Final/11
Blanton goes for Dodgers in opener with Padres
Sep 3, 2012 - 3:26 PM (Sports Network) - Joe Blanton hasn't done much since joining the Los Angeles Dodgers, but can keep them in the hunt for a playoff spot with a decent outing on Monday in the opener of a three-game series versus the San Diego Padres.Blanton is 1-3 with a 6.67 earned run average through five starts with the Dodgers since coming via trade from the Philadelphia Phillies. He won his first game with the club in Wednesday's 10-8 triumph over Colorado, as he held the Rockies to three runs in 7 1/3 innings even though he gave up 10 hits.
The right-hander is 9-12 with a 4.95 earned run average in 26 games (25 starts) overall this season and lost to the Padres back on April 22 at Petco Park. Blanton is 2-2 with a 4.63 ERA in six career starts against them.
Los Angeles hopes it doesn't need late-inning heroics this evening much like it did in Sunday's 5-4 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the conclusion of a four-game series at Chavez Ravine. Newcomer Adrian Gonzalez plated both Mark Ellis and Shane Victorino with a double in the bottom of the ninth inning to earn a split of the series.
"To finish the game like that is amazing. Give credit to the guys getting on before me," Gonzalez said of his hit off of D-backs reliever J.J. Putz. "I was looking for a fastball. When I hit it I knew it was going in the corner."
Matt Kemp homered and relief pitcher Ronald Belisario earned the victory with a scoreless ninth inning. Dodgers starter Chris Capuano was reached for three runs over the first five innings.
Los Angeles is 4 1/2 games behind San Francisco for the NL West lead, but just one-half game off the pace in the wild card standings.
The Padres had won eight in a row and 10 of 11 games before dropping the last two installments of a three-game set in Colorado. They are coming off Sunday's 11-10 loss at Coors Field in which Chase Headley highlighted the offense with four hits, including a two-run home run, and six RBI.
Headley is batting .339 with four homers and 16 RBI in the previous 14 games (10-4).
Alexi Amarista had five hits, two RBI and two runs scored for San Diego, which didn't get much from starter Casey Kelly. Kelly avoided a decision and was touched for seven runs - five earned - and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. Brad Brach allowed the go-ahead runs to absorb the loss. He was victimized by a three-run from Chris Nelson in the seventh.
"I was trying to throw a slider down and away, out of the zone," Brach said. "I just left it up and he put a good swing on it and hit it out."
Andrew Werner will make his third major league start for San Diego tonight and is 1-1 with an even 3.00 earned run average over his first two appearances.
Werner defeated Pittsburgh on Aug. 22 in his debut with six innings of two-run ball, then did the same against Atlanta last Tuesday in a 2-0 loss. Werner, a left-hander, did strikeout seven Braves with no walks. He now will get his first taste of the Dodgers.
Los Angeles is 8-4 against San Diego this season.
- SAN DIEGO: 3
LOS ANGELES: 4
Final/11
Sep 3 11:43 PM - A.J. Ellis singled to right scoring Andre Ethier with two outs to win the game.
Padres 3, Dodgers 4 Bot 11, 2 OutsSep 3 11:43 PM - Andre Ethier one-out, solo Home Run (16) to right. Luis Cruz due up.
Padres 3, Dodgers 3 Bot 9, 1 OutSep 3 11:00 PM - Chase Headley singled to center scoring Clayton Richard with two out. On the play, Logan Forsythe advances to third. Runners on first and third and Yonder Alonso due up.
Padres 3, Dodgers 2 Top 7, 2 OutsSep 3 10:15 PM - Mark Ellis singled to left scoring Luis Cruz with two out. On the play, Mark Ellis advances to second on the throw. Runner on second and Shane Victorino due up.
Padres 2, Dodgers 1 Bot 5, 2 OutsSep 3 9:36 PM - SAN DIEGO: 0
LOS ANGELES: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Sep 3 8:11 PM
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