A game that saw multiple momentum changes ultimately swung on Max Muncy hitting a walk-off double to give the Los Angeles Dodgers an 11-10 victory and series win against the San Diego Padres.
The Dodgers’ rally in some part began when Joc Pederson snapped an 0-for-24 skid with a leadoff double. Though, he was then thrown out by Eric Hosmer, which allowed Alex Verdugo to reach.
Hosmer’s heads-up play was undone by an error on the next play, as it set the stage for Muncy’s walk-off double.
Prior to Julio Urias failing to protect a lead, it appeared the Dodgers had stolen late control in a game that saw multiple lead changes. A.J. Pollock’s home run broke a 6-6 tie and gave the Dodgers a sixth consecutive game with at least one.
Before Pollock’s blast, the Dodgers took their first lead on Max Muncy’s solo home run in the second inning. Then with two outs, Russell Martin went the other way for a two-run homer. Sunday marked L.A.’s second time in three meetings against Chris Paddack they slugged a pair of home runs.
The 3-0 lead was quickly coughed up as Kenta Maeda failed to make it through the third inning. A leadoff double was cashed in on Paddack’s RBI single, and a single and walk later loaded the bases with two outs.
Eric Hosmer’s grand slam put the Padres ahead and Hunter Renfroe’s single knocked Maeda out of the game. Adam Kolarek retired the only batter faced, but Yimi Garcia surrendered a leadoff home run in the fourth that put the Dodgers in a 6-3 hole.
They erased that in the bottom of the fourth and were sparked by Matt Beaty’s flare skimming off Manny Machado’s glove and landing in shallow left field for an RBI double. Kristopher Negrón followed with a two-run single to tie the game.
After two scoreless innings out of the bullpen, Urias hurt his cause with a throwing error to start the seventh. An inconsistent strike zone contributed to a walk, and Machado promptly tied the game with an RBI single.
The Padres then took the lead for good on Hosmer’s sacrifice fly, and extended by scoring two insurance runs off JT Chargois in the eighth.
They proved necessary as the Dodgers answered back with runs on Pollock’s double and Justin Turner’s groundout. Will Smith pinch-hit with two outs and two on but came up short in a quest to add to his growing résumé of late-game heroics.
