Dodgers to play in renovated Petco Park and other pregame notes
SAN DIEGO – With the Padres playing their home opener Tuesday, the Dodgers will be the first team to hit in Petco Park since it was renovated over the off-season.
Long considered one of baseball’s most pitcher-friendly parks, Petco Park is not as cavernous as it used to be.
The wall that runs from right field to right center was brought in 11 feet. The wall in left-center was also moved in. The parts of right-center and left-center that were 402 feet away from home plate are now 391 and 390 feet away, respectively.
“It’s still going to be a pitchers’ park,” Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly said.
Luis Cruz is out of the Dodgers’ lineup for the second consecutive game, but not because he’s hitless in 17 at-bats this season, according to Mattingly. Taking Cruz’s place on Tuesday will be Juan Uribe, who is 10 for 26 with two home runs in his career against San Diego Padres starter Clayton Richard. If not for Uribe’s numbers against Richard, Mattingly said he would have started Cruz.
- Other notes: Ted Lilly is scheduled to continue his minor league rehabilitation assignment with triple-A Albuquerque on Wednesday.… In his first four games with double-A Chattanooga, spring sensation Yasiel Puig is batting .538 with a home run, three runs batted in, three runs scored, three walks and a steal. He has a Babe Ruth-like OPS of 1.471. … A.J. Ellis turned 32 years old.
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