The Los Angeles Dodgers took out some of their early-season frustration on the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Monday night, coming away with a 10-3 victory to improve to 6-9 on the season.
Hyun-Jin Ryu made his third start and turned in his second straight solid outing, giving up three hits and two runs in six innings. He finished with nine strikeouts against zero walks. Ryu has struck out 17 and issued just one walk in his last 12 innings pitched.
The only runs Ryu allowed Monday night came on a two-run shot by third baseman Chris Villanueva. The homer was Villanueva’s third in as many games. The Dodgers got those runs back immediately in the top of the third though, putting a five-spot on the board.
Chris Taylor and Corey Seager both reached via error to begin the inning, and Kiké Hernandez and Cody Bellinger followed with back-to-back singles. Matt Kemp capped off the rally by taking it to his former team with a three-run home run.
While the five-running gave them a decided lead, the Dodgers bats largely went quiet from there. That was until the ninth inning when Yasmani Grandal stepped to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded.
Grandal quickly fell behind in the count, 0-2, but went opposite field for a third career grand slam that put the game well out of reach.
The home run was Grandal’s third this season, which ties him with Taylor for the team lead. Grandal and Kemp, once traded for each other, combined for eight RBI in the Dodgers’ 10-3 win against their old team.
Grandal’s grand slam was more than just insurance, as Scott Alexander allowed a run and induced Carlos Asuaje into a game-ending double play. Had Grandal not provided that separation, Asuaje would’ve represented the tying run at the plate.
