The Dodgers ended their final homestand on a whimper, as they managed to scratch across just two late runs against the San Diego Padres in a 4-2 loss on Thursday.
After a bullpen game from the Dodgers and a four-run outing for Yoshinobu Yamamoto over the first two games, Thursday night’s contest turned into a pitcher’s duel. Tyler Glasnow and Nick Pivetta both struck out five over their first three innings on the mound, with the former facing the minimum while not allowing a single baserunner.
San
Diego broke up the perfect game bid with a leadoff walk to Fernando Tatis Jr. in the top of the fourth inning, but Glasnow prevented the Padres from striking further and did not allow a hit over his first five innings, racking up nine strikeouts. Pivetta, just like Robbie Ray on Wednesday, had his pitch count inflated early on and he was pulled after allowing a two-out single to Mookie Betts in the bottom of the fifth inning— his third hit of the game. Yuki Matsui allowed a single to Freddie Freeman to put runners at the corners but got Teoscar Hernández to strike out swinging, keeping the game scoreless.
After Glasnow struck out Samad Taylor for his 10th strikeout of the night, Ethan Salas broke up the no-hit bid with a single to left, promptly followed by an opposite-field single from Tatis. Dustin Harris hit a fly ball just deep enough to break the ice and plate Salas, giving San Diego a 1-0 lead.
Glasnow managed to pitch into the seventh inning, but his night was done after allowing a double to Jackson Merrill and a walk to Xander Bogaerts. Justin Wrobleski came on in relief, and San Diego countered with pinch-hitter Austin Hays, and the right-hander smoked an RBI single just past Betts to double the Padres lead. Salas’ second hit of the night plated Bogaerts, and Tatis cashed in Hays with his second hit in as many at-bats, making it a 4-0 lead.
Despite the complete lack of run support, Thursday proved to be a fine outing for Glasnow as he totaled a season-high 11 strikeouts on the night while being charged for the three runs on just three hits. In his six starts after being activated off the injured list, Glasnow posted a 4.46 ERA while striking out 49 and walking 12 over 34 1/3 innings.
It was another brutal night for the Dodgers offensively, as a night after leaving 12 men on base while going 1-9 with runners in scoring position, the Dodgers left eight men on base while going 1-9 with runners in scoring position. Their first run of the night came on a balk from Adrián Morejón that plated Mookie Betts in the bottom of the eighth, and Shohei Ohtani roped a double for his team-leading 81st RBI against Mason Miller in the bottom of the ninth inning.
The Padres can thank the Dodgers for helping them secure their third consecutive postseason berth, doing so for the first time in franchise history.
Game particulars
- WP— Yuki Matsui (4-1): 1 IP, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeout
- LP— Tyler Glasnow (5-2): 6 1/3 IP, 3 hits, 3 earned runs, 2 walks, 11 strikeouts
- SV— Mason Miller (38): 1 IP, 1 hits, 1 earned run, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts
Up next
The Dodgers head up to San Francisco for their final regular season series against the Giants beginning Friday (7:15 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA). Tarik Skubal faces rookie Yunior Marte.
