Although the Los Angeles Dodgers fell behind early against the San Diego Padres, a late-inning comeback powered by Mookie Betts, along with rookies James Outman and Michael Busch, earned them a series victory.
Julio Urías gave up two runs in the first inning when Fernando Tatís Jr. hit a leadoff double and Manny Machado drove him in with a true double. Machado then came around to score on a double from Xander Bogaerts.
Urías settled in to give the Dodgers 5.2 innings with just the two runs allowed, but he left the game still trailing. The Dodgers offense did not score until the sixth inning when Freddie Freeman reached on an error and Will Smith doubled to cut the Padres’ lead in half.
The Dodgers then loaded the bases when Outman was hit by a pitch and Miguel Vargas walked, but they were unable to capitalize.
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Victory formation!
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They nearly rallied in the eighth inning when Smith hit a leadoff double and Max Muncy walked, but three straight outs kept them trailing the Padres.
However, with two outs in the ninth inning, Betts blasted a solo home run against Josh Hader to tie the game. That gave Betts a third game-tying homer in the ninth inning or later since the start of the 2020 season, which is tied with Ty France, Tatís and Rowdy Tellez for most in the Majors during that span.
The two clubs went to extra innings, and with two outs, Busch came through with a single to put L.A. up 3-2. Outman then followed with a two-run shot to give the Dodgers a 5-2 lead.
Dodgers bullpen shuts down Padres
Following Urías, the Dodgers bullpen was lights out. Yency Almonte pitched 1.1 perfect innings before Victor González and Caleb Ferguson each worked a scoreless frame of their own. Ferguson ended up earning the win, giving up no baserunners and striking out two.
Evan Phillips was called on for the save and shut the door to earn his fifth of the season, striking out one batter and preventing the extra innings ghost runner from scoring.
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