J.D. Martinez and Julio Urías help Dodgers defeat Padres to remain on a roll
Like many of his teammates, Freddie Freeman already seemed tired of the topic.
Asked Friday night about the significance of the Dodgers’ early success against the star-studded San Diego Padres — particularly in the wake of the Padres’ all-in offseason acquisitions and playoff elimination of the Dodgers last October — the first baseman followed an organization-wide lead.
He downplayed any discussion about the rivalry. He sidestepped any cliches or bulletin-board declarations. Instead, he kept his focus fixed on his own team, which has ridden a two-week hot streak to an early spot atop the National League West standings.
“I don’t know,” Freeman said of the Padres. “I mean, I’m happy they’re going for it. I don’t mind it. They want to win. That’s fine. But we got a really good team over here too. We’ve been playing good baseball the last couple weeks. We’re not trying to play the opponent. We play our game.”
Dodgers hold back Padres in the ninth inning for 4-2 win
⚾ Dodgers 4, Padres 2 — FINAL
Top of the ninth: Brusdar Graterol got Manny Machado and Juan Soto to ground out. Xander Bogaerts was initially ruled out on a grounder to third before the call was reversed after a video review showed Max Muncy’s throw didn’t reach first in time. Nelson Cruz further extended the game on a single to center, ending Graterol’s stint in favor of Caleb Ferguson. Jake Cronenworth struck out to end the game.
J.D. Martinez’s three-run home run in the first inning proved the difference. Julio Urías delivered seven strong innings, overcoming two early home runs by the Padres to hold San Diego to just three hits.
The Dodgers wrap up their three-game series against the Padres on Sunday at 1:10 p.m.
Dodgers remain in the lead heading into the ninth inning
⚾ Dodgers 4, Padres 2 — End of the eighth
Top of the eighth: Evan Phillips took over for Julio Urías on the mound for the Dodgers. Phillips struck out Trent Grishman. Brett Sullivan then flied out and Fernando Tatis Jr. grounded out to third.
Bottom of the eighth: Facing Padres reliever Nick Martinez, Jason Heyward lines out, Miguel Vargas pops out and Miguel Rojas strikes out to send the game into the ninth. Brusdar Graterol will pitch the ninth for the Dodgers.
Dodgers hold lead over Padres heading into the eighth
⚾ Dodgers 4, Padres 2 — Eighth inning
Top of the seventh: Nelson Cruz grounded out, James Cronenworth flied out and Ha-Seong Kim struck out. Julio Urías has allowed three hits, two runs, zero walks and has struck out four over seven innings.
Bottom of the seventh: Will Smith and Max Muncy flied out and J.D. Martinez drew a walk from Tom Cosgrove. James Outman then grounded out to second to send the game into the eighth.
Julio Urías shows off some fine fielding skills to get out of jam
⚾ Dodgers 4, Padres — End of the sixth inning
Top of the six: Julio Urías struck out Fernando Tatis Jr. A throwing error by Max Muncy allowed Manny Machado to reach first and advance to second. A soft dribbler to second off Juan Soto’s bat was too short for a charging Miguel Vargas to make a play on, putting runners on the corners.
Urías then got out of the jam when he made a spectacular catch on a bouncing comebacker off the bat of Xander Bogaerts, reaching across his body to snag the ball before throwing to second to start an inning-ending 1-4-3 double play.
Bottom of the sixth: David Peralta struck out and Mookie Betts flied out to center prompting the Padres to place starter Joe Musgrove with reliever Tom Cosgrove. Freddie Freeman struck out to end the inning.
Dodgers hold 4-2 lead heading into the sixth inning
⚾ Dodgers 4, Padres 2 — End of the fifth
Top of the fifth: Another 1-2-3 inning for Julio Urías. Ha-Seong Kim flied out and Austin Nola and Adam Engel each grounded out.
Bottom of the fifth: J.D. Martinez grounded out, James Outman flied out to deep right field. After Jason Heyward walked Miguel Vargas grounded into a force out at second.
Dodgers leave the bases loaded in the fourth
⚾ Dodgers 4, Padres 2 — End of the fourth
Top of the fourth: Xander Bogaerts and Nelson Cruz each grounded out and Jake Cronenworth struck out in a 1-2-3 inning. Julio Urias has allowed two hits so far — both home runs — and has struck out two on 46 pitches.
Bottom of the fourth: Miguel Vargas popped out to first before David Peralta singled to center. Mookie Betts then hit his 11th double of the season. Joe Musgrove intentionally walked Freddie Freeman to get to Will Smith, who popped out in foul territory between third and home. Max Muncy flied out to deep left with the bases loaded, squandering a chance to extend the Dodgers’ lead.
Dodgers extend lead on Will Smith’s run-scoring single
⚾ Dodgers 4, Padres 2 — End of the third
Top of the third: Julio Urías struck out Adam Engel before Fernando Tatis Jr. reached first on a throwing error by Mookie Betts a shortstop. Manny Machado then flied out to right field. Juan Soto grounded out for the final out.
Bottom of the third: Freddie Freeman hit a leadoff double off the wall in center field. Will Smith drove in Freeman on a single to right to extend the Dodger’s lead. Joe Musgrove struck out Max Muncy and J.D. Martinez, then walked James Outman. Jason Heyman flied out in foul territory down the third-base side to leave two stranded.
Ha-Seong Kim home run cuts into the Dodgers’ lead
⚾ Dodgers 3, Padres 2 — End of the second
Top of the second: Nelson Cruz lined out to center and Jake Cronenworth flied out to first. Ha-Seong Kim then blasted his fourth home run of the season — and the third home run of the game — to left field, cutting into the Dodgers’ lead. Austin Nola grounded out to cap the frame. Dodgers starter Julio Urías has allowed to hits — both home runs.
Bottom of the second: Jason Heyward lined out before Miguel Vargas singled on a liner to left. Padres starter Joe Musgrove struck out David Peralta. Mookie Betts walked. During Freddie Freeman’s ensuing at-bat, Musgrove picked off Vargas at second for the final out.
J.D. Martinez home run powers Dodgers into lead
⚾ Dodgers 3, Padres 1 — End of the first inning
Top of the first: Padres star Juan Soto hit a solo home run to right field — his seventh blast of the season — off Dodgers starter Julio Urías to give San Diego the early lead. The homer came after Fernando Tatis Jr. grounded out and Manny Machado flied out. Xander Bogaerts flied out to center to cap the frame.
Bottom of the first: Mookie Betts grounded out before Freddie Freeman singled to left. Will Smith struck out and Max Muncy followed with a single to shallow center that dropped between three Padres players. J.D. Martinez then crushed a three-run home run 407 feet to left field to punch the Dodgers into the lead. James Outman flied out to end the inning.
Mookie Betts is back in the infield, where his offensive production has been off the charts
Mookie Betts will be back on the infield dirt Saturday, slotting in at shortstop so that the Dodgers can play all three of their left-handed-hitting outfielders against Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove.
If recent history is any indicator, that could be a good thing for the Dodgers offense.
This season, Betts has performed like a different player at the plate on days he’s been in the infield.
In 14 games at either second base or shortstop, the former MVP is batting .318 with four home runs, 10 RBIs and a 1.082 OPS.
In 28 games at his customary right field spot, Betts is batting just .208 with four homers, 12 RBIs and a .720 OPS.
So, manager Dave Roberts was asked before the game, is it coincidence or something more?
“It’s a small sample,” Roberts said with a laugh, “but if you asked Mookie, he thinks that there’s a correlation.”
It’s no secret that Betts — despite being a six-time Gold Glover in right field — has a particular affinity for playing the infield, which he did growing up.
He got occasional starts at second base in recent seasons, describing them as partial days off since it required less running to and from the outfield.
This year, injury-related roster needs led the Dodgers to playing Betts at shortstop for the first time in his major-league career — something he called a “dream come true.”
Roberts said Betts will continue to get playing time around the infield, likely in about 20% of the team’s games.
“This is something that’s uncharted territory, really, for me,” Roberts said. “To see somebody going from the outfield, the best at his position in the game, and to come up and play an above-average shortstop in a major league game and in a big series. I just marvel at how he doesn’t get anxious or nervous taking this on.”
Dodgers hope that Chris Taylor, known for streaky hitting, is starting to find groove
There is at least one benefit to the powerball numbers being played by Chris Taylor, the Dodgers utility man who entered Friday night’s game against the San Diego Padres with only 18 hits on the season but seven home runs.
“I guess what’s great is that when he does move the ball forward, it goes over the fence, and some of them have been big homers,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I think the average will go up, the on-base percentage will go up, and hopefully the slug will remain. But right now, it’s sort of an outlier for me. I can’t understand it.”
Taylor — who also had three doubles and a triple on the season entering Friday, resulting in a slash line heavy on slugging (.484) but light on batting average (.198) and OBP (.267) — has a simple explanation for his homer-heavy output.
Friday recap: Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman power Dodgers to win
The seats were full, but the atmosphere was lacking.
For most of Friday night at Dodger Stadium, a crowd of 49,399 booed loudly for Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado, cheered wildly every time the Lakers’ score was flashed on the screens, but sat quietly for most of the action in between.
For the first home game of the season against the rival San Diego Padres, the scene at Chavez Ravine was somewhat subdued.
At least it was until Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman came to the plate in the seventh inning.
Moments after the Padres had tied the score with a two-out rally in the top of the inning, the Dodgers’ two biggest stars electrified the night, jolting the building to life with back-to-back home runs that sent the Dodgers to an eventual 4-2 victory.
Dodgers TV schedule for the 2023 regular season
Here’s a look at the Dodgers TV schedule for the 2023 regular season. All times and broadcast/streaming options are subject to change.
