SAN DIEGO — Just one significant hit and a series of solid at-bats were enough for the Dodgers to secure a 4-2 victory over the Padres on Sunday afternoon at Petco Park.
With the score even in the top of the fifth and an important mid-season game on the line, the Dodgers delivered the kind of big innings they believe characterize their offense.
They demonstrated sharp plate discipline against Padres star Michael King, capitalizing on the one error he made in the strike zone.
The inning started with three free passes—walks issued to Alex Freeland and Shohei Ohtani, along with a hit by Andy Pages.
Then came former MVPs Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts, who displayed their expertise at the plate.
Freeman endured a nine-pitch duel with King, fouling off several pitches, including one that nearly hit Betts in the on-deck circle. Ultimately, he worked a walk off a changeup that seemed to catch the corner but wasn’t appealed by the Padres’ catcher or pitcher.
Betts then stepped up, initially struggling with three pitches that led to a strikeout. But he quickly turned things around, hitting a two-run single through the middle after waiting for a good pitch.
The Dodgers held onto their lead for the remainder of the game, with Emmett Sheehan allowing just one run in the fifth inning, followed by a tense performance from the bullpen.
Though the Padres had opportunities to come back, having potential tying runners in both the sixth and eighth innings, and with Fernando Tatis Jr. hitting a tying single in the ninth with one out, they failed to replicate the Dodgers’ success from the fifth inning. This highlighted the disparity in the game, series, and standings in the National League West.
What it means
Even after the Padres won the opener on Friday, reducing their deficit to eight games, the Dodgers still looked secure in their division lead heading into this week’s series.
However, having won their second series against the Padres this year, that ten-game advantage is beginning to feel insurmountable.
Of course, half the season remains. The Padres will visit Dodger Stadium next week for a four-game series. But given the Dodgers’ performance against the Padres thus far, it’s hard to envision the division race becoming close again.
Who is hot
California Post columnist Dylan Hernandez focused on Betts’ recent excellent play, including a two-run hit during the fifth inning. But I want to shine a spotlight on Freeland, who has struggled to hit lately—he’s batting .182 and has just two extra-base hits in his last 21 games—but played a role in kickstarting the Dodgers’ scoring surge on Sunday.
In the third inning, Freeland produced a go-ahead single to left, followed by scoring on Ohtani’s RBI home run after a sacrifice bunt from Chuckie Robinson. He then reached base again in the fifth inning with a walk off King, marking the sixth time this month he’s reached safely two times in a game.
This performance could not have come at a better moment for the second-year utility player, who is possibly on the roster bubble with Teoscar Hernández expected to join the team soon.
Outfielder Ryan Ward may be the one optioned out to create space for Hernández, but Freeland’s reminder of his value could significantly help his cause amid this roster dilemma.
Who is not?
Pages seems to be the latest casualty of the Dodgers’ woes in the two-hole. After going hitless in three at-bats on Sunday (along with two hit-by-pitches), he’s struggling with a .208 batting average this month and has often batted second in the order.
The Dodgers have already shifted Kyle Tucker and Betts down in the lineup, but no players in that two-spot seem to be thriving at this point in the season.
To the next
The Dodgers will be traveling to Sacramento for their first visit this week, starting a three-game series against the Athletics, who continue to play at the Giants’ Triple-A park on Monday. Manager Dave Roberts indicated before the game that Eric Lauer (3 wins, 5 losses, 4.87 ERA) is set to start but will not be the opening pitcher; he’ll face rookie lefty Gage Jump (3-1, 2.04 ERA).
