Padres vs Dodgers Game Recap 4/7/12

Chad Billingsley shut down the Padres offense, and another couple of errors cost San Diego early.  Billingsley went 8 1/3 innings before being yanked in the ninth after giving up a single to Cameron Maybin.  He had retired 15 straight batters before that, and the Dodger cruised to a 6-0 victory.

In total, the Padres managed just three hits against Billingsley, scored no runs, and struck out 11 times.  Not the way they wanted to start the season.  Matt Kemp seems to be continuing his MVP push as he went 2 for 4 with another couple of RBI.  Andre Ethier was 2 for 4 with 4 RBI.

Cory Luebke didn’t allow a walk in the game and struck out six, but he lasted just 4 2/3 innings thanks to some sloppy defense and some timely hits by the Dodgers.  Luebke gave up nine hits and six runs, five of which were earned.  On the plus side, Micah Owings came in and pitched 3 1/3 innings of one-hit ball.  Andrew Cashner finished the game with one inning pitched, allowing just a walk while also striking out a batter.

There wasn’t much to celebrate on the offensive side of things for the Padres.  Jesus Guzman collected his second double of the season.  Cameron Maybin had a single.  Will Venable doubled.  That was it.  After the game, Chase Headley summed up how many of the fans were feeling following the first two games of the season.

"If this happens in the middle of the season, it’s a bump in the road. But when you have nothing to compare it against … it seems a lot bigger than it is."

The Padres have two more opportunities to change course against the Dodgers starting today at 5:35 PT.  Dustin Moseley will get the start against new-Dodger Chris Capuano.

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