LOS ANGELES -- News and notes from Monday's Dodgers 2-1 victory over the Padres.
Dodgers won when...
Adrian Gonzalez unleashed on an Eric Stults offering in the bottom of the first inning to give the Dodgers an early 1-0 lead. Gonzalez’s bomb was hit deep into the visiting bullpen for his eighth home run of the season. Stephen Fife was good in a spot start for the Dodgers going 5 1/3 innings and getting his first career win (in seven MLB starts). A bow was put on the night by Yasiel Puig who caught a Kyle Blanks fly out on the warning track in right field and then threw a strike to Gonzalez at first to double up Chris Denorfia. It was an old-fashioned 9-3 double play, as Puig recorded his first outfield assist.
Puig
There were 37,055 were on hand to see the Major League debut of Yasiel Puig. The Dodgers' rookie went 2-for-4 with two singles. He started in right field and hit in the leadoff spot for Dodgers manager Don Mattingly. The Dodgers skipper said the club has known for “a couple of days” that Puig was going to get called up, contrary to what he told reporters after Kemp was injured about the team needing a player to be an everyday-type center fielder.
Retaliation?
The only fireworks in the series opener on Monday night were provided by Puig. It was supposed to be the first time the Dodgers faced Carlos Quentin since the brawl between the two teams in April that caused Zack Greinke to miss time with a broken collarbone. Quentin was not in the starting lineup on Monday night after injuring his shoulder, colliding with the outfield wall on Sunday. After starting Saturday in Colorado, Greinke won’t be pitching in the series.
D(estination) list
The Dodgers used the disabled list for the 17th time on Monday and have now seen 14 players go on it this season when Carl Crawford was put on the disabled list with a hamstring injury. Crawford is the third player in the last five days to go on the disabled list for the Dodgers, joining Kemp and A.J. Ellis.
I see you
Hanley Ramirez, who had a hamstring injury of his own, could be back in the Dodgers lineup on Tuesday. Ramirez had another rehab stint at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Monday. He played six innings at shortstop and went 1-for-3 with a double against the Inland Empire 66ers, who had Angels center fielder Peter Bourjos in the lineup as well.
Ryu
Hyun-Jin Ryu had a 25-pitch bullpen session before Monday’s game. The Dodgers' rookie was hit in the foot by a line drive in his last start against the Angels last week. He was supposed to start the series finale at Colorado on Sunday but his start was pushed back. Following the bullpen session, Ryu through an interpreter said his foot felt “a lot better.” Mattingly said the lefty could start on Friday against the Braves.
Scratch that
Monday’s original starter Chris Capuano was scratched from his start. With Crawford going on the DL, the team was able to call up Stephen Fife from Triple-A Albuquerque. Fife pitched 5.1 innings, allowed one earned run, walked two and struck out five while watching his ERA drop from 7.71 to 4.50. Capuano was expected to undergo an MRI. Mattingly expects him to be able to make his next start. … Josh Becket was in Dallas to see a nerve specialist because of numbness in his pitching hand.
