Back in the leadoff spot for the foreseeable future, Mookie Betts had a game-high four RBI to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 5-4 win over the San Diego Padres.
The Dodgers have won the past five head-to-head meetings against the Padres and now are in position to complete another series sweep. Their victory on Saturday night also helped them keep pace and remain 2.5 games back of the San Francisco Giants in the National League West standings.
Needed to start because of Chris Taylor’s lingering neck injury, Cody Bellinger’s rare walk in the third inning helped spark L.A. It was followed by Gavin Lux hitting an RBI double into left field that took a tricky hop on Tommy Pham.
That allowed Bellinger the extra time needed to round third and continue his sprint around the bases. Betts added a sacrifice fly before Chris Paddack could get through the inning.
No one was stopping Belli from scoring. 🏃♂️💨 pic.twitter.com/CTOD3Z6s2K
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) September 12, 2021
Mookie Betts. Game-changer. pic.twitter.com/hK4OIAUyEg
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) September 12, 2021
Joe. Kelly. pic.twitter.com/YCJXFviJ0B
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 12, 2021
After a Fernando Tatis Jr. two-run home run tied the game in the fourth inning, the Dodgers responded with three runs in the fifth.
Lux’s two-out single and Walker Buehler’s walk marked the end of the night for Paddack, and Betts wound up greeting Craig Stammen with a game-winning home run. While the three-run blast gave the Dodgers a lead, it nearly did not hold.
Blake Treinen ran into trouble in the eight inning after hitting Adam Frazier with a pitch. He stole second base and immediately scored on Manny Machado’s RBI single.
Machado then stole second and came across on Tatis’ blooper into left field. Treinen eventually recorded an out but Eric Hosmer was his final batter faced. Joe Kelly stranded the tying run at third base by getting back-to-back strikeouts, and Kenley Jansen retired the side in order in the ninth.
Dodgers hope for Taylor’s return
Bellinger started Saturday because Chris Taylor was unable to play due to aggravating a lingering neck injury. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the hope was Taylor would return for the series finale.
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