The Dodgers dropped the first two games in Coloarado to start an eight game road trip that concludes with three games each in San Diego and San Francisco. The way they lost may be a recurring theme for them all year—shut out for the second time this season in game one, and enduring shaky starting pitching in game two.
What went right:
Although Clayton Kershaw allowed three runs in six innings Tuesday, he still pitched well. Walking a single batter and striking out eight, Kershaw has only two walks juxtaposed against 17 strikeouts in 13 innings this year (compared to Kershaw's 2010 average base on balls per nine innings of over 3.5). His performance Tuesday gave him his second quality start in as many games and continued to show Kershaw's ascension as one of the top pitchers in the National League.
What went wrong:
Wednesday's starter Chad Billingsley gave up five runs on six hits in three innings. Although Billingsley is 1 - 1, his first start win was deceptive. Billingsley, slated to lose his first start, was removed for pinch hitter Hector Gimenez in the bottom of the sixth inning with the Giants leading 3 - 1. The Dodgers would score the tying and go-ahead runs without hitting a ball out of the infield. This would switch a presumed loss to Billingsley's tab, to a subsequent win. The Dodgers need their starters to go deep into games to keep pressure off a mostly untested bullpen.
What we learned:
The offense needed Casey Blake's return. With Blake in the line-up, this allowed Juan Uribe to move to second base and put both Aaron Miles and Jamey Carroll on the bench. Blake's presence in the line-up paid immediate dividends as he went two for three, scoring a run, and knocking one run in with a triple.
Next up, the Dodgers face the San Diego Padres for three games in San Diego. Similarly built, the Padres win games with solid starting pitching and defense. They are able to win close games with a bullpen that ranked first in the National League in ERA in 2010.
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