The Los Angeles Dodgers turned to another conceivable candidate for their fifth starter vacancy as Ross Stripling took the hill on Tuesday against the San Diego Padres at Peoria Sports Complex. The appearance was Stripling’s fourth this spring, but his first start of the year.
Padres right-hander Colin Rea struck out the first two batters faced, then got Justin Turner to fly out for a 1-2-3 inning. Stripling worked around a one-out walk to toss a scoreless bottom of the first, ending the inning on a strikeout.
Adrian Gonzalez led off the second with a base hit, but was thrown out attempting to go first to third base on Chase Utley’s single; Utley advanced to second base on the throw. Joc Pederson and A.J. Ellis extended the inning by drawing two-out walks to load the bases.
Stripling wasn’t able to help himself however, as he grounded out. The right-hander did remain sharp on the mound, setting the Padres down in order. After striking out Jose Pirela and Rea in the third, Stripling gave up a solo home run to Jon Jay.
Cory Spangenberg and Derek Norris followed with singles, but Wil Myers flied out to end the inning with the Padres lead remaining 1-0. The run was the first Coleman allowed in 8.2 innings pitched this spring.
Gonzalez collected his second hit of the game and Utley drew a walk to put two on with none out in the fourth inning. Pederson’s single loaded the bases, and Ellis drew a walk to tie the game at 1-1. Stripling struck out on a wild pitch, which allowed Utley to score and the Dodgers to take a 2-1 lead.
CONTINUE READING: Joc Pederson’s home run sparks rally in the eighth inning
Yangervis Solarte, Alexei Ramirez and Jabari Blash went down in order in the bottom of the fourth. Turner continued with his hot spring, extending the Dodgers’ lead with a solo home run in the fifth.
Pirela led off the bottom of the fifth with a double, which was cashed in as Jay hit his second home run of the game. Spangenberg reached on a bunt single and later scored on Myers’ two-run home run that pushed the Padres’ lead to 7-3.
Elian Herrera drew a two-out walk in the sixth, but was stranded as Carl Crawford lined out to center field. Louis Coleman entered in the bottom of the sixth and promptly gave up a leadoff single followed by an RBI double to Jemile Weeks.
The run was the first of Spring Training Coleman allowed. Austin Hedges’ sacrifice fly extended the Padres’ lead to 7-3 before Coleman managed to get out of the inning. Luis Avilan took over in the bottom of the seventh and was put in a bad spot.
An error and bunt single gave the Padres runners on the first and second with none out. The Dodgers’ left-handed reliever retired the next two batters, but then allowed a three-run home run to Adam Rosales.
The Dodgers cut into their deficit in the eighth as Pederson followed an Austin Barnes walk and Kiké Hernandez single with a three-run homer. Derek Eitel came on in relief of Trey McNutt, though it didn’t produce favorable results for the Padres as Jacob Scavuzzo hit an RBI double.
Eitel walked Drew Maggi, then gave up an RBI single to Trayce Thompson that cut the Padres’ lead to 10-8. Rob Segedin grounded to third base, but beat the throw to first to avoid hitting into a double play.
A run scored, and it marked the end for Eitel. Kevin Quackenbush took over the Padres and retired Barnes to get San Diego out of the inning with a 10-9 lead. They Padres answered back in the bottom of the eighth, behind a Pirela leadoff single and Hedges’ RBI double.
The Dodgers didn’t score in the ninth inning and lost to the Padres, 11-9.