The Los Angeles Dodgers began their last week of the regular season with a win on Tuesday, defeating the San Diego Padres, 6-3, at Petco Park. With the Atlanta Braves losing earlier in the night, the Dodgers were able to clinch the best record in the National League.
All eyes were on Rich Hill as he got the start and was looking to prove he is healthy and worthy of a roster spot come the postseason. Hill’s knee was causing him some pain, but he was able to fight through it to the tune of two shutout innings.
Hill struck out five, which gave him exactly 1,000 for his career. He also hit a double down the line in his only trip to the plate and came out healthy, so it was a solid night overall for the 39-year-old.
The Dodgers offense got an early run in the first on an infield single with the bases loaded by A.J. Pollock. It wasn’t until the fourth that they really broke through though.
With two outs in the inning, Will Smith drew a walk. Tony Gonsolin then followed with a single and Joc Pederson walked to load up the bases. Max Muncy stepped to the plate and did not waste any time, greeting reliever Gerardo Reyes with a grand slam to right field on the first pitch he threw.
Muncy had 35 home runs and 79 RBI in his first season with the Dodgers. He has followed up that campaign with 34 home runs and 96 RBI in 2019. Of all of those home runs though, Tuesday night’s was the first grand slam of his career.
Other than Muncy’s homer, the only other big swing of the night came off the bat of Joc Pederson in the ninth inning. He went the other way for a solo shot, his 33rd home run of the season as he continues to extend his career high.
That gave Kenley Jansen an extra insurance run to work with, although he did not need it, tossing a scoreless ninth to earn his 31st save of the season.
