Pomeranz leads Padres' two-hit shutout in LA

July 8th, 2016

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers outscored the Padres 25-0 in the opening series this year and have paid the price ever since, including Thursday night, when Drew Pomeranz threw seven scoreless innings on two hits in a 6-0 San Diego win.
San Diego is 5-2 against the Dodgers since that April series sweep, this one coming at the expense of Dodgers lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu, who was making his first start since the 2014 postseason. Ryu, returning from shoulder surgery, was roughed up for six runs in 4 2/3 innings.
"To see Ryu take the mound tonight was great," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. "Obviously we're disappointed about the loss. Let's wait and see tomorrow, if he responds with normal soreness, that's a good thing."
Ryu can't follow McCarthy's lead in return
Melvin Upton Jr. opened the game with a home run, Pomeranz singled in a run in the second inning and the Padres chased Ryu in a three-run fifth inning that featured doubles by former Dodger Matt Kemp and Yangervis Solarte and a two-run triple by Alex Dickerson over the head of Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig.
The Dodgers were held to only two hits by Pomeranz, who allowed the Dodgers one run over seven innings in a 3-2 loss in May.
"Pomeranz used his curve a lot more, threw cut fastballs in to righties, elevated the fastball late in counts," said Roberts. "He got us earlier this year, pretty much the same. He's had a really nice first half. We couldn't get any momentum."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
That was fast: Ryu's last pitch to Upton, the first batter of the night, was his fastest pitch at 92 mph, but it left Upton's bat even faster, at 102 mph according to Statcast™, as it soared over the right-field wall to give the Padres a 1-0 lead. It was Upton's third home run leading off an inning this season and the 47th of his career.

No defensive help: The ball was hit so hard it might have gone over his head anyway, but Puig froze on the Dickerson two-run triple that chased Ryu. After retrieving the ball at the warning track, Puig's return throw missed three cutoff men and was fielded by Ryu near third base. Another run off Ryu was aided by shortstop Corey Seager's errant throw that skipped past first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and rolled into the Padres' dugout.
"It was hit hard, backspun," Roberts said of Dickerson's ball over Puig. "The trajectory coming off the bat [was tricky], but I think he misplayed it. Could he have made the play? Yes. Was it easy? No, it was not."

Pitchers at-bat: In their first at-bats of the game, Pomeranz and Ryu both came up in the second inning with two outs and runners on first and second. Pomeranz bounced a hanging curve from Ryu into center field for an RBI single. Ryu tapped a roller down the first-base line that was fielded by Pomeranz, who tagged out Ryu.

Drew settles down: After ending the second inning at 43 pitches, Pomeranz righted the ship and allowed only two baserunners for the rest of his start, with none coming after the fourth inning.
"He settled in," Padres manager Andy Green said. "I think early on, he comes out -- he does this from time to time -- he just throws the BP fastball to the first batter of the game. I'm not the biggest fan of it. If you want to pick apart the guy who went seven scoreless, but he throws three BP fastballs to Howie Kendrick, ends up walking him and really didn't settle in like vintage Drew Pomeranz until the third or fourth batter of the game." More >

STREAK SNAPPED
Seager finished 0-for-4, ending the rookie's hitting streak at 19 games. The streak was the longest in the National League this season and one game shy of tying Tommy Davis' Los Angeles Dodgers rookie record.
WHAT'S NEXT
Padres:Andrew Cashner will take the mound in his second start since returning from the disabled list as the Padres continue their series at Dodger Stadium on Friday night. The right-hander was strong in his first start, hitting 97 mph while allowing one earned run in six innings on Sunday vs. the Yankees.
Dodgers:Scott Kazmir makes his final start before the All-Star break in this 7:10 p.m. PT matchup with the Padres. To overcome first-inning struggles, the left-hander tried a simulated game while warming up for his last start and said having batters stand in helped his focus. He's unbeaten in his last 10 starts.
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