Austin Hedges Continues His Torrid Spring in 10-5 Win
Credit: EVT News
Eric Hosmer was brought in to stabilize not only a lineup that needed a left handed presence, but a clubhouse that was in need of leadership.
He has already begun establishing himself to the young players.
On Wednesday, the Padres faced their divisional rival for the first time in the 2018 season. The Frairs continued their recent offensive onslaught, winning the game 10-5 despite a slow start by the team.
Chris Taylor led off the game with a double down the right field line. Joc Pederson followed with a line drive out to Fernando Tatis Jr. for the first out of the inning. Tatis displayed great jumping ability in snaring the liner. Dinelson Lamet was having trouble missing bats at this point and Andrew Toles jumped him for a deep home run to right field to make it 2-0 Dodgers.
Lamet settled down after that, getting Yasmani Grandal on a pitch in the dirt for his first strikeout of the game. Max Muncy then flew out to left for the last out of the inning, but the damage was done.
Young Wilmer Font was on the mound for the Dodgers and he got off to a fast start, striking out the side to begin the game. Jose Pirela and Fernando Tatis Jr. went down swinging and Eric Hosmer took a called third strike.
Lamet threw 31 pitches in his two innings for the Friars. He allowed three hits and two runs in his spring debut, while striking out a pair. Lamet’s fastball looked a little flat and he was not changing speeds much. I asked Andy Green this morning if Lamet would utilize his third pitch today. Green indicated that the Padres would rather not tip their hand to the Dodgers just yet on Lamet’s developing third pitch.
Austin Hedges continues to rake as he slugged his third homer in as many games on Wednesday. The adjustments he has made to his swing have already been paying huge dividends. After the game, Green told reporters “There was some things mechanically (we needed to change). We felt he got too big of a load and was on top of his backside, coming into his backside. We are looking for him to stay more centered and keep his head forward instead of over his back foot. He has quieted the ball down and is seeing it much better now.” Hedges went 1-2 with a homer on Wednesday.
The game was knotted at four in the bottom of the sixth as Carlos Asuaje lined a bases-loaded triple to break the game open. It was the Padres fifth run off of Mark Lowe, who had a rough outing for the Dodgers. The Padres added two more to make it 9-4 Padres.
.@Asuaje_20 clears the bases with a triple to give the @Padres a 7-4 lead over the Dodgers! #PadresST #BeatLA
Stream on FSGO: https://t.co/dsbl7tt31t pic.twitter.com/Alk8hLzdlD
— FOX Sports San Diego (@FOXSportsSD) February 28, 2018
With three innings in the books, the Padres held a five-run lead on the boys in blue. The Dodgers managed a run in the ninth on a solo homer by Yusniel Diaz off Trey Wingenter. The Padres reliever settled down, getting the final three outs, including a backwards K to end the game. Padres 10, Dodgers 5 was the final score.
James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.