PRELIMINARY ROUND
Series #51
1978 San Diego Padres (84-78) vs 2011 Los Angeles Dodgers (82-79)
Quite a good team in 1978 in San Diego, maybe not a post season winner but a club that left alot of Hall of Fame talent on the field. The marquee names are Dave Winfield and Ozzie Smith who first of all were tow of the very best defensively at their positions. Of course Smith may have been the best player ever to put on a glove, and his 40 stolen bases make him a dynamic player in the lineup. Winfield showed off all his tools hitting .308 with 97 RBI and a 151 OPS+. Of all these stars, it was Gene Tenace who lead the team in WAR and walked over 100 times with a .392 OBP. Oscar Gamble added to the depth of the outfield as did Gene Richards who scored 90 runs to lead the team. The Padres as a unit were fabulous on defense and that asset helped the pitching staff. Gaylord Perry went 21-6 with a 2.73 ERA with an ERA plus of 121. Randy Jones didnt have the same luck but was also very solid in his outings with a 2.88 ERA and seven complete games. Helping establish the team ERA of 3.28 were Bob Owchinko and Eric Rasmussen who complete the rotation. In the pen was the dominant presence of Rollie Fingers who didnt deserve to lose 13 games but still managed 37 saves and a 2.52 ERA. Anyway you look at it, including their winning record, proves that this Padres club was quite good and could beat you in a number of ways.
Just a little north lie the Dodgers who also had a winning record in 2011. Twenty one year old Cleyton Kersahw won 21 games and was a prodigy at work from the left side striking out 248 batters with a 0.977 WHIP. Hiroki Kuroda and Ted Lilly were not quite that good, but helped maintain a good Dodger rotation although they combined for 30 losses and Lilly allowed 28 home runs, Chad Billingsly also made over 30 starts with a 4.21 ERA but he did have his bouts with wildness. Mike Macdougal and Kenly Jansen were both in set up roles begging off to the closer Javy Guerra who notched 21 saves. Matt Kemp was the star of the show and in some circles considered the best player in the game at this point. Kemp hit .324 with a .399 OBP and 39 home runs, not to mention his 40 stolen bases. Kemp could also go get it with the glove proving that all of his tools are legit. The remainder of the lineup was rather weak to be honest with Andre Eithier and James Loney some other bats that will try to support Kemp. Dee Grodon and Tony Gwynn Jr both stole over 20 bases but the team as a whole had an OBP of only .322. An evern matchup between two California teams in a series that most would say could go either way, but on strickly a talent basis, one would have to consider the Padres as the favorites.
Game 1 At San Diego Stadium
Clear 71
2011 Dodgers...................4
1978 Padres.....................3
WP: C. Kershaw (1-0) LP: G. Perry (0-1) S: J. Guerra (1)
HR: None
POG: Clayton Kershaw
2011 Dodgers lead series 1-0
A good opening win for the Dodgers who saw Clayton Kershaw strike out seven and not allow a hit until the 6th inning in his win. The Dodgers built a 4-0 lead thanks to four errors by the Padres but the home team did score 3 in the 8th to make the game interesting. Javy Guerra closed things out while Jamey Carroll and James Loney both had three hits in the win.
Game 2 At San Diego Stadium
Clear 70
2011 Dodgers.................7
1978 Padres...................2
WP: H. Kuroda (1-0) LP: R. Jones (0-1)
HR: None
POG: Hiroki Kuroda
2011 Dodgers lead series 2-0
The 78 Padres took an early first inning lead against the Dodgers and Hiroki Kuroda but Los Angeles stayed patient before they stormed back. In the 6th inning down one, James Loney and AJ Ellis both drove in runs with singles and a wild pitch by Randy Jones made it a 3 run inning. The Dodgers would add 3 more and Kiroda would settle down to go 8 innings walking none and allowing 4 hits in the win. LA is in complete control heading to their home park.
At Dodger Stadium
Clear 64
1978 Padres...................7
2011 Dodgers.................5
WP: B. Shirley (1-0) LP: C. Billingsly (0-1)
HR: M. Kemp (1)
POG: Bob Shirley
2011 Dodgers lead series 2-1
The 78 Padres were determined to make this a series and pull off the win in LA as starter Bob Shirley not only pitched 7 quality innings for the win but cleared the bases with a double in the 2nd. Gene Tenace and Dave Winfield each drove in two more and despite a late Dodger rally, the game was at hand for San Diego early in this one.
Game 4 At Dodger Stadium
Clear 70
1978 Padres.....................6
2011 Dodgers...................0
WP: B. Owchinko (1-0) LP: T. Lilly (0-1)
HR: None
POG: Bob Owchinko
Series tied at 2
The Dodgers this time played sloppy baseball with two errors capped by some silent bats as the road club wins again to even this series. Bob Owchinko was the man of the night throwing 8 innings of shutout ball striking out 10 batters on seven hits. Now Clayton Kershaw and Gaylord Perry face off in an even series game five.
At Dodger Stadium
Clear 64
1978 Padres......................4
2011 Dodgers....................1 (12 inn)
WP: D. Spillner (1-0) LP: M. Guerrier (0-1)
HR: D. Winfield (2), T. Ashford (1), R. Furcal (1)
POG: Gaylord Perry
1978 Padres lead series 3-2
It was all the game you would expect as Kershaw and Perry battled into the late innings with a 1-1 score. Rollie Fingers came on for the Padres and pitched 3 perfect innings while the Dodger pen held on as well in what became a tense affair. Into the 12th with two outs and two on, pinch hitter Tucker Ashford launched a 3-2 pitch over the left field wall for three runs and the Padres broke Dodger hearts again winning all three games in LA. Can San Diego close out the series?
Game 6 At San Diego Stadium
64 clear
2011 Dodgers.....................5
1978 Padres.......................0
WP: H. Kuroda (2-0) LP: R. Jones (0-2)
HR: None
POG: Hiroki Kuroda
Series tied at 3
No celebrations tonight in San Diego as the Dodgers lead by Hiroki Kuroda shut out the Padres and force a game seven. It was the second great start by Kuroda who walked only one and struck out seven in the complete nine. In 17 innings Kuroda has allowed only 2 earned runs. Tony Gwynn went 2-4 and Andre Eithier drove in two runs as LA didnt need much to secure this win. The even series now comes down to one dramatic game.
Game 7 At San Diego Stadium
Clear 63
2011 Dodgers........................0
1978 Padres..........................1 (10 inn)
WP: D. Spillner (2-0) LP: J. Guerra (0-1)
HR: None
POG: Bob Shirley
Seems as if nothing could seperate these two teams, and as Dave Winfield stepped up in the 10th inning, a wonderful scoreless game seven had played itself out. Winfield lined a drive down the right field line and Gene Richards raced all the way around third and beat the relay throw at the plate on a close play to close out the series. A great finish to a great game where Chad Billingsley and Bob Shirley were excellent in keeping their teams in it and San Diego especially left 9 men on the bases. One of the best series we have seen so far, hard to think one could get more tight.
1978 San Diego Padres Win Series 4 games to 3
Series MVP:
Dave Winfield
(.290, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2 SB, 5 R, 2 outfield assists, walk off game seven)