With struggle an early theme on both sides of the foul lines and into each dugout, the Padres and Dodgers were set for a three-game set. Hyun-Jin Ryu would go for LA and Robbie Erlin, a struggling 27-year-old southpaw, would oppose him.
The game started with polar-opposite results for each end. For Ryu, quick innings. Outside of a messy second frame in which he surrendered two runs, the South Korean native was cleaning up the Padre batters one after another. For Erlin, disaster. The first inning was scoreless, the second inning saw one run score and the third inning of work for the San Diego starter was his last.