The Los Angeles Dodgers took the field at Petco Park on Wednesday night with an opportunity to earn a series victory over the San Diego Padres, and even though it took 10 innings, they did exactly that, hanging on for a 6-4 win.
The Padres jumped out to an early lead after scoring two runs off Kenta Maeda in the first inning, but the Dodgers quickly answered with three runs of their own in the second.
Corey Seager drove in the first on a groundout, but the big hit came off the bat of Maeda. He helped his own cause with a two-run single up to bring home Kiké Hernandez and Chris Taylor. Maeda has a .261 batting average and six RBI this season, which are both among the league leaders for pitchers.
Maeda settled down on the mound after that rough opening frame and allowed just two hits and two runs in five innings, leaving with a 3-2 lead. “Kenta struggled with command and really grinded to get through five innings,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
“Didn’t have his best stuff but showed a lot to keep us in the ballgame and keep those guys at bay.”
The Dodgers’ lead held until the ninth inning, when Kenley Jansen blew another save to send the game to extra innings. Jansen now has seven blown saves on the season, which ties his career high.
The Dodgers offense picked him up by scoring two runs in the 10th inning off Padres All-Star closer Kirby Yates to regain the lead.
Hernandez got the rally started by working a two-out walk and then stealing second base. Russell Martin followed with a hard-hit one-hopper to Luis Urias at shortstop.
Urias made an outstanding pick to field the ball, but then airmailed the throw, allowing Hernandez to come around from second to score.
A.J. Pollock tacked on an insurance run with an RBI single up the middle, and Casey Sadler shut the door down in the bottom of the 10th to earn his first career save.
