The Los Angeles Dodgers saw their modest three-game winning streak snapped on Saturday night, as they fell to the San Diego Padres, 7-5, at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers pitching staff had performed well over the past week but Saturday was not one of their better performances. The group allowed seven runs to a Padres offense that ranked 25th in runs scored heading into the game.
Alex Wood got the start on the mound, coming off one of his best outings of the season that saw him earn his first win. But Wood had trouble keeping the ball from flying out on him, surrendering three of the four home runs the Padres hit.
One of which was a two-run shot to Christian Villanueva that tied the game in the sixth inning. That Wood was even on the mound was only because he convinced Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to leave him in the game.
Wood expressed frustration over the hanging changeup to Villanueva and shouldered blame for the loss, via Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times:
“I just threw a stupid pitch to Villaneuva,” Wood said.
Wood said he talked Roberts into letting him start the sixth inning, at 70 pitches, and take that third turn through the Padres lineup that included the ill-fated changeup to Villaneuva.
“No way around it,” Wood said. “This one’s on me.”
Other than the long ball, Wood did not pitch all that poorly. Overall, he tossed 5.1 innings and gave up five runs while striking out seven compared to just one walk. Aside from their home runs, the Padres managed just three other hits off Wood.
Wood did come out with the game tied at five, and it was the Dodgers bullpen that could not keep the Padres off the scoreboard. Wood has pitched better this season than his 1-4 record shows, posting a 3.75 ERA and 1.04 WHIP while striking out 58 and walking 10 in 62.1 innings.
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