The Los Angeles Dodgers became the last Major League team to play their home opener as they hosted the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday afternoon. The game was delayed a few minutes due to Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully, who is in his 67th and final season, being honored in a ceremony that included many Dodger greats.
Kenta Maeda got the start and made his Dodger Stadium debut. He began by hitting Jean Segura on the hand to put the leadoff man on base. However, Maeda rebounded as he retired the next three batters to throw a scoreless first inning.
With left-hander Patrick Corbin on the mound for the Diamondbacks, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts used a lineup heavy on right-handed hitters. Kiké Hernandez got the start in left field and led off with a base hit.
Just like Maeda, Corbin then retired the next three hitters to ending the inning. Maeda found himself in trouble in the top of the second by giving up a single and double to put runners at second and third with no outs.
But, Maeda was able to escape the jam with a strikeout and two groundouts leaving both runners stranded. In his first at-bat of the 2016 season, Howie Kendrick hit a line drive base hit to right field to open the bottom of the second.
Trayce Thompson followed with a dribbler to third that went for an infield single. After Kendrick advanced to third on a fly out, A.J. Ellis laid down a bunt with Kendrick coming down the line. Kendrick scored on the suicide squeeze and the Dodgers took a 1-0 lead.
After another scoreless inning from Maeda, Hernandez led off the bottom of the third with his second single of the game. However, he was stranded by Yasiel Puig, Adrian Gonzalez and Justin Turner.
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