Rich Hill became the latest who failed to solve Manny Machdo, but the end result was all the same for the Los Angeles Dodgers as they once again came from behind in a back-and-forth affair to defat the San Diego Padres, 7-6, guaranteeing a series win at Petco Park.
Machado provided the Padres with a lead in the first inning for a second consecutive night, though this time was limited to a solo home run. Machado’s second homer of the game was a two-run shot that gave the Padres a 3-1 lead.
It marked the first time Machado produced back-to-back games with a home run since doing so for the Dodgers last September. Coincidentally, it came at the expense of the Padres.
Hill’s inefficiency and lack of feel for the curveball cut his start to just four-plus innings. He exited with two on and two out, and was backed by Pedro Baez inducing Machado into a double play followed by another groundout to end the threat.
That proved key as the Dodgers chased Joey Lucchesi in the sixth and went on for a five-run inning. The big hit came from Max Muncy, with his three-run homer giving the Dodgers aa 4-3 lead.
Brad Wieck’s troubles continued as Alex Verdugo doubled and Chris Taylor singled. The hit improved Verdugo to 3-for-3 on the night, and gave Taylor a second single, his first scoring a run to tie the game in the second inning.
Matt Beaty’s pinch-hit single extended the Dodgers’ lead to 5-3 and earned him his first career RBI. Justin Turner followed a walk that loaded the bases by beating out a potential double play, driving in another run for the Dodgers.
The insurance they managed to push across was necessary in that it ensured the Dodgers didn’t face another deficit when the Padres mounted a rally of their own. Joe Kelly only retired one of five batters faced, allowing an RBI double and exiting with the bases loaded.
One pitch after nearly giving up a bases-clearing double, Yimi Garcia hit Ian Kinsler in the wrist. Garcia bounced back to strike out Franmil Reyes but by putting Kinsler on, it created an opportunity for Machado, who walked to tie the game before the sixth inning came to a close.
The Dodgers broke the tie in the ninth by loading the bases against Kirby Yates, who lost control after following Turner’s leadoff single by striking out a pair. Yates then walked Muncy, hit Russell Martin to load the bases, and walked Verdugo to bring in the go-ahead run.
Kenley Jansen retired Machado to start the bottom of the ninth and worked around a walk to convert the save opportunity.
