The Los Angeles Dodgers opened a four-game series with the San Diego Padres and found themselves trailing late, but came back with a five-run eighth inning, and nine total runs in the final three innings, to earn an 10-5 victory.
The Padres nearly opened the game with a bang as Ha-Seong Kim singled and Fernando Tatís Jr. blasted a ball to deep center field, but James Outman jumped at the wall to make the catch, taking away two runs from San Diego.
After robbing the Padres of their two-run homer, the James Outman Show continued as he gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead with a solo home run in the second inning.
Bobby Miller dealt with traffic throughout the night, but he was able to get out of it each time until the fourth inning. A single from Xander Bogaerts, a walk from Ji-Man Choi and another single from Luis Campusano tied the game.
Miller’s night came to an end after getting a force out, and Joe Kelly was called on to pitch. With runners at the corners, the Padres took a 2-1 lead on a passed ball off Will Smith’s glove before Kelly retired Kim to end the threat.
It was far from an ideal outing for Miller, who ended his day with just 3.2 innings pitched, giving up two runs, one earned, on six hits with one walk while only striking out three, and nearly giving up the homer to Tatís if not for Outman’s incredible catch.
Alex Vesia took over in the sixth inning and quickly fell into some trouble, walking a batter and hitting one. That was followed by a single that put the Padres up 3-1, but he was able to limit the damage to one run.
David Peralta opened the seventh with a double, and he came around to score when Outman hit an infield single to drive in his second run of the game, cutting the Padres’ lead to 3-2. Outman then stole second base, but he was left stranded in scoring position.
The Dodgers rallied in the eighth inning when Kiké Hernandez singled and Mookie Betts walked. Freddie Freeman and Smith were unable to capitalize, but with two outs, Peralta doubled for the second time in the night to tie the game at three.
The Padres then intentionally walked Jason Heyward to load the bases, and they followed that by unintentionally walking Chris Taylor to give the Dodgers a 4-3 lead. J.D. Martinez pinch-hit for Outman, and he drew a second-consecutive bases loaded walk, putting L.A. up 5-3.
Then for good measure, Amed Rosario singled to drive in two more, giving the Dodgers a five-run inning and giving them a 7-3 lead.
Caleb Ferguson began the bottom of the eighth inning and recorded two outs, but he also allowed three runners to reach and gave up a run before Evan Phillips was called on to record the final four outs.
Phillips ended up recording the save, but not before the Dodgers added three more runs in the ninth inning, courtesy of a double from Smith, a sac fly from Peralta, and a base hit from Taylor. Juan Soto also hit a solo shot off Phillips the ninth, but the game was all but over at that point.
Dodgers activated Ryan Yarbrough
Prior to the game, the Dodgers optioned Emmet Sheehan and activated Ryan Yarbrough, three days after he was acquired from the Kansas City Royals.
Yarbrough went 4-5 with 4.24 ERA, 4.29 FIP and 1.19 WHIP over 14 games (seven starts) with the Royals this season. He moved into their rotation at the end of April and has gone 4-3 with a 3.08 ERA, 3.67 FIP and 1.13 WHIP in his seven starts.
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