Padres Bounce Back Against Dodgers, Move Into Top Wild Card Spot

The San Diego Padres got punched in the mouth in their series-opening loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night, but they bounced back to even the series at a game a piece with a 5-1 win on Wednesday night. Manny Machado hit what proved to be the game-winning home run in the top of the fourth inning to give the Padres a 2-0 lead. The Dodgers would manage to score a run in the bottom half of the inning but that was all they would get. San Diego tacked on two more runs in the top of the fifth inning and a single run in the top of the ninth inning to earn the four-run win.

Padres starter Robbie Ray engaged in a pitchers duel with Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The starters went three scoreless innings before either surrendered runs in the fourth inning. Despite only pitching 3.1 innings, Ray was removed from the game because he had thrown 84 pitches. Yamamoto meanwhile pitched six innings. Ray allowed one run on seven hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Yamamoto allowed four runs on five hits with a walk and four strikeouts. Only two of the four runs allowed by Yamamoto were earned. The other two runs came as the result of an error made by the right-hander on a bunt from Dustin Harris. The ball was bunted back to the mound and Yamamoto fielded it and threw wildly to third base. The ball sailed past Max Muncy and went into foul territory allowing Ethan Salas to score to give San Diego a 3-1 lead.

Machado added his third RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to right-center field that allowed Fernando Tatis Jr. to tag up and score from third base, sliding in just ahead of the throw from Andy Pages to push the Padres’ lead to 4-1. San Diego scored the final run of the game in the top of the ninth inning after Samad Taylor drew a one-out walk. Taylor then stole second and third base, and scored when Freddy Fermin chopped a ground ball over the left side of the infield to put San Diego ahead, 5-1.

The Padres played a less than perfect game. They finished 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and they were outhit by the Dodgers 10-8, but they finished on top on the scoreboard. However San Diego did get a major contribution from Salas who started the game behind the plate. The 20-year-old got his first taste of the Padres-Dodgers rivalry and he was pivotal with ABS challenges. Salas challenged three balls and all were overturned to strikes.

Perhaps the most critical challenge came when the bases were loaded in the bottom of the fourth inning. David Morgan was behind in the count 3-1 against Shohei Ohtani with the bases loaded. Morgan hit the top outside corner of the zone and the pitch was called a ball. Salas challenged and got the strike to make the count 3-2. Morgan would go on to strikeout Ohtani to end the threat and the inning and the game went from possibly being tied at 2-2 to the Padres maintaining a 2-1 lead.

San Diego reduced the magic number to one and took over the top Wild Card spot in the National League after the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies lost. The Padres have a chance to clinch a playoff berth before they even take the field with the Arizona Diamondbacks playing early against the Colorado Rockies. If the Diamondbacks lose, the Padres are in. San Diego can also take care of business with a win over Los Angeles tonight at 7:10 p.m.

Padres News:

• Thomas Conroy of Gaslamp Ball says there are reasons for optimism as the Padres close in on a playoff berth.

• San Diego added Jason Adam back to the bullpen prior to the start of the game against Los Angeles. Griffin Canning was assigned to the ACL and Alex Jacob was designated for assignment,

Baseball News:

• The Chicago Cubs lost to the Miami Marlins and fell a game behind the Padres in the NL Wild Card chase.

• Vladamir Guerrerro Jr. opened up about his struggles this season, but his comments have garnered skepticism from fans.

• Chris Sale reached 200 strikeouts for the ninth time in his career and helped the Atlanta Braves beat the Cincinnati Reds.

• The Arizona Diamondbacks kept their postseason hopes alive with a win over the Colorado Rockies.

• The Philadelphia Phillies could not stop the Milwaukee Brewers and their pursuit of 100 wins and took a 4-1 loss.