The Los Angeles Dodgers put an end to their three-game losing streak behind a 12-1 win over the San Diego Padres to set the stage for a rubber match in the series finale that’s going to be a national broadcast for ESPN Sunday Night Baseball.
Mookie Betts provided an early spark for the Dodgers on a fly ball to right field that dropped in front of Juan Soto on his diving attempt and rolled to the wall for a leadoff triple. Trea Turner, back in the lineup after a night of rest, followed with a two-run home run.
Will Smith extended the Dodgers’ lead in the third inning with a double that scored Freddie Freeman from first base, and Mookie Betts broke the game open in the fourth with a three-run homer. That gave Betts a new career high with 33 this season and tied Joc Pederson for the Dodgers franchise record for most home runs from the leadoff spot.
Justin Turner extended his hitting streak to 13 games and chased Sean Manaea with a two-run homer in the fifth inning. The Dodgers have scored 23 runs (22 earned) in just 12.2 innings against Manaea this season.
Going to the bullpen did not prove much more beneficial for the Padres, as Freeman hit an RBI single in the sixth inning and Smith followed with a three-run homer.
Urías leads Dodgers pitching
Julio Urías began his night with a four-pitch walk but settled in from there to get through six innings with just one run allowed. That came on a homer surrendered to Manny Machado, who ambushed the first pitch he saw in the sixth when the game was well in hand.
Urías has allowed one or fewer runs in eight of his last nine starts, and gone 8-1 with a 1.13 ERA during that stretch.
Blake Treinen retired the side in order in his first appearance since April, and Craig Kimbrel continued to excel with “Let it Go” from Disney’s “Frozen” as his entrance song.
Hanser Alberto extended his MLB record for appearances by a non-pitcher by taking the mound in the ninth for his second back-to-back of the season.
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