FSM Essential Recap: Dodgers vs Padres - Series 46

FSM Essential Recap: Dodgers vs Padres – Series 46

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Los Angeles Dodgers (91-53 |  San Diego Padres (74-68)

 

“Listen, if you start worrying about the people in the stands, before too long you’re up in the stands with them.”

– Tommy LaSorda

 

 

Game 3:

 

The Dodgers closed out their weekend series with too much Scherzer and offense as they won 8-0 to sweep the Padres. While the offense was certainly appreciated, Sunday was all about Max Scherzer.

He entered the game needing six strikeouts to reach 3000 in his career and all the fans in Dodger Stadium were well aware of that milestone from the first pitch. After getting one strikeout in the first inning, Scherzer pitched an immaculate inning in the second, three strikeouts on nine total pitches.

After the game, Scherzer said he was aware of this potential feat once he got two strikes on Tommy Pham and was glad he got him on a fastball.

After pitching his first non-strikeout inning in the fourth inning, Scherzer struck out Eric Hosmer to get his 3000th strikeout in the fifth inning.

The Dodgers appropriately acknowledged the event on the video screen and he was given a nice ovation by the fans and his teammates when he returned to the dugout.

Scherzer used the word awesome a few times to describe what it was to reach this milestone. “Awesome achievement.. awesome thing to accomplish,” Scherzer said during his postgame media session. In the end, this milestone is a product of durability and all of the hard work Scherzer put in.

Scherzer was able to celebrate after the game with his parent, wife, and children. He noted that while his parents have been with him all of the way watching his career, doing this with his wife and kids here was special.

Scherzer was also appreciative when he was informed he joined a smaller fraternity when he got his 3000th strikeout, pitchers with at least three Cy Young Awards and 3000+ strikeouts. “I was not aware of that, that is pretty cool,” Scherzer said when he was told that after the game.

 

In the end, the only suspense would be to see if Max Scherzer could cap his big day with the ultimate game. And for 22 straight Padres batters, he was perfect.

Then Eric Hosmer doubled to right field to become the first Padre to reach base.

Scherzer then got the last two batters he faced out, the last one on a strikeout by Wil Myers and was warmly greeted by all of his teammates when he returned to the dugout.’

The final line for Scherzer was eight innings pitched, no runs, one hit, and nine strikeouts.

Along with Scherzer on the mound, the Dodgers got an equally welcome return by their offense. The scoring began when Corey Seager hit a solo home run off Dinelson Lamet in the fourth inning. Mookie Betts doubled the lead when he led off the fifth inning with a home run to make it 2-0.

 

In the seventh inning, Gavin Lux reached base for the third time today with his second single. After Scherzer sacrificed him to second, Betts hit a fly ball that eluded Wil Myers’s glove and body to fall harmlessly on the grass. Betts would get a gift single on that play,

Muncy then doubled to right field score Lux and give the Dodgers a three-run lead. Trea Turner grounded out but after a recorded Russell Westbrook shoutout to make some noise, Justin Turner hit a three-run homer to give the Dodgers a six-run cushion.

The Dodgers would add two more runs in the eighth inning to make it 8-0, the final score.

 

Game 3 Boxscore:

 

WP: Max Scherzer(14-4)

LP: Dinelson Lamet (2-4)

HR: Corey Seager (9), Mookie Betts (21), Justin Turner (24)

Clayton Kershaw will make his first appearance since July 3rd against the Nationals. He will be back on the Dodger Stadium mound to start the first game of a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 and can be seen on SportsNet LA.

 

 

Game 2:

The Dodgers won a thriller on Saturday night, as they defeated the Padres 5-4.

L.A. had a three-run lead in the eighth inning and turned it over to Blake Treinen. After seven dominant innings from Walker Buehler, the Dodgers turned to one of their best relievers in the bullpen. Treinen struggled, as he allowed two runs to score and allowed the tying run to reach base.

With one out and a runner on third, the Dodgers called Joe Kelly out of the pen. Some nights, you’re not certain which Kelly you’re going to get on the mound. Safe to say, tonight the Dodgers got ‘Joseph’. He recorded back-to-back strikeouts, getting the Dodgers out of the inning with the lead.

“For Joe to come in and pick him up is huge for us,” Buehler said following the game. “When Joe Kelly is healthy, he’s pretty electric. He showed it tonight.”

Kenley Jansen took the mound in the ninth, his third consecutive day pitching. It was the first time all season the Dodgers have called his number on three straight days. He looked pretty fresh to me, as he retired the side on only eight pitches, including a strikeout to win the game. It was Jansen’s 32nd save of the season.

Over his last 17 games, Jansen has allowed only one run and five hits with 19 strikeouts.

 

The Dodgers jumped on the board in the third inning and it was truly a thing of beauty. Cody Bellinger led off the inning with a walk. He then came in to score off a double from Gavin Lux, giving L.A. a 1-0 lead. Lux recorded two hits on the night.

Buehler advanced Lux to third base with a sacrifice bunt and Mookie Betts brought in Lux with a sacrifice fly. It was the perfect example of small ball, and I loved every second of it.

Speaking of Betts, yeah that guy is pretty good. He hit the go-ahead home run in the fifth inning, a three-run shot with two outs. It couldn’t have been done without Lux and Buehler. With two outs, Lux singled on a 3-2 count. Buehler then followed with a four-pitch walk, bringing Betts up to the plate.

It was his 20th home run this season and the fifth time in his career he’s hit at least 20 homers in a season.

 

Game 2 Boxscore:

 

WP: Walker Buehler (14-3)

LP: Chris Paddack (7-7)

SV: Kenley Jansen (32)

HR: Mookie Betts (20) Fernando Tatis Jr. (38)

 

The Dodgers look for the series sweep on Sunday. Max Scherzer will take the mound for L.A., where he’ll need six strikeouts to reach the 3,000 strikeout milestone for his career. The Padres will start Blake Snell who has not been good away from Petco Park. The first pitch is at 1:10 and can be seen on SportsNet LA and MLB Network (for out-of-market fans).

 

 

Game 1:

 

It was yet another quiet night from the offense, but sometimes it’s okay with great pitching. The Dodgers didn’t allow the Padres to score a run, as they picked up the 3-0 victory to open up their series.

Max Muncy hit a two-run home run in the third inning. Statcast said the ball went 428 feet, but I don’t believe it. Muncy got all of that one and it gave the Dodgers a 2-0 lead.

Their other run came an inning later, playing some old fashioned fundamental baseball. Will Smith hit a double to lead off the inning. A wild pitch then advanced him to third base with one out.

Chris Taylor, who has been struggling badly over the last four weeks, brought in Smith with a sacrifice fly. Truly beautiful baseball. That was the lone offense on the night for the Dodgers. They scored only three runs and had four hits, but that was all they needed fortunately.

The pitching yet again was excellent, just as it’s been all season. Julio Urías had one of his best outings of the season for L.A. He made 94 pitches and honestly could have gone another inning if needed.

“It was really important for us to get ahead of this series,” Urías said through a translator. “On a personal note, very great to get those victories.”

“He’s a front-line starter and when he takes the baseball, we expect to win,” manager Dave Roberts said. “For him to go deep tonight shows his growth and maturity.”

 

In his seven innings, Urias struck out seven and issued only one walk. The Padres recorded only three hits off him and never were threatening.

Urias leads all of baseball with 17 wins and his ERA is 2.98. Oh by the way, he’s the Dodgers’ No. 3 starter. The fact that L.A.’s No. 3 starter is going to receive Cy Young votes is amazing.

“He was sitting on that pitch all night, he was working me to make that pitch,” Urías said. “I thought it was going to go over the fence. Luckily, it didn’t and it was a great play by Chris.”

Blake Treinen got the eighth and things got a little interesting. He allowed back-to-back hits with two outs, bringing the tying run to the plate. Wil Myers struck out swinging to end the inning, getting the Dodgers out of the potential jam.

Kenley Jansen took the ball in the ninth and recorded his 31st save of the season as he tossed a scoreless inning.

The Dodgers remained 2 1/2 games behind NL West-leading San Francisco and improved to a major league-best 47-23 at home with their 15th shutout.

 

Game 1 Boxscore:

 

WP: Julio Urías (17-3)

LP: Joe Musgrove (10-9)

SV: Kenley Jansen (31)

HR: Max Muncy (32)

 

The Dodgers take on the Padres again later today at Dodger Stadium. L.A. will start Walker Buehler against San Diego’s Chris Paddock. The first pitch is at 7:10 and can be seen on SportsNet LA.

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