Steve Webb
Dodgers come back against Padres bullpen to win
The hometown Dodgers, on the verge of having a three game losing streak, had Trevor Bauer on the mound against a streaking Padres and Blake Snell. This was a re-match from last weekend ,when the Dodgers bullpen gave up a game. But this night was payback as the Dodger offence showed life and the relievers in the end slammed the door shut for a 5-4 win.
Down Early
Bauer faced Fernando Tatis, Jr. to start the game and the Padres slugger wasted no time continuing to hammer Dodger pitching. His lead off home run put the Padres up 1-0 and set the tone of the game. If awards were given out for running over first base backwards, with one eye covered, Fernando would appear to be the lone recipient. Hot Dog and not Dodger style with extra relish?
Dodger Starter Nicked for 2 ER
Tatis would later keep his home run hitting going in the sixth inning. He now has four home runs in the past two games, his second giving the Padres a 3-2 lead going into the Dodger half of inning number 6. Other than that, Trevor Bauer kept the Padre offence in check for the most part. Trevor was pulled for a pinch hitter after throwing 103 pitches, striking out 9 batters and giving up 2 earned runs. In the end he would get the win adding to his 3-0 start as a Dodger.
Blunder by Blake Leads to Tie
The bats showed a pulse on Saturday and drew blood in the bottom of the 3rd inning. With two out Betts, Seager and Turner all had singles and the Dodgers came within a run. Then again in the 4th inning it appeared Snell was in full melt down mode. Sheldon Neuse pounded a bouncing ball down the 3rd base line, Manny, run it out to first Machado, was screaming the play off but Snell picked it up and had no play. On review if Snell had let it roll out it would surely have gone foul. The blunder by Blake allowed a run to come in and the game was tied. Snell would continue his streak of not getting out of the 6th inning, being pulled after only 5-1/3, wonder what he thinks about his new team now?
Cue the Comeback
The Dodgers pulled ahead in the sixth started off by Neuse with a single. Chris Taylor and Matt Beaty followed with hits of their own, loading the bases for Mookie Betts. Mookie took a walk, forcing in a run and making it a 3-3 game. Then Corey Seager had the big hit of the inning driving in two more and the Dodgers pulled ahead 5-3. It would appear Seager has cracked his slump, collecting two RBI’s on the night.
Bullpen Drama
Just when you thought we got this, Victor Gonzales came in and was a tad wild. This forced Roberts to turn to Blake Treinen, clean up on aisle three! A single to Pham loaded the bases and with only one out, Blake uncorked a wild pitch allowing the Padres to get within a run, 5-4. His next pitch to Tatis was a thing of beauty and may have been the turning point, Tatis froze, knees buckling in the box. Blake would end the inning striking out both Padre hitters reserving the lead going into the eighth.
Bring on Kenley
Treinen started the 8th inning, but was unable to get the job done. A well-rested Kenley Jansen came in with two outs and two men on. The Padres, aggressive on the base paths, stole 2nd and 3rd base. With the go-ahead runners now in scoring position, Jansen threw an inside slider to Jurickson Profar inducing an inning-ending groundout to Edwin Rios at first. The Dodgers took a 5-4 lead into the ninth.
Earlier Saturday the Dodgers announced that come-back player of the year candidate, Corey Knebel will be out for “months”. We now need Jansen to be our CLOSER and his 2017 version please?
Jansen continued his rejuvenation throwing some frisbee like sliders and his inning toping 95 mph fastball was the third strike and final out of the game.
Sunday Finale
Looks like we exited this game without any bumps or bruises. The season series is now tied 3-3, with both teams taking two of three in their opponents’ ballpark. The game Sunday will have the Dodgers send out Dustin May (1-1, 2.93 ERA) against Joe Musgrove (2-2, 1.04 ERA). Note game time is LATE afternoon 4:08PM. ESPN exclusive, so we’ll have to suffer through A-rod. Sorry, folks. I’m just the messenger here.
