Back in the lineup after missing 14 games due to a left hamstring strain, Justin Turner helped spark the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 3-1 win over the San Diego Padres. It set the stage for a rubber match at Petco Park but also guaranteed the Dodgers will retain first place of the National League West by series end.
With one out and Mookie Betts standing on second base, Justin Turner sliced an RBI single down the right-field line to give the Dodgers an early lead. Turner spoke prior to the game and noted while the Dodgers excelled in scoring late, they needed to push runs across early as well.
Turner then was in the middle of the Dodgers extending their lead against Zach Davies as he singled with two outs in the third inning. Will Smith followed with a base hit of his own, allowing Turner to go first to third base.
Cody Bellinger then doubled the Dodgers’ lead with an RBI base hit up the middle. Edwin Rios’ solo home run in the fifth inning created a bit more breathing room after the Padres put a run on the board.
Tony Gonsolin upheld the Dodgers’ lead by turning in his best start of his young career. A leadoff double and bunts led to the Padres scoring a run in the third, but Gonsolin held them in check from there.
Gonsolin allowed just one more baserunner — on Jurickson Profar’s one-out base hit in the fifth — as he got through seven strong innings. Gonsolin did pitch to contact, collecting just two strikeouts but also avoiding any free passes.
The Dodgers bullpen backed him but Caleb Ferguson also endured a potential injury. He struck out Profar to start the bottom of the eighth but then exited with what appeared to be an arm issue.
Blake Treinen finished out the eighth inning, and Kenley Jansen labored in the ninth before earning the save. A Manny Machado base hit, Mitch Moreland fly ball that dropped for a single, and a walk loaded the bases with one out.
Jansen recovered by striking out both Wil Myers and Jake Cronenworth.
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