The Los Angeles Dodgers took the opener of a four-game series against the San Diego Padres with a 3-1 victory thanks to strong pitching performance and Justin Turner’s slugging.
Mitch White gave up a run in the first inning, but he was able to shut down the Padres’ offense from there. He ended up pitching 4.2 innings with just the one run allowed.
White did get some help in the second inning to keep the Padres lead at one when Jurickson Profar hit a line drive to right field that was caught by Chris Taylor. With Trent Grisham on third base, he attempted to score but Taylor made a perfect throw to Will Smith at home plat.
That turned the momentum around and the Padres’ lead didn’t last much longer as Turner hit his first home run of the game to tie it in the bottom of the second inning.
Both teams posted zeros for the next few innings, with Justin Bruihl relieving White in the fifth with Profar on third and two outs. Bruihl struck out Jake Cronenworth to strand the runner and then went on to pitch a scoreless sixth inning.
JT? He got that dawg in him. pic.twitter.com/Y4f6yqNRDX
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 1, 2022
Been there, done that. pic.twitter.com/OC3A0zXX2g
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 1, 2022
Make that JTwo! pic.twitter.com/PApb1mFnTU
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 1, 2022
BALLGAME ⚾️
The Dodgers take the opener in this four game series! pic.twitter.com/QCYeZMxsqG
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 1, 2022
Evan Phillips pitched a scoreless seventh and then in the bottom of the inning, the Dodgers took the lead.
Max Muncy walked with one out before Turner hit his second long ball of the game, putting L.A. up 3-1. That was all they needed as the bullpen continued to shut down the San Diego offense.
Phillips started the eighth and struck out Manny Machado before Dodgers manager Dave Roberts turned to Alex Vesia with a string of left-handed hitters due up.
Vesia got himself into some trouble by allowing a single and giving up a walk, but he added a strikeout and forced Austin Nola to ground out to end the inning.
Craig Kimbrel, who has had his share of struggles this season, was called upon in the ninth. The veteran right-hander turned in arguably his best outing of the season by getting a pair of strikeouts and a popup.
Dodgers want to play ‘best baseball’ against the Padres
The Dodgers are hosting the Padres for the first time this season in arguably their most important series yet as the two teams have been near each other at the top of the National League West standings all year.
The teams previously met at Petco Park in April when the Dodgers took two of the three games.
Although there is still a lot of baseball left to be played, each series against the Padres could end up determining who wins the NL West at the end of the season, so the Dodgers know how important the matchups are.
With that in mind, Roberts hopes the Dodgers will play their best baseball of the season during the four-game series at Dodger Stadium, and they started out on a good note soon Thursday.
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