Mookie Betts smacks 3 home runs, Dodgers pound Padres 11-2
(Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Dodger Stadium – Los Angeles, California
Chris Paddack and the San Diego Padres dropped to 11-9 on the season after losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers 11-2 Thursday night. The Padres had jumped out to early 2-0 lead, and then the Dodgers ran away with the game. It looked like the Home Run Derby in Los Angeles as there were a combined eight home runs and six by LA.
The Padres were shut out against the Dodgers in game-three Wednesday night as the offense failed to score for the first time this season.
Through 20 games, the Padres’ record is good for third place in the NL West division. The Dodgers, who usually lead the division at this point in the season, are now tied for first with the Colorado Rockies with the record of 13-7, just two games over San Diego.
The rivals had split their previous six games this season. So, Thursday night’s matchup had some extra motivation for the Padres. Even though the result didn’t show it, this team wanted to win badly. San Diego has not won the season-series against LA since 2010, when the Friars won 10 of 18 matchups. Since that season, the record is 116-60 in the Dodgers favor.
Before the game, the Padres activated Rookie infielder/outfielder Jorge Mateo and optioned infielder Ty France to the alternate training site. Mateo started in left field and batted 9th for his Major League debut.
The Padres have activated Jorge Mateo from the injured list to make his MLB debut. Here’s the scouting report on the 25-year-old speedster: https://t.co/5lx5qnPfeT pic.twitter.com/L9dUIG72ea
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 13, 2020
The Padres started the game, swinging the bats with aggression early on. In the top of 1st inning, Manny Machado hit a long ball to the left-center field warning track for the second out of the top of the first inning. Off the bat, it looked like that ball had enough for an extra-base hit, but AJ Pollock made a great catch off the wall.
Tommy Pham and Eric Hosmer then sent back-to-back home runs on back-to-back pitches to take a quick 2-0 lead over the 24-year-old LHP Julio Urias.
Goin’ back 2️⃣ back 💪#FriarFaithful
(via @Padres)pic.twitter.com/xVKsryuA7Z
— FOX Sports San Diego (@FOXSportsSD) August 14, 2020
The Dodgers certainly were not going to let the Padres have all the fun and hit two home runs of their own in the bottom half. Paddack did not look sharp in the first inning. After hitting Mookie Betts to start the inning, Corey Seager hit an 0-2 fastball deep over the right-center field fence to tie the game. Two batters later, Pollock launched another misplaced fastball to left field to take the lead 3-2.
Chris Paddack is as effective as it gets at throwing in the strike zone. Sometimes in two-strike counts, he throws a little too many strikes that lead to hits.
It was more trouble for Paddack in the 2nd and 3rd inning. Chris Taylor doubled off the Paddack fastball, and Mookie Betts hit his first of three homers deep to left field to take a 5-2 lead. Betts once again hit the home run off the heater even though it was just outside of the zone. All four of the hits have been against the fastball.
The Dodgers have swung at 10 fastballs from Chris Paddack, they’ve whiffed on none of them, and they’ve hit three home runs.
— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) August 14, 2020
The Dodgers continued to punish the Sheriff and his heater. Pollock hit a double down the right-field line to score Justin Turner and take a soaring 6-2 lead.
Paddack would not make it past three innings. His final line was three innings, six hits, six earned runs, and only one strikeout.
Luis Perdomo came in for relief and immediately gave up three runs off home runs to catcher Austin Barnes and another to Betts. The score was 9-2, and the Dodgers ran away with the game.
The reigning AL Silver Slugger would then launch his third home run of the game in the fifth inning. Betts added an exclamation point to this Dodgers’ much needed 11-2 victory.
Game Notes and News
- Wil Myers finished 2-for-3 with a walk improving his average to .284
- Rookie Jorge Mateo went 0-for-3 in his MLB Debut.
- Pierce Johnson remains impressive. ERA now sits at 1.29.
Chris is a graduate of the University of San Diego. He is the former Sports Editor for the USDVista newspaper. Chris has covered the San Diego Loyal, and now covers San Diego State Men’s Basketball. He also contributes regularly about the Padres. Chris is an athlete and is a huge fan of San Diego sports.