Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
It’s only been a little over a month since the Dodgers last saw the Padres, but this is a very different San Diego team.
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Padres
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Dodgers
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7:10 p.m. PT
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Los Angeles
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3B
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Solarte
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2B
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Gordon
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CF
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Almonte
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CF
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Puig
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LF
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Smith
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1B
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Gonzalez
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2B
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Gyorko
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RF
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Kemp
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1B
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Goebbert
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LF
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Crawford
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CF
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Liriano
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3B
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Turner
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C
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Rivera
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SS
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Arruebarrena
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SS
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Amarista
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C
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Ellis
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P
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Kennedy (R)
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P
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Correia (R)
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Back on July 13, the Padres ended the first half with a lineup that included Chris Denorfia, Chase Headley, Carlos Quentin, Cameron Maybin, Yasmani Grandal and Brooks Conrad. All six are no longer with the team, with two traded, two injured, one suspended, and one DFA’d. Now, they’ve got Yangervis Solarte, who was a Yankee. They’ve got Abraham Almonte, who was a Mariner. They’ve got Jedd Gyorko, who was hurt, and Jake Goebbert & Rymer Liriano, who were in the minors.
Except… this is a team that sold and should be a flaming crater, and they aren’t. Over the last 30 days, they’re 16-10. An offense that was on track for historic mediocrity in the first half has suddenly been the hottest-hitting team in the game, or at least tied with Pittsburgh. It doesn’t mean much other than “baseball is dumb,” because this is still a lousy team, but it’s one that’s playing well and has the effective Ian Kennedy on the mound. It’s a team the Dodgers need to take seriously, especially with Kevin Correia on the hill, because after the way the Dodgers sputtered against Milwaukee over the weekend, a win would really be a nice feeling.
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Roster move! Carlos Triunfel was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque and Erisbel Arruebarrena was recalled. Triunfel was called up a few days ago when Juan Uribe was placed on the disabled list, but appeared only once as a pinch-hitter. Arruebarrena last appeared with the Dodgers on July 4, spending most of his time in the minors aftereither being suspended for participating in brawls or being sidelined with a sore shoulder. He played for the Rookie League Dodgers in each of the last three days, and starts tonight, hitting seventh. It sure sounds like Arruebarrena will see the bulk of the time at shortstop until Hanley Ramirez returns, with Miguel Rojas moving into a utility infielder role.
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