The Los Angeles Dodgers were able to earn their third-straight victory Tuesday night, defeating the San Diego Padres, 7-3, in 12 innings to improve to 7-9 on the season. It’s their first three-game winning streak of the season.
The victory was not an easy one though, as All-Star closer Kenley Jansen was not able to hold a two-run lead in the ninth inning, blowing his second save of the season. Luckily for Jansen and the Dodgers, he got some help from his defense to send the game to extra innings.
While the Padres eventually scored, Chris Taylor prevented Jansen from surrendering a second home run as he went back to the fence in center field and made a leaping catch to rob Christian Villanueva of a game-tying home run.
Taylor flashed remarkable instincts and some of the skill set and versatility that had him as a utility player before emerging as an everyday center fielder last season.
Chris. Taylor.
Just watch. #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/1VQwA3QuLH
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 18, 2018
After a couple innings of the bats staying quiet, the Dodgers’ hottest hitter this season, Yasmani Grandal, changed that in the top of the 12th.
With runners at the corners and one out, Grandal ripped a double down the left-field line, scoring both runners and giving the Dodgers a 5-3 lead. A couple batters later, Kyle Farmer followed suit, hitting a two-run double of his own to effectively put the game out of reach.
The Dodgers first three runs of the game all came courtesy of Matt Kemp, as he homered for the second straight night. This time it was a two-run shot to center field in the first inning. He then hit a sacrifice fly in his third at-bat.
So far in the first two games of this series, the Dodgers have scored 17 runs, with 13 of them being driven in by former Padres who were once traded for each other in Kemp and Grandal.
