The Los Angeles Dodgers swept the San Diego Padres with a 4-0 win in front of a national audience for ESPN Sunday Night Baseball. Tyler Anderson went seven scoreless innings and Cody Bellinger helped lead the offense with two home runs.
Bellinger’s big night began with a solo home run off Yu Darvish in the third inning to give L.A. a 1-0 lead. Mookie Betts followed with a double for his second hit of the game and was nearly stranded before Freddie Freeman went to the opposite field for a two-out RBI single.
Juan Soto was mic’d up for the Sunday Night Broadcast when Bellinger hit his home run, and attempted to coax it into staying by shouting, “Stay here. Stay here. Stay here,” though to no avail.
Those were the only two runs Darvish allowed over his six innings of work. However, the Dodgers have now handed the right-hander two of his five losses this season.
"It did not stay here." pic.twitter.com/8mb8usJuE7
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 7, 2022
Belli is two good. pic.twitter.com/pxZJxslJ5F
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 8, 2022
The @Dodgers win their 8th straight and this fan gets a gift from Mookie.
Not a bad night at the ballpark. pic.twitter.com/EL1iBXx4Aa
— MLB (@MLB) August 8, 2022
With the Dodgers still only ahead 2-0, Bellinger went to nearly the identical location in left-center field for a solo homer off Luis García in the seventh inning.
The multi-homer game was Bellinger’s 15th of his career and second this season. Both this year have come against the Padres, with the first occurring at Petco Park on April 24.
Bellinger additionally became the first No. 9 batter in the Dodgers lineup to hit two home runs in a single game since Darren Dreifort did so on Aug. 8, 2000.
Freeman then collected his second RBI base hit of the game before García could get through the inning.
Mookie Betts, Freeman, Max Muncy and Bellinger tied for the game lead with two hits each. Betts also made a young fan’s day by gifting him a bat prior to the ninth inning beginning.
Dodgers shut down Padres
Tyler Anderson led the way Sunday with seven shutout innings, and San Diego mustered just four runs during the series.
Juan Soto, Manny Machado, Josh Bell and Brandon Drury went a combined 6-for-38 (.158) with eight strikeouts over the three games.
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