The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres were expected to play a competitive series in their first matchup after the trade deadline, but the results so far have remained lopsided in favor of the team in first place of the National League West.
Will Smith gave the Dodgers an early lead in the first inning with a solo home run. He then drove in another in the third inning with a single that allowed Mookie Betts to score, putting L.A. up 2-0.
However, that lead disappeared in the fourth inning due in large part to errors by Max Muncy and Gavin Lux. The Padres also began to make solid contact off Andrew Heaney and scored three unearned runs to pull ahead.
That was all Heaney allowed over 4.2 innings of work as he lowered his season ERA to 0.64 across six starts.
Will Smith, a ray of sunshine. pic.twitter.com/FLl1COVZ9s
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 7, 2022
Do you think Mookie’s excited? 😂 pic.twitter.com/qURb0wnZIO
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 7, 2022
MAX FOR THE LEAD! pic.twitter.com/QpDua0UHCo
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 7, 2022
The Padres lead was short-lived. Mookie Betts singled to open the fifth and stole second base before Smith was hit by a pitch. Then with two outs, Muncy made up for his error earlier in the game with a three-run homer to give L.A. a 5-3 lead.
Freddie Freeman and Smith gave L.A. some extra insurance with sacrifice flies in the seventh, putting the Dodgers up 7-3.
Then for good measure in the eighth inning, Cody Bellinger drove in the Dodgers’ eighth run of the game with a double to the right-center field gap, allowing Lux to score.
Following Heaney, the Dodgers’ bullpen combined to pitch 4.1 scoreless innings while giving up just two hits.
The win also increased the Dodgers’ lead in the National League West to 14.5 games and took their winning streak to seven games.
Dodgers believe Clayton Kershaw in ‘best-case scenario’ with back injury
While losing Clayton Kershaw to the 15-day injured list isn’t ideal, the Dodgers received positive news on their left-hander after he underwent an MRI. “I think there wasn’t any new findings, so that’s a positive,” Dodgers manager Roberts said.
“Obviously, where he’s at, the symptoms, we put him on the IL, so it’s rest it and reset. This was a best-case scenario coming from the MRI. I’m sure you guys will talk to Clayton and he’ll probably have more definitive insight.
“All I know is that it was a pretty positive result and we’re all encouraged.”
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