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Dodgers defeat Padres, 10-2
SAN DIEGO — Clayton Kershaw quietly continued his march toward club history.
Cody Bellinger loudly continued his return to form.
Together, the two former MVPs led the Dodgers to a 10-2 win against the San Diego Padres on Sunday, with Kershaw pitching five innings of one-run ball — and collecting three strikeouts to move to within four of breaking Don Sutton’s franchise record — and Bellinger hitting two home runs in the rubber-match rout.
All eyes were on Kershaw to begin the day.
With 2,690 career strikeouts entering the game, the left-hander was within reach of breaking Sutton’s four-decades-old mark.
“Selfishly, I would want to see him do it today,” manager Dave Roberts said pregame. “Because if he punches out seven, then that’s a good thing for the Dodgers today.”
Even without a bunch of strikeouts, Kershaw was effective anyway, inducing mostly soft ground balls and weak pop flies to continue his strong start to the season.
In five innings, Kershaw gave up only four hits (all of them singles) and hit one batter. He escaped a jam in the bottom of the first, getting Jurickson Profar to hit into an inning-ending double play with runners on the corners. He limited the damage after Wil Myers hit an RBI single in the fourth, stranding runners at the corners with a strikeout of Jorge Alfaro.
And though his pursuit of history had to wait, Kershaw will now have the opportunity to potentially eclipse Sutton’s mark at Dodger Stadium, when he is next expected to take the mound Saturday against the Detroit Tigers.
We go to the ninth, Dodgers 10, Padres 2
The Dodgers went quietly in the top of the seventh, but the Padres made some noise in the bottom half. Eric Hosmer hit a grounder that Hanser Alberto misplayed that was charitably called a hit. That ended the day for Justin Bruihl and brought in newcomer Reyes Moronta. He struck out Wil Myers and gave up a double to Jorge Alfaro. Trent Grisham grounded to short, scoring Hosmer. Ha-Seong Kim then popped to second. It’s 10-2 Dodgers after seven.
The Dodgers went 1-2-3 in the top of the eighth. The Padres got a two out triple off of old friend Matt Beaty and a four-pitch walk to Jurickson Profar. Jose Azocar then grounded to second.
Score after eight: Dodgers 10, Padres 2
Cody Bellinger homers again, Dodgers lead 10-1
The Dodgers turned the game into a laugher.
In the top of the fifth, the Dodgers loaded the bases with one out. Chris Taylor hit a sacrifice fly to score one, then Cody Bellinger hit his second homer of the game to give the Dodgers an 8-1 lead. The Padres went in order in the bottom half.
In the top of the sixth, the Dodgers scored twice, once on an error and once on a groundout to take a 10-1 lead.
Justin Bruihl came in to pitch the bottom of the sixth and retired the Padres in order.
Score after six: Dodgers 10, Padres 1
Cody Bellinger homers, Dodgers lead 4-1
Cody Bellinger hit a two-out home run to center field to give the Dodgers a 4-0 lead. Bellinger’s third homer of the season. Hansel Alberto singled to left and Austin Barnes walked on four pitches. Betts flied to right.
Manny Machado singled with one out in the fourth and moved to third on Eric Hosmer’s two-out single up the middle. Wil Myers singled to right to score Machado, making it 4-1. Jorge Alfaro struck out. Kershaw has made 66 pitches through four innings.
Score after four: Dodgers 4, Padres 1
Dodgers take 3-0 lead on Freddie Freeman’s homer
Mookie Betts drew a one-out walk in the top of the third. Freddie Freeman then launched a home run to right, making it 3-0. Trea Turner grounded to third, Manny Machado made the stop and his momentum took him into foul territory toward the Dodger Dugout. He still threw a laser to first to beat Turner by a step. A truly amazing play. Justin Turner struck out.
The Padres went in order in the bottom of the inning.
Score after four innings: Dodgers 3, Padres 0
Dodgers have 1-0 lead after two
Mookie Betts, who had a miserable game Saturday, led off today’s game with a single. Freddie Freeman reached on an error by the shortstop. Trea Turner flied to right, Betts taking third. Justin Turner flied to center, scoring Betts. Muncy struck out looking.
The Padres threatened in the bottom of the first. Austin Nola was hit by a pitch and took third on Jake Cronenworth’s single. Manny Machado flied to right, but not deep enough to score Nola. Jurickson Profar grounded into a 5-4-3 double play.
The Dodgers went down in order in the second and so did the Padres, with Kershaw striking out two.
Score after two innings: Dodgers 1, Padres 0
Dodgers place David Price on IL, call up Reyes Moronta
SAN DIEGO — The Dodgers made several pregame roster moves Sunday, calling up reliever Reyes Moronta and placing David Price on the injured list.
The team did not immediately announce a reason for Price’s IL stint. The left-hander last pitched Friday night, throwing a scoreless inning that lowered his early-season ERA to 1.93 through five appearances.
Moronta joins the Dodgers after an impressive start to the year in triple A, where the hard-throwing right-hander had a 1.50 ERA in six appearances.
To make room on the 40-man roster for Moronta, the Dodgers designated pitcher Darien Núñez for assignment. According to a person with knowledge of the situation, Núñez recently suffered an elbow injury that will require Tommy John surgery.
One player not going anywhere: Outfielder Zach McKinstry, who was optioned Sunday morning as the corresponding move for Moronta’s promotion, but then immediately recalled back to the big-league roster once Price was placed on the injured list.
Price becomes the second Dodgers reliever to land on the injured list this season, joining right-hander Blake Treinen. Starting pitcher Andrew Heaney is also on the IL. Both Heaney and Treinen have shoulder soreness.
How to watch and stream the Dodgers in 2022
Here’s a look at the Dodgers’ TV and streaming schedule for the 2022 season:
ICYMI: Dodgers fall to Padres on 10th-inning sacrifice fly as San Diego does ‘beat L.A.’
SAN DIEGO — The first time the chant rained down at Petco Park on Saturday night, the Dodgers quieted the crowd.
“Beat L.A.! Beat L.A.!”
That’s what San Diego Padres fans screamed in the top of the eighth inning, with their team trying to protect a two-run lead, and their closer on the mound attempting to secure a five-out save.
Then, with runners on the corners, Trea Turner came to the plate and laced a tying double to left field.
When the chant returned in the bottom of the ninth — more screams of “Beat L.A.! Beat L.A.!” showering Padres shortstop C.J. Abrams with a runner on first and two outs — the Dodgers quelled the celebration again, with reliever Daniel Hudson fanning Abrams with a slider to send the game to extra innings.