The Dodgers dropped their first to the Astros in Houston and their second straight in a 4-1 loss.
Batting leadoff for the Dodgers, and going 0 for 5 with 4 K’s in his first big league game of the year, was Jason Repko. He was brought up to replace Juan Pierre, who was placed on the 15 day DL for the first time in his career for a sprained ligament in his left knee. The Dodgers managed to belt 11 hits but only scored one run in the first off James Loney’s sacfly to score Andre Ethier, who had doubled. That gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead but it was quickly swept away when the Astros tied it in the bottom half and went on to score three more while Roy Oswalt kept the Dodgers scoreless after the first.
Eric Stults took his first loss of the season, giving up four runs on five hits through 5 1/3. He allowed the Astros to tie it at 1 with a solo shot to Lance Berkman in the first. He then allowed the Astros to rally for three runs in the fourth to take the lead. Troncoso, Beimel, and Wade all relieved from the ‘pen but their one-hit combined effort wasn’t enough as the Dodgers couldn’t back them with any run support. The offense has put up just two runs in their last three games and has scored one run or none in five of their last seven.
The Dodgers look to get their bats going to tie the series in the second game on Tuesday. They send Clayton Kershaw to face Wandy Rodriguez. Kershaw is still in search of his first MLB win while Wandy is 3-3 with a 2.58 ERA and is 2-1 lifetime against the Dodgers.
