An errant pickoff throw by San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller allowed Los Angeles Dodgers pinch-runner Alex Call to move all the way to third base. He later scored on a sacrifice fly by Andy Pages, securing the Dodgers a hard-fought 5-4 victory over the Padres.
After watching the replay, you sense Miller threw the ball wide of Friars’ first baseman Ty France’s reach. What is more frustrating is that the righthander had Call dead to rights. The runner was two to three steps heading toward second
base. Call froze on the base path before noticing the ball ricochet off France’s glove and roll down the right-field line.
Offensively, the Padres runs came on two two-run home runs by Manny Machado and Miguel Andujar. Machado’s blast came with two outs in the first inning. It was his seventh home run of the season.
Andujar homered after Fernando Tatis Jr. walked in the third inning. It gave the Friars a 4-2 lead in the contest.
Taking the mound
Shohei Ohtani (LAD) v. Randy Vasquez (SD)
Arguably, today’s late afternoon matchup could be a classic pitching duel. Dodgers Shohei Ohtani has been the best starting pitcher in the National League over the first quarter of the 2026 season.
In seven starts, Ohtani posted a 3-2 record with a 0.82 ERA. His dominance has been a life source for a starting rotation in shambles. Injuries to Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow have placed them on the injured list, and their return dates are unknown at this time.
Randy Vasquez has settled into the No.2 spot in the Padres’ starting rotation. He has a 5-1 record with a 2.68 ERA in nine starts this season. Vasquez has offered the Friars an opportunity to win each night he is on the mound. There are significant questions surrounding the state of the team’s rotation. Another quality start from Vasquez proves he is a reliable option moving forward.
Batter up!
- 2B Fernando Tatis Jr.
- DH Miguel Andujar
- 1B Gavin Sheets
- 3B Manny Machado
- SS Xavier Bogaerts
- CF Jackson Merrill
- RF Nick Castellanos
- LF Ramon Laureano
- C Freddy Fermin
Relief corps
Do not expect to see Miller tonight unless he must preserve another one-run lead. Bradgley Rodriquez and Jeremiah Estrada should not be available, as both have appeared in the first two games of the series.
It leaves Jason Adam, Adrian Morejon, and Wandy Peralta ready to pitch in high-leverage situations in the rubber game.
