romo’s first appearance with the Dodgers was a scoreless inning in relief, though it wasn’t all smooth sailing.
After Manuel Margot lined out, Myers pulled a ground-rule double down the left-field line. Yangervis Solarte flied out to the warning track, then Renfroe grounded out. Alex Wood also made his 2017 debut, and impressed over two scoreless innings.
Wood’s fastball regularly sat at 93 and 94 mph, and the lone baserunner came via walk. Kenley Jansen took over in the ninth and retired the side in order to earn a save in the Dodgers’ 3-1 victory.
