The Los Angeles Dodgers were unable to get back on track as Clayton Kershaw surrendered two home runs in a 3-2 loss to the San Diego Padres.
The Padres again took a lead in the first inning as Jake Cronenworth connected on a two-run home run for a second consecutive night. Kershaw managed to keep San Diego off the board and held them to two baserunners for the next three innings.
That changed with one out in the fifth when Ha-Seong Kim golfed a low 0-2 curveball for a solo home run that extended the Padres’ lead to 3-0 and ultimately proved to be the difference.
Kershaw’s night came to an end after six innings, with the three runs allowed on four hits and two walks. If there was a silver lining, he finished with seven strikeouts.
Kershaw was outdueled by Blake Snell despite the Padres starter fighting a high pitch count throughout the night. Snell stranded a pair in the first inning and worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth. The Dodgers left two more on base the following inning.
Snell turned in five scoreless innings and collected five strikeouts to help offset four hits and three walks.
Like in the series opener, the Dodgers had a chance to rally against a Padres bullpen that saw two relief pitchers make their MLB debuts. L.A. loaded the bases with nobody out in the eighth inning, but only scratched across one run. It came on a weakly hit grounder to third base that Manny Machado fielded, tagged Justin Turner and threw to second for a double play.
Austin Barnes pulled the Dodgers closer with a pinch-hit home run in the ninth inning and Chris Taylor singled with two outs, but Mark Melancon completed the save.
Dodgers trying to avoid sweep
The Dodgers have already lost their first series since dropping two of three to the Atlanta Braves from June 4-6, and now look to avoid being swept, which last happened against the Chicago Cubs in May.
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