SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers grew to become the primary group to clinch a playoff spot within the pandemic-shortened season, beating the San Diego Padres 7-5 Wednesday behind Dustin Could’s gutty effort out of the bullpen and residential runs from AJ Pollock and Chris Taylor.
Will Smith drove in three runs for the seven-time defending NL West champion Dodgers, who opened a Three 1/2-game lead within the division by successful two of three within the matchup of the NL’s two finest groups.
Mookie Betts tied his profession excessive with three stolen bases, had two hits and scored a run.
At 35-15, the Dodgers breezed into the expanded 16-team postseason subject. Los Angeles is searching for its first World Collection title since 1988.
San Diego, quieted by Dodgers pitching a second straight recreation even because it heads for its first playoff berth since successful the division in 2006, has misplaced two straight for the primary time since mid-August.
San Diego’s Fernando Tatis Jr., who had been thought-about the NL MVP front-runner not too long ago, went Zero for Four to increase his stoop to 2 for 27 over eight video games. His common has dropped from .314 to .281.
Could, who had been scheduled to start out earlier than supervisor Dave Roberts determined to go together with a bullpen day, was the Dodgers’ third pitcher of the sport. He went 5 1/Three innings and was in management till Jurickson Profar homered to proper subject with two outs within the seventh to tug the Dodgers to 7-3. Mitch Moreland reached on an error by second baseman Gavin Lux opening the inning.
After Profar’s homer, Could struck out Trent Grisham and blew off some steam by yelling a number of profanities that might be heard round empty Petcom Park. Grisham angered the Dodgers by briefly posing on the plate after homering off Clayton Kershaw within the Padres’ 7-2 win Monday evening.
Could allowed Manny Machado’s solo homer with one out within the eighth, his 14th, and was lifted by Roberts.
Till the seventh, Could had breezed by way of 4 innings by permitting solely a single and a stroll. Could struck out six in .
Starter Brusdar Gasterol allowed a success and a run in 1 1/Three innings earlier than Adam Kolarek (3-0) allowed a success and two walks in two-thirds of an inning.
Pedro Baez obtained the ultimate two outs for his second save.
San Diego used 9 pitchers.
Pollock homered previous the palm bushes to the appropriate of the batter’s eye in straightaway middle subject off rookie Adrian Morejon (2-1) with two outs within the second. It was his 11th. Taylor greeted Garrett Richards with a leadoff shot into the second deck in left -center main off the sixth, his sixth, for a 7-1 lead.
San Diego tied it within the backside of the inning. Wil Myers hit a one-out double off Graterol, who made approach for Kolarek. Jason Castro doubled with two outs to herald Myers.
The Dodgers regained the lead within the third in opposition to Joey Lucchesi, who opened the season within the rotation earlier than being despatched to the alternate coaching web site after two begins. Making his first massive league aid look, he allowed Max Muncy’s two-run double and Smith’s RBI infield single within the third. Lucchesi slipped attempting to subject Smith’s checked-swing dribbler and the catcher beat it out for a success.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Dodgers: Positioned LHP Caleb Ferguson on the IL with an injured left elbow. He was scheduled to have an MRI in Los Angeles on Wednesday after going through only one batter Tuesday evening. To take his roster spot, RHP Josh Sborz was recalled.
Padres: Reinstated C Francisco Mejía (bruised left thumb) from the 10-day IL and optioned OF Abraham Almonte to the alternate coaching web site.
UP NEXT
Dodgers: LHP Julio Urías (3-0, 3.53) is scheduled to start out the opener of a four-game collection Thursday evening at Colorado, which is able to counter with LHP Kyle Freeland (2-1, 3.54).
Padres: RHP Chris Paddack (3-4, 4.74) is scheduled to start out Friday evening within the opener of a three-game collection at Seattle.
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