The Los Angeles Dodgers flexed their muscles to earn a come from behind 11-9 win over the San Diego Padres, hitting five of their six home runs in the final two innings of Wednesday’s matchup at Dodger Stadium.
The rally began when Mookie Betts hit a solo shot to lead off the seventh. The following inning started in a similar fashion as Max Muncy and AJ Pollock went back-to-back to trim the Padres’ lead to one.
After Chris Taylor was retired, Cody Bellinger tied the game with a line-drive homer to right field. Justin Turner then followed with a pinch-hit double before Corey Seager capped off the comeback with a game-winning two-run home run.
Seager finished the night with a team-high three hits and three RBI in five at-bats. He has swung a hot bat since returning from the 60-day injured list in late July, hitting .314/.404/.539 with nine home runs and 31 RBI over 54 games.
“Corey’s playing fantastic baseball across the board, first and foremost,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I think he’s been in playoff mode for, call it four weeks, so I think that’s kind of enhanced his play.
“When you get guys that play every single day, it gets to be a grind when you’re not mixing and matching like we have done in years past. Corey, for me, as far as everyday players, has really separated himself and so now it’s kind of on everyone else to follow that lead.”
Seager’s current hot streak has drawn comparisons to his performance in the 2020 postseason when he earned National League Championship Series and World Series MVP honors.
“Corey’s been in playoff mode for quite some time and he’s led the charge offensively as far as consistency of at-bat,” Roberts answered when asked if Seager’s current stretch reminds him of last year’s playoffs.
“It was nice to see other guys kind of follow that lead. Corey is a special player. When he’s staying in the strike zone like he has been, he’s in elite company.”
Seager, Dodgers make MLB history
The Dodgers’ eighth inning comeback against the Padres not only was memorable, but also historic. According to STATS LLC, L.A. became the first team in MLB history to hit back-to-back home runs, and later game-tying and game-winning blasts all in the same inning.
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