Despite struggling in consecutive starts, Tyson Ross had a vintage performance but all it amounted to was a loss as the Los Angeles Dodgers came away with a 3-2 victory to take the series from the San Diego Padres and move into first place in the National League West.
Ross retired the first four batters faced before walking Chris Taylor in the second inning. He moved into scoring position on a wild pitch but was stranded by Andrew Toles and Kiké Hernandez. Chase Utley and Joc Pederson each drew a walk in the third, but again nothing came of it for the Dodgers.
Ross retired eight batters in a row then had his no-hitter broken up by Pederson’s one-out double in the sixth inning. The hit was not only the Dodgers’ first of the night but it also snapped Pederson’s 0-for-19 skid that dated back to July 4.
Although Ross stranded Pederson, Chris Taylor’s one-out double in the seventh inning came back to bite him. Andrew Toles followed with an RBI flare single that broke up the scoreless tie and knocked Ross out of the game.
Chris Stammen entered and hit consecutive batters before allowing a pinch-hit RBI single to Matt Kemp, with the run going on Ross’ ledger. The veteran right-hander was charged with two runs on two hits, three walks and five strikeouts over 6.1 innings.
Pederson drove in another run off Stammen with a base hit to right field, which ultimately was key to a win.
While the Dodgers offense was being held in check, newly minted All-Star Ross Stripling navigated his way through a final start before the break. San Diego collected at least one hit in each of the first four innings, and loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth.
Taylor’s diving stop held Austin Hedges to an infield single rather than a potential RBI base hit, and that loomed large as Stripling then struck out Ross to escape the jam. Despite some of his struggles, Stripling turned in six shutout innings.
By doing so he lowered his ERA to 2.08, tying Justin Verlander for the second-best mark in the Majors.
Scott Alexander nearly pulled the Dodgers out of trouble that Daniel Hudson left them in, but after back-to-back strikeouts, he surrendered a two-run double to Wil Myers before getting through the seventh inning.
With their lead down to a run, Dylan Floro and Kenley Jansen combined for two scoreless innings to wrap up the win. Jansen did labor, issuing a one-out walk and needing 29 pitches to convert the save opportunity.
In addition to sitting atop the NL West standings for the first time this season, Los Angeles finished 4-3 on their road trip.
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