Kenta Maeda entered the All-Star break spitting hot fire, obliterating his season high in strikeouts, but more importantly gave the Dodgers some much-needed length in Sunday’s 3-1 win over the Padres at Dodger Stadium.
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“He was on the radar because he can really hit”, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “There were a couple of stretches in there where we could have gone the other way”. “That was very encouraging”. Outfielder Matt Kemp has six hits in 12 career at-bats against McCarthy with no walks and two strikeouts.
“I talked to a lot of guys who have come back from this (surgery) and they said there are days where it’s just not there”, McCarthy said.
He struck out the next six batters and retired eight in a row to end a seven-inning start, the first for the Dodgers since June 20. He allowed one run on only two hits. This will be his second start this season against the Dodgers. “Overall, Maeda’s had a great first half”. One batter later, Corey Seager singled him home and LA had a 1-0 lead. On April 12th, Maeda shut out the Diamondbacks through six innings at home.
“It’s all hands on deck”, Roberts said. “He’s using all sides of the field. If we can get Howie and his versatility going offensively it will continue to add to that length”.
The Padres were excited about Grandal in 2012 when in 60 games he hit nearly.300 with 8 home runs.
Norris drove the first pitch he saw from Maeda with one out in the fifth over the left-field wall for his 12th homer. “I was able to focus on the batters’ characteristics”, he said. “I’m getting pulled and the guy’s saying, ‘Congrats'”.
The home run by Gonzalez gave the Dodgers a 3-1 advantage.
“I actually thought he [Dickerson] caught it”, Gonzalez said. “I need to be the hitter I need to be to help this team”. “Sometimes you just feel comfortable”.
Sure, they scored in all four games in this series – even won All-Star Drew Pomeranz’s start on Thursday – but struck out 30 times over the last two games, managed three hits off Saturday’s starter and two off Sunday’s: Alex Dickerson’s second-inning single and Derek Norris’ fifth-inning homer.
RHP Kenley Jansen earned his 26th save Saturday.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Kenta Maeda bunts for a fielder’s choice as Yasmani Grandal is forced out at third by the San Diego Padres during the second inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, July 10, 2016.
In 2013 Grandal’s season was limited to 28 games which included a PED suspension and a.216 average with 1 HR when he did play. In total, six Dodger prospects made the Baseball America’s Midseason Top 100 prospects list. Maeda heads into the break with a record of 8-6, the third most wins by a Dodger rookie starter ad the All-Star Break, tied with Rick Sutcliffe (1979) and Don Sutton (1966). Luis Perdomo gets the nod, and he’s 3-3 with a 7.93 ERA and 53 strikeouts this season. It was also the most by a Dodger rookie since Hideo Nomo in 1995.
Padres manager Andy Green challenged the ruling that Turner did not break the new rule protecting middle infielders against contact from sliding runners.
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“It’s coming at a flawless time”, Roberts said of the four days off that are ahead for all but Jansen, who figures to pitch in the showcase game Tuesday.
