Padres at Dodgers Game Recap: Triple Play in the Ninth Kills Padres Rally

The Dodgers walked off winners again against the Padres.  Dee Gordon slapped the game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth.  However, the game was essentially lost in the top of the inning for the Padres on a triple play that led to Bud Black’s ejection.

With the game tied 4-4, the Padres got the first two runners on in the ninth and were poised for a rally.  Jesus Guzman came to the plate and squared to bunt.  As the pitch came high and tight, Guzman did everything he could to turn away from the ball to avoid getting hit.  However, as fate would have it, the ball still caught the neck of the bat.  It landed in foul territory at Guzman’s feet but then trickled out in front of the plate.  Home plate umpire Dale Scott lifted his arms to signal foul ball, and each of the Padres base runners held there positions.  The only problem was, it seemed Scott changed his mind as the ball rolled out onto the infield.  Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis picked the ball up and began his throw to third base.  It was at that point that Scott signaled the ball fair and the Dodgers turned a triple play.

Bud Black immediately rushed out to argue the play and was ultimately tossed from the game. Black said after the game, “There was some confusion for our base runners. I saw the hands go up. Our impression was that it was a foul ball.”

That impression led to the inning-ending triple play.  The Dodgers then loaded the bases in the ninth.  Dee Gordon managed to slap the game-winning hit into left field just above the outstretched glove of shortstop Jason Bartlett.  The Dodgers, who wore their old Brooklyn hats in honor of Jackie Robinson Day, completed there sweep and moved to 9-1 on the season.

San Diego managed to get to last year’s Cy Young award winner in the game.  They scored four runs off Kershaw before he was knocked out of the game.  It was an uncharacteristic start for the Dodgers’ southpaw.  Matt Kemp, who has owned the Padres this season, hit another home run to run his total to six on the year – all against San Diego.

Edinson Volquez was wild and walked five batters in just five innings.  He allowed six hits and four runs in the outing.

There were some unlikely heroes for the Padres in the loss including Chris Denorfia, Will Venable, and Andy Parrino.  Denorfia went 2 for 3 with an RBI, Venable went 2 for 3, and Parrino went 1 for 3 with a run scored.  But it wasn’t enough as the Padres tied the game in the sixth and were still threatening but couldn’t push that go-ahead run across.

The Padres travel to Denver today to take on the Rockies.  Cory Luebke will face Jeremy Guthrie at 5:40 PT.

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