The Los Angeles Dodgers started their road trip on a season-best six-game winning streak that was immediately snapped by the San Diego Padres. However, L.A. responded with back-to-back wins to claim a third consecutive series for the first time.
They did so by stealing a win from the Padres in the ninth inning and going on to emerge victorious in extras. The game was played in front of a national audience for ESPN Sunday Night Baseball, which meant an evening start at Petco Park rather than first pitch in the early afternoon.
Whether they needed the 10th inning or not, the Dodgers were looking at a long night of travel as their road trip continued Monday against the Milwaukee Brewers. That was exacerbated by a team bus being involved in a minor accident on the way to the San Diego airport.
Although the Dodgers did not arrive at their hotel until close to 4 a.m. local time, manager Dave Roberts said it was Brewers starter Freddy Peralta that had more of an impact that traveling overnight, via SportsNet LA:
“I thought the hangover was Peralta. I really felt coming in, I thought we had some momentum coming into this series and felt good about it. But when you’ve got to face that guy, that sort of puts the momentum back in check. He was really good.”
Roberts further added he did not believe the Dodgers lacked energy in their 9-3 loss:
“I don’t think so. I think when you have a guy carving you up, I think that kind of takes the wind out of your sails a little bit too. I don’t think going into this game we felt that. I think we’ve just got to give Freddy credit.”
The Dodgers threatened early when David Peralta doubled and Michael Busch walked in the second inning. However, Peralta then retired Miguel Rojas to escape the minor jam and keep the game scoreless.
Peralta stranded a leadoff walk in the fourth inning and an Austin Barnes two-out double in the fifth. Freddie Freeman’s leadoff ground-rule double in the sixth led to a run two groundouts later.
That was all Peralta allowed over six innings, and he finished with five strikeouts against three hits and two walks.
Dodgers lineup woes against Freddy Peralta
Despite Peralta having reverse splits this season and throughout his career, the Dodgers lineup featured six consecutive left-handed batters after Mookie Betts in the leadoff spot.
Of that group, only David Peralta and Freeman had a hit off Peralta. Busch and Jason Heyward both walked.
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