SAN DIEGO -- The first Padres-Dodgers game of the season was light on runs, but it certainly delivered its usual share of drama.
Michael King outdueled Yoshinobu Yamamoto, as San Diego won the opener of a three-game series at Petco Park, 1-0, on the strength of Miguel Andujar’s first-inning home run.
With the win, the Padres grabbed a half-game lead over L.A. for the top spot in the National League West. Here’s some instant reaction from Petco Park:
No fireworks, but near-playoff-level intensity
So often, tensions escalate when these two Southern California rivals meet. A season ago, they engaged in a beanball war in June that saw eight hitters plunked across a four-game series at Dodger Stadium. There’s been bad blood for the better part of a decade.
But none of it showed on Monday. This was just a darn good baseball game between two of baseball’s best teams, with first place in the division on the line.
Runs were at a premium. With the Padres clinging to a one-run lead in the ninth, Mason Miller made things difficult on himself by walking the first two Dodgers he faced. But he found the strike zone eventually -- and stranded two runners to nail down his Major League-leading 15th save.
Fine margins. They usually are, when these two teams meet.
King makes a statement
The Padres have concerns in their starting rotation. Their depth is thin, and two of their best starters -- Nick Pivetta and Joe Musgrove -- remain on the IL, with no timeline yet for a return.
Makes you wonder … Where would the Padres be without Michael King?
King turned in his best start of the season on Monday night, working seven scoreless innings, while striking out a season-high nine Dodgers hitters. He allowed only four hits, all of them singles and didn’t allow a runner to reach scoring position until the sixth.
Even when he hasn’t been at his best this season, King has gotten by. He’s been the Padres’ most reliable starter, no matter what kind of stuff he has that night.
But this was King at his dominant best, mixing and matching five different pitches to keep the Dodgers off-balance (and lowering his ERA to 2.31 in the process).
Andujar keeps mashing
With their stars struggling, the Padres have desperately needed major contributions from the role players on their offense this season. And they’ve gotten them.
From Miguel Andujar in particular.
The Padres signed Andujar just before Spring Training to a one-year deal. They envisioned him as a regular starter against lefties and perhaps a bench bat against some tough right-handed starters.
Except … he’s been so good that he’s worked his way into the everyday DH role and, lately, the No. 2 spot in the starting lineup.
It was in that No. 2 spot where Andujar launched a first-inning home run off Yoshinobu Yamamoto, giving the Padres a 1-0 lead. He followed with a single in the third and has posted a team-leading .298 batting average with an .823 OPS this season.
Quite a signing.