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“BROWN & GOLD-VS-THE BLUE”
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It was what I expected, but then again it was not what I really expected.

The Dodgers-Padres opening game of a 3-game series.

I expected it to be like a playoff atmosphere, and the 45, 678-fans who jammed Petco did not disappoint.

I expected Nick Pivetta to dominate, because he has pitched so dominantly at Petco Park.  Did not happen.

I expected Dustin May to get knocked around, and he did, but then he settled down and it became a very different game.

I expected the Dodgers to hit balls everywhere, and they did early, often going after Pivetta’s first pitches.  Obviously their analytics guys saw things on video they would exploit.

I did not expect May to settle down and grind his way thru 5-innings of solid pitching, exiting when it was 6-6.  He looks like a very different pitcher now, different delivery, more sidearm than before, and once he got his release point down, he was pretty strong.  2-elbow surgeries make you re-evaluate your mechanics.

I did not expect the Dodgers to play so poorly in the field.  A wild throw by Will Smith on a stolen base attempt.  A throwing error letting in another Padres run.  Teoscar Hernandez failing to get to a fly ball, then an ill advised dive, that led to a 3-run triple by Tyler Wade.

I never expected it to become a pitcher’s battle, bullpen battle, from the 5th inning on after the starters were chased either.  It did.

Of course there were typical situations you had to expect.

Pivetta was pulled after laboring for 93 pitchines in 4-innings.  And the Padres having to empty the bullpen much earlier than they wanted.

And the Dodgers kept running lefthanded relievers out there, showing how important this game was to them.  At one point they retired 14-Padres in a row

And the fans were in full throat, chanting Beat LA from the minute the lineup cards were exchanged.  And oohs and ahhs at the Ohtani swings and the Will Smith big swings and hits.  And then it was ‘Let’s Go Padres’ late in the game everytime LA threatened to rally.  It felt like an NFL playoff game.

It was an electric atmosphere, and there was  alot of Dodger colors  in the seats around the Friars fans wearing their colors.

Didn’t expect the managers to keep it ‘low key’ in their pregame meetings in the dugout with the media.  Great rivalry, but just counts as one game in June, not something as if it were October.  Sorry don’t buy ‘it’s just 1-of-162’.  They wound up managing it like it was sometime in postseason October.

And then it ended badly.  The Dodgers big bats rallied in the 10th.  The Padres, who had used their bullpen up early, lost.  And LA beat them again (8-7) to take a 2-game lead in the NL-West Standings.

Same as it always has been.  Dodgers beat the Padres.  Expected.
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