The Los Angeles Dodgers proved to be the exception against Chris Paddack, slugging two home runs and four extra base-hits against the rookie sensation to defeat the San Diego Padres, 6-3. Pederson was responsible for the first homer, giving him 100 in his career.
It also gave Pederson the MLB lead for most home runs off a right-hander this season with 13. His two-run blast gave the Dodgers a lead, and Cody Bellinger’s line drive extended to 4-1 before Paddack could get out of the third inning. The homer was Bellinger’s first since April 28.
Chris Taylor’s RBI single cashed in a Corey Seager double in the fourth inning, and Bellinger’s RBI groundout brought Max Muncy home two batters after he doubled in the fifth. That marked the end of the road for Paddack at 4.2 innings in what was his second-shortest start.
He entered having allowed just three doubles and two home runs all season, and not more than three runs in any of his previous seven starts.
While it was an outlier of a night for the right-hander, some troubling tendencies remained true for Clayton Kershaw. He surrendered at least one home run in a third consecutive start and a fifth time in six outings.
Furthermore, Franmil Reyes’ solo shot was the third first-inning homer Kershaw surrendered this season. Manny Machado later clobbered a 90 mph fastball that was left over the plate for a two-run home run that went more than halfway up the pavilion in left field.
The home run was Machado’s second off Kershaw this season and ran the left-hander’s season total to seven longballs allowed thus far in 2019. Although Machado cut the Dodgers’ lead to 4-3, their response of two runs assisted Kershaw in getting through seven innings.
So too was Kershaw retiring 9 of the next 10 batters after Machado’s home run; his two-out single in the sixth represented the Padres’ only baserunner during that span. Eric Hosmer led off the seventh with a single, was erased on a double play, then Kershaw picked up a strikeout.
The Dodgers remained undefeated in Kershaw’s starts this season, improving to 6-0. Their 28 wins pace the National League and are tied with the Houston Astros for most in baseball.
