The Los Angeles Dodgers entered play Sunday with 106 wins against the San Diego Padres since 2011, which marked most in the Majors versus a single opponent, and while they added to the total, it took more late-game heroics at Dodger Stadium.
Well before the lead would change hands on multiple occasions, Max Muncy gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead in the second inning with a solo home run off Padres standout rookie Chris Paddack. Russell Martin added a two-run homer before Paddack could get through the inning.
The home run was Martin’s first at Dodger Stadium since doing so as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 29, 2014. Furthermore, it marked a second time in three games against Paddack the Dodgers tagged the young righty for a pair of home runs.
Kenta Maeda failed to make it through the third inning as he allowed five runs and put the Dodgers in a deficit in the blink of an eye. San Diego extended their lead to 6-3 in the fourth inning.
The Dodgers tied the game in the bottom of the fourth and took a lead on A.J. Pollock’s solo home run in the seventh. However, the Padres answered back with two runs in each the seventh and eighth innings.
The Dodgers cut into their deficit in the eighth, which helped set the stage for their walk-off win. The rally began in some part with Joc Pederson snapping an 0-for-24 skid with a leadoff double.
Though, Eric Hosmer, who hit a grand slam off Maeda, alertly fielded a grounder on the next play and threw to third base to cut down Pederson. With Alex Verdugo now on first, a ground ball to second base and what appeared to be a potential game-ending double play, was booted.
Seager reaching safely put two on for Muncy, who ended an eight-pitch at-bat by pulling a two-run double down the right-field line. Muncy finished 4-for-5 and a triple shy of hitting for the cycle.
Verdugo scored easily and Seager raced around the bases for a head-first slide into home plate. He appeared to land awkwardly but assured his health was in good standing.
The walk-off win was the Dodgers’ ninth this season, good for most in the Majors.
