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.
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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.
