Baseball roundup
SAN DIEGO -- Seth Smith led off the eighth with a tying home run and Chris Denorfia singled home two runs later in the inning to give the Padres a 3-1 victory over the Dodgers in baseball's North American opener last night.
Smith's first hit with the Padres came on a 2-and-0 pitch from Brian Wilson, who started the eighth after Hyun-Jin Ryu threw seven scoreless innings. It was his seventh career pinch-hit homer. Smith was acquired in an offseason trade with Oakland for reliever Luke Gregerson.
Wilson (0-1) then walked pinch hitter Yasmani Grandal, who advanced when the reliever couldn't handle Everth Cabrera's bunt for an error. Grandal stole third and Cabrera took second on defensive indifference before Denorfia hit a bouncer up the middle to make it 3-1.
"They're all just one game, but when you're facing a team like the Dodgers, full of great players, Brian Wilson, a guy who knows how to get it done in those situations, it's not easy to do what our hitters did," said Huston Street, who pitched a perfect ninth. "To come back and get three right there in that situation, especially after leaving guys on base early, that's what this team is going to have to do to win. We're going to have to battle all year long."
The Dodgers set a record with an opening-day payroll of $234 million. The Padres are 23rd at just under $90 million.
Street said he has no problem with the discrepancy. "They've got a lot of talent and their talent has earned those salaries," he said. "They're not just given.''
The defending NL West champion Dodgers had started the regular season with a two-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks in Sydney, Australia.
Ryu got the start after reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw was scratched because of a swollen back muscle and placed on the 15-day disabled list for the first time in his seven-year career.
In a scheduling quirk, Ryu started consecutive regular-season games. He made his debut a week earlier when the Dodgers beat the Diamondbacks in their second game in Australia.-- AP
Sarra Sounds Off Ep. 35: EI baseball, girls lacrosse and plays of the week On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," we look at East Islip baseball's inspirational comeback story, Jared Valluzzi has the plays of the week and Tess Ferguson breaks down the top defensive players in girls lacrosse.
Sarra Sounds Off Ep. 35: EI baseball, girls lacrosse and plays of the week On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," we look at East Islip baseball's inspirational comeback story, Jared Valluzzi has the plays of the week and Tess Ferguson breaks down the top defensive players in girls lacrosse.
