At Dodger Stadium on Friday night, the Padres and Dodgers began a three-game series. San Diego began the evening in first place, one game ahead of their longtime rivals, in a significant role flip. That lead was taken Wednesday night by the Friars.
The duration was brief. A cunning veteran gave Los Angeles a strong start, and they managed to hold on for a 3-2 victory, regaining their first-place tie with San Diego, which effectively places them at the top of the division because they presently have the tiebreaker (based on head-to-head record).
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One of the Padres’ trade deadline pickups allowed them to go on the board first. Ramon Laureano hit a solo home run off Clayton Kershaw in the second inning, blasting it into the left field seats with 106 mph. San Diego’s issue is that the future Hall of Famer only managed one additional hit in 6.0 innings pitched on 76 frugal pitches.
San Diego captain Mike Shildt attempted a little deception with his pitching staff after planned starter Michael King was placed on the Injured List due to a knee injury. Randy Vasquez was anticipated to be on the mound after being called up from Triple-A El Paso. Rather, Wandy Peralta, a left-handed reliever, made his second major league start and was excellent, striking out all four batters he faced.
Peralta was replaced by Vasquez, who ended the second inning by punching out the next two L.A. hitters after striking out Freddie Freeman to begin the inning. However, he encountered difficulties on the third. To load the bases with no one out, Vasquez let up three consecutive singles, the final one being a bunt attempt by Miguel Rojas that brushed off the glove of a diving Manny Machado. Mookie Betts added a run on a sacrifice fly after Shohei Ohtani grounded out to give the Dodgers a 2-1 edge.
Teoscar Hernandez lofted a single missile to centerfield off Jeremiah Estrada in the seventh inning to give Los Angeles another run, making it 3-1. The eighth inning was San Diego’s best scoring opportunity.
Alex Vesia, a reliever, hit Jake Cronenworth and Jose Iglesias, hitting two batters in an inning for the first time. Vesia walked Fernando Tatis Jr. to load the bases with one out after Freddy Fermin lay down a perfect sacrifice bunt. Iglesias was brought in by Luis Arraez with a sac fly, but the threat was neutralized when Manny Machado popped out to Betts at shortstop.
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In what should be a spectacular pitching contest on Saturday, the Padres attempt to regain the division lead. Former Friar Blake Snell is facing up against Dylan Cease.
