James Shields had a decent performance on the mound in the Padres second game of the season. Shields lasted six innings with six hits, a walk, and struck out three batters.
The Padres offense still struggled. The Padres only mustered up two hits. Cory Spangenberg had an infield single in the first. The next hit wouldn't come until the bottom of the ninth from outfielder Jon Jay with a single. But that would be it. Final score Dodgers 3, Padres 0.
The Padres were shutout again by the Dodgers. Game 3 against the Dodgers is Wednesday night at Petco Park. Going into Tuesday night’s game the players seemed focused and ready to move on after a rough Opening Day shutout. After a 15-0 loss to the Dodgers, the Friars were in bounce back mode. Many of the players, especially the new guys on the roster are just trying to stay focused on the next game.
I spoke to skipper Andy Green before Tuesday night’s game and he was focused. In the second game of this series against the Dodgers the starting lineup included the same 8 position players from opening day, but the batting order was different. Green moved second baseman Cory Spangenber up to the second spot and dropped catcher Derek Norris down to 5th in the lineup. Alexei Ramirez and Melvin Upton Junior were moved to the 7 and 8 spots. Green did mention there would be some moving parts when I spoke to him ahead of the opening day game on Monday, but he is still solid in his decision in pitchers, especially Tuesday’s starter, James Shields. Green says, “He’s competitive, as competitive as anyone I’ve been around in my life so I think he just wants to get out on the mound and get to work. I think every fifth day that’ show he is. That’s who he is. He never wants to come out of the game. He always wants to be in the game. He always wants to compete. That’s the way you want all your guys wired so that’s what we love about him.”
The Padres face the Dodgers one more time on Wednesday before going on the road to Colorado.
