The Padres and Dodgers started a three-game series at Dodger Stadium on Friday night. In a major role reversal it was San Diego starting the night in 1st place, a full game ahead of their longtime tormentors. The Friars took that lead on Wednesday night.
It did not last long. Los Angeles got a great start from a crafty veteran and held on for a 3-2 win, pulling them back into a 1st place tie with San Diego that really puts them atop the division since they currently own the tiebreaker (based on head-to-head record).
The Padres got on the board first thanks to one of their trade deadline acquisitions. In the 2nd inning Ramon Laureano detonated a solo homer off Clayton Kershaw, sending it 106 MPH off the bat deep into the left field seats. The problem for San Diego is they only got one other hit off the future Hall of Famer, who got through 6.0 innings on an economical 76 pitches.
With scheduled starter Michael King landing on the Injured List with a knee issue, San Diego skipper Mike Shildt tried a little misdirection with his pitching staff. Randy Vasquez was recalled from Triple-A El Paso and was expected to be on the mound. Instead left-handed reliever Wandy Peralta made the second start of his big league career and was really good, setting down all four hitters he faced.
After striking out Freddie Freeman to start the 2nd inning, Peralta was replaced by Vasquez, who punched out the next two L.A. hitters to end the inning. But, he got into trouble in the 3rd. Vasquez allowed three straight singles, the last one a bunt attempt by Miguel Rojas that glanced off the glove of a diving Manny Machado, to load the bases with nobody out. Shohei Ohtani brought in a run with a groundout, and Mookie Betts plated one more on a sacrifice fly to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead.
Los Angeles got another in the 7th inning when Teoscar Hernandez lofted a solo homer to centerfield off Jeremiah Estrada to make it 3-1. San Diego had its best scoring opportunity in the 8th inning.
Reliever Alex Vesia hit Jose Iglesias and Jake Cronenworth, the first time he’s ever plunked two batters in an inning. Freddy Fermin laid down a flawless sacrifice bunt and Vesia walked Fernando Tatis Jr. to load the bases with one out. Luis Arraez brought in Iglesias with a sac fly but Manny Machado popped out to Betts at shortstop to end the threat.
The Padres try to re-take the division lead on Saturday in what should be a fabulous pitching matchup. Dylan Cease is on the mound against former Friar Blake Snell.