Yasiel Puig’s late arrival for batting practice was just the first thing to go wrong for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Dodgers were pummeled 8-4 by the San Francisco Giants in their first home game of the 2014 season, the Giants striking for eight runs against the Dodgers’ South Korean starter Ryu Hyun-Jin in the first two innings.
Ryu was tagged for six earned runs on eight hits and walked three in his rough outing.
Four relievers combined to pitch seven innings of no-hit ball, but the damage was done.
The Dodgers were playing in front of their home fans for the first time this season after going 4-1 in games in Australia — against the Arizona Diamondbacks — and San Diego.
The festive atmosphere at Dodger Stadium was dampened a bit by the absence of young star Puig, who was benched by manager Don Mattingly after turning up late for pre-game batting practice.
The Dodgers activated outfielder Matt Kemp from the disabled list before the game to replace Puig in the lineup.
Mattingly said he thought Puig’s tardiness was the result of a genuine misunderstanding, not a disregard for team rules.
“I think he truly thought the game was later,” Mattingly said. “He handled it well.”
But the Dodgers were in trouble early.
Ryu, who hadn’t allowed a run in his two prior starts this season, retired the first two batters he faced before the Dodgers defense imploded, allowing six runs in the first inning.
After Ryu walked Pablo Sandoval and gave up a double to Buster Posey, Mike Morse hit a two-run single.
Two bloop singles and an infield pop-up that was mishandled by the Dodgers let the Giants stretch their lead and Angel Pagan’s single — after Ryu intentionally walked Joaquin Arias to load the bases — made it 6-0 after one inning.
The Giants added two more two-out runs in the second.
The Dodgers steadied and — aided by back-to-back home runs from Adrian Gonzalez and Andre Ethier in the fourth inning — trimmed the deficit, but they finished 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
“(Ryu) gave up some hits, but we didn’t help him much,” Mattingly said.