The Los Angeles Dodgers again were outhit by the San Diego Padres but came away with a 5-4 win on Saturday night. L.A. kept pace with the San Francisco Giants and now have defeated San Diego in their last five head-to-head meetings.
Mired in a season-long slump and somewhat unexpectedly in the lineup, Cody Bellinger helped spark a two-run inning for the Dodgers by working a leadoff walk in the third. He then scored when Gavin Lux followed with an RBI double into left field.
Bellinger’s sprint around the bases was aided by Lux’s double taking a tricky hop that resulted in Tommy Pham overrunning the ball.
Mookie Betts began what became a big night with a sacrifice fly in the third.
After a Fernando Tatis Jr. two-run home run in the fourth inning tied the game, Chris Paddack ran into trouble in the fifth. Lux singled with two outs to improve to 2-for-2 on the night and Paddack compounded that by walking Walker Buehler on four pitches.
That prompted the Padres to bring in Craig Stammen, who immediately surrendered a three-run homer to Betts.
It gave the Dodgers a decided lead but the Padres did get to Blake Treinen in the eighth inning. His trouble was a bit self-inflicted as Adam Frazier was hit by a pitch to lead off, and he then stole second base.
Manny Machado cashed that in by poking an RBI single into center field, and he then moved into scoring position by swiping second base. Tatis added to Treinen’s troubles with a soft RBI single that cut the Dodgers’ lead to 5-4.
Treinen retired Eric Hosmer to get his first out, and Joe Kelly then struck out both batters faced to end the inning. Kenley Jansen entered in the ninth and converted a save for the second consecutive night.
Buehler held the Padres to just the two runs as he got through seven innings with five strikeouts.
Dodgers hope for Taylor’s return
Bellinger started Saturday because Chris Taylor was unable to play due to aggravating a lingering neck injury. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the hope was Taylor would return for the series finale.
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