ON THE MOUND: Manager Don Mattingly refused to say he’s evaluating Roberto Hernandez and Dan Haren to determine who will be the Dodgers’ No. 4 starter in the playoffs. True or not, Hernandez didn’t help his case on this night. The 34-year-old lasted only three innings, the shortest of his 24 starts this season. Hindered by a Hanley Ramirez error, Hernandez gave up three unearned runs in the second inning. Hernandez made the situation worse in the third inning, when he served up a two-run home run to Jedd Gyorko that increased the Padres’ lead to 5-0. Hernandez was charged with five hits and a walk. Hernandez was 1-1 with a 2.25 earned-run average in his first two starts with the Dodgers. Over his last four starts, he is 1-3 with a 6.38 ERA. Mattingly was forced to use five relievers, including Yimi Garcia and Kevin Correia, who each pitched two scoreless innings.
AT THE PLATE: The Dodgers scored their first runs against Padres fireballer Andrew Cashner in the sixth inning, when Adrian Gonzalez blasted a towering two-run home run that closed the deficit to 5-2. The home run was Gonzalez’s team-leading 23rd of the season, which bettered his total of 22 from last year. Matt Kemp followed with a double that extended his season-long hitting streak to 15 games. But Kemp never scored, as he ran into a grounder hit by Carl Crawford and was ruled out.
MEDICAL REPORT: Paco Rodriguez has pitched in only 13 games for the Dodgers this season, but remains hopeful he can be on the playoff roster. “That’s my main goal,” Rodriguez said. He first has to return from the disabled list. The 23-year-old left-hander said that could happen as early as this weekend. Rodriguez, who spent a significant part of the season with triple-A Albuquerque, has been sidelined since Aug. 5 with a strained back muscle. He said he recently made significant progress, as he threw a bullpen session Sunday and didn’t feel any discomfort the next day. Rodriguez will throw another bullpen session Wednesday. If Rodriguez emerges from that session without any problems, he said he will pitch to batters on Friday or Saturday. The simulated game could be his final test before he is activated.
EXTRA BASES: Clayton Kershaw was the Dodgers’ nominee for the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award, which recognizes on-field performance as well as community service. Fans can help select the league-wide winner by voting at mlbplayers.com through Friday at 9 p.m Double-A Chattanooga advanced to the Southern League championship series by beating Huntsville in the best-of-five semifinal series. Chattanooga will face Jacksonville in a best-of-five series, which will start Wednesday night.
UP NEXT: Dan Haren (12-10, 4.17) will face Ian Kennedy (10-12, 3.75) and the Padres at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday at 7 p.m. On the air: SportsNet LA. Radio: 570, 1020.
Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times
