Dodgers blast past Padres in 8-4 win

If some recent games have demonstrated the downside of the Dodgers’ dependency on home runs, an 8-4 victory over the San Diego Padres on Friday showed what happens on nights when everything comes together.

Carl Crawford’s first-inning home run started a power-hitting exhibition that climaxed in a five-run sixth inning, when Justin Ruggiano, Adrian Gonzalez and Chase Utley launched baseballs over Petco Park’s suddenly unimposing walls.

With rookie outfielder Scott Schebler hitting the first homer of his career, the Dodgers blasted a season-high five home runs that produced seven of their runs.

In doing so, the first-place Dodgers extended their lead to a season-high 7 1/2 games over the second-place San Francisco Giants, who have lost seven consecutive games.

The Dodgers lead the National League with 162 home runs, one more than the Colorado Rockies, who play in one of baseball’s most notorious hitter-friendly stadiums.

The combined eight home runs by the Dodgers and Padres tied a single-game record at Petco Park.

The only run that wasn’t the result of a home run was scored on a fifth-inning forceout by Corey Seager that tied the game, 3-3.

Considering what happened the previous night, the play became a source of mild controversy.

With one out and the bases loaded, Seager hit a sharp grounder to first baseman Wil Myers, who picked up the baseball and promptly delivered it to second baseman Cory Spangenberg.

Spangenberg received the ball a couple of feet off the bag, but Utley was ruled out on what was determined to be a neighborhood play.

Manager Don Mattingly protested the call, most likely because same officiating crew deprived the Dodgers defense of a double play in their series-opening loss because Utley’s foot was determined to be inches off the base.

The play was made insignificant by the sixth inning.

The five-run surge started with some clever maneuvering by Mattingly, who called on the left-handed-hitting Andre Ethier to pinch-hit against Padres right-hander Marcos Mateo with one on and one out.

That prompted Padres Manager Pat Murphy to counter by replacing Mateo with left-hander Marc Rzepczynski. Mattingly pulled back and sent up the right-handed-hitting Ruggiano.

Ruggiano launched a two-run home run to move the Dodgers in front, 5-3.

Gonzalez blasted a two-run home run later in the inning that was immediately followed by a solo shot from Utley. The Dodgers were suddenly ahead, 7-3.

Recalled from triple-A Oklahoma City last week, Mike Bolsinger stepped back into the rotation as a temporarily sixth starter and gave up three runs over five innings.

Bolsinger was charged with only two hits. Of course, they were both home runs — a two-run blast by Matt Kemp in the first inning and a solo shot by Jedd Gyorko in the third.

Bolsinger was sent down to the minor leagues at the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, when the Dodgers acquired Alex Wood and Mat Latos in a three-way trade involving the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins.

At the time, Bolsinger was 5-3 with a 2.83 earned-run average in 16 starts.

He is now a candidate to step back into the rotation, primarily because Latos has pitched fewer than five innings in each of his last four starts.

Latos lasted only four innings in the series-opening 10-7 loss Thursday night, after which he complained that his early removal prevented him from developing a rhythm. Latos gave up four runs and eight hits.

Latos stopped by Mattingly’s office Friday to discuss his postgame comments.

“I understand what he’s saying,” Mattingly said. “For him to get rhythm, the more he pitches, probably the better he’ll be.”

If the game had taken place in the first couple of months in the season, Mattingly said he might have allowed Latos to remain in the game.

“But there’s a time luxury right now that we don’t have,” Mattingly said. “I’ve just got to manage the game to win.”

Up next

Left-hander Wood (9-9, 3.67 ERA) will face right-hander Tyson Ross (10-9, 3.27) and the Padres on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at Petco Park. TV: SportsNet LA; Radio: 570, 1020.