Dodgers vs Padres: L.A. Loses in Extras in Game Neither Team Seemed to Want
The Dodgers lost to the Padres, 4-3, in 10 innings on Tuesday night. The first three San Diego runs were the result of defensive miscues by Justin Turner, and the winning run scored on a bases loaded walk to a guy who hadn’t walked since July.
Craig Kimbrel takes the loss after allowing the one unearned run in the 10th inning. After a sac bunt moved the stupid fake runner to third base to lead off the inning, Dave Roberts opted to intentionally walk Juan Soto, setting up a battle between Kimbrel and Manny Machado. Kimbrel won that battle, striking out Manny for the second out. But Brandon Drury and Jorge Alfaro both worked tough walks to end the game.
Another Impressive Start from Anderson
Tyler Anderson got what looked like an inning-ending double play in the first inning, but Justin Turner stumbled over his own feet, allowing Machado to beat the throw to first and extend the inning. After a Drury double, Wil Myers dribbled a single up the middle to put the Padres on top, 2-0.
Anderson decided that was enough, retiring the next 16 hitters to get through six innings on just 71 pitches.
It says something about Anderson’s season that this outstanding season that this excellent start actually bumped his ERA up to 2.54.
Tyler Anderson retired the last 16 batters he faced today. His final line: 6 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 2 R (both earned), 3 Ks. His season ERA is 2.54.
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) September 28, 2022
A Lot of Missed Opportunities on Offense
Blake Snell only lasted five innings, eventually recognizing the folly of his strategy of “throw a thousand pitches to each batter.” Snell went to a full count on eight of the first 11 hitters he faced, but he ended up striking out most of those and walking just a few.
The Dodgers finally broke through for two runs off Nick Martinez in the sixth, but they squandered a bases-loaded, one-out chance to take the lead in the seventh.
TIE GAME. pic.twitter.com/F2lllQIXLk
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 28, 2022
In all, the Dodgers had six hits, eight walks, and a hit batter but left 14 runners on base.
Ferguson Didn’t Have It (and the Defense Didn’t Help Him)
Caleb Ferguson came on to pitch the bottom of the eighth inning in a 2-2 tie, and Austin Nola led off with a double that probably should have been a lineout to left field. Chris Taylor appeared to have the ball tracked, but it glanced off the tip of his glove for a double.
After a failed sac bunt gave the Dodgers a free out, Ferguson just lost his command, throwing nine straight pitches out of the strike zone (the umpire called one of them a strike) for two walks to load the bases.
Chris Martin came on and struck out Machado for the second out, but Justin Turner’s defense struck again when Drury hit a weak grounder that JT bobbled to allow the go-ahead run to score.
“Fine, I’ll do it myself,” Martin thought, and struck out Jurickson Profar.
Maybe Nobody Wants to Win?
In the top of the ninth, Trea Turner led off with his third hit of the game, a double to the left-center gap. Freddie Freeman struck out, and Will Smith hit a hard grounder to short that Ha-Seong Kim couldn’t handle to put runners on first and third with one out.
JT came up and hit a shallow fly to left, and while Trea bluffed going to home, third-base coach Dino Ebel held him up on a throw that almost surely wouldn’t have gotten him out at the plate.
With Max Muncy up and the Dodgers down to their last out, Josh Hader through a high fastball that clanked off the glove of newly inserted catcher Jorge Alfaro, allowing Turner to score the tying run anyway.
Tie Game!! pic.twitter.com/2ZLHE3yEZw
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) September 28, 2022
Dodgers Can’t Cash In the Dumb Rule, Padres Do
With Taylor on second to start the top of the 10th, Cody Bellinger ripped a grounder up the middle that Pierce Johnson snared to hold Taylor at second and record the first out. Austin Barnes popped out to right, and Mookie Betts went down on a called strike three.
That set things up for the Padres to walk it off in the bottom of the 10th.
Up Next
The Dodgers and Padres continue their series on Wednesday evening, with Julio Urias taking on Joe Musgrove.
Good grief, not only can Kimbrel not close, he can’t hold either! Of course when I heard the announcers say his name, I knew it was curtains for the Dodgers. Coming in to tonight’s game their magic number to clinch home field for the WS, if they make it, was 4 games. LA may have the best team numbers wise, but if they’re not clicking, they’ll find themselves knocked out of the playoffs. Tonight is just one example. If the season ended today, LA will face the Braves-Padres winner, which won’t be a walk in the park. Sure they may be 16-7 vs the two teams, but both teams can take advantage of the possibility of poor pitching.
Roberts lied to us.
Good Grief how many times does it take before they wake up? And they traded Pollock for this disaster. I would feel alot better if this clown was playing for the Padres.