Martin, Padres Outfielders Help Dodgers Prevail

              On May 9^th the Padres released Jim Edmonds, whom they’d signed from the Cardinals over the winter to play centerfield in place of the departed Mike Cameron.  While the Padres’ release of 37-year-old Edmonds freed them of his sub-Mendoza .179 average, they also lost an outstanding defensive outfielder. Edmonds signed with the Cubs five days later, and has shown some signs of rejuvenation batting behind the Cubs’ formidable lineup of Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez and Kosuke Fukudome.

The Dodgers saw Edmonds’ present and past teams their last two series, hosting a four-game series with the Cubs and opening a three-game set in San Diego yesterday. While Edmonds played an excellent centerfield (and even contributed with the bat) in Chicago’s series split, his defensive prowess and influence were noticeably lacking in the Padres’ 7-2 loss to the Dodgers.

Trotting out an outfield of Brian Giles, Scott Hairston and the immortal Justin Huber, the Padres outfield committed several defensive gaffes in the pivotal seventh inning, right after Hairston made an excellent play to throw James Loney out at home in the sixth. After the Padres’ scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth on a wild pitch by Scott Proctor, San Diego reliever Bryan Corey got a one-out fly ball from pinch-hitter Delwyn Young. However, rightfielder Giles lost the ball, allowing Young to make it to second base with a double. The very next batter, Juan Pierre, lofted a fly ball to left that landed between the stationary leftfielder Huber and the centerfielder Hairston, who was backing him up. Later, Hairston would make another mistake when, playing left field, he bobbled the transfer of a ground ball hit by Andre Ethier, allowing him to make it to second base without a play.

Though none of these went for errors, all these miscues led to the Dodgers’ final six runs. The only official error the Padres made was a fielding error by first baseman Adrian Gonzalez at the end of a potential inning-ending double play in the ninth inning, a mistake that allowed the final two Dodger runs to come home.

While the bumbling Padres certainly contributed to their own demise with a lethal combination of boneheaded fielding and untimely hitting, credit is certainly due to the Dodgers, who seem to be perking up on offense. Every Dodger starter except pitcher Clayton Kershaw had at least one hit, and the team rang up a total of 13 for the night. Though only two of their hits went for extra bases at spacious Petco Park (doubles by Young and Ethier that could have been caught or held to singles), the Dodgers mounted excellent attacks in the seventh and ninth innings. Russell Martin was at the center of it all, going 3-for-5 and driving in the tying and winning runs in the seventh inning. The Dodgers also showed some patience at the plate, drawing six walks, three by Loney.

The only bad news for the Dodgers is that Padres ace Jake Peavy is scheduled to come off the disabled list to pitch against them on Thursday. Peavy won his first two starts against the Dodgers this year, both against supposed ace Brad Penny, but will be going against the pitcher who has perhaps been the Dodgers’ best of late. Hiroki Kuroda, who spun a complete game masterpiece against the Cubs in his last start, won his first MLB game in San Diego back in April.