Five-run sixth inning helps Dodgers to 8-6 win

The Dodgers racked up five runs on six hits after Randy Vazquez was relieved in the bottom of the sixth inning, have now won four straight games.

The Dodgers and San Diego Padres made things interesting early in Tuesday’s contest, but the Dodgers rode a five-run sixth inning to secure their third straight victory against San Diego and their fourth straight win overall.

It was another bullpen game for the Dodgers, with Jack Dreyer serving as the opener for the fourth time this season. San Diego’s bats came out swinging early again, as Luis Arraez flicked an opposite field single before Gavin Sheets won a 10-pitch at bat against Dreyer for an RBI single to give San Diego their second 1-0 first inning lead in as many games.

Randy Vazquez entered Tuesday’s contest with averaging just 5.4 strikeouts per nine innings, yet recorded a quick strikeout of Shohei Ohtani to begin his night. He would strikeout Ohtani again in the fifth inning for his only other strikeout of his outing.

During Monday’s contest, Andy Pages was drilled by Dylan Cease, with Padres manager Mike Shildt visibly frustrated with Pages complaining about being hit. Pages made sure Shildt would remember him, as he drilled a bullet home run following a Will Smith sacrifice fly that gave the Dodgers a 2-1 lead.

Dreyer was able to go two full innings before Lou Trivino took over to begin the top of the third. He entered Tuesday having given up just two runs as a Dodger through 12 ¹⁄₃ innings, but he let the lead slip through his hands as Arraez slapped an RBI single, followed by a sacrifice fly from Sheets to give the Padres the lead.

Tensions began to flare after Trivino plunked Fernando Tatís Jr. in the top of the third, and San Diego returned the favor as Vazquez hit Ohtani on an inside fastball. After warnings were issued for both sides, Dave Roberts attempted to plead his case over whether or not there was intent behind Ohtani being hit, but was tossed out of the game by third base umpire Tripp Gibson, leaving Mark Prior at the helm for the remainder of the night.

Pages must have taken what Shildt said on Monday night personally, as he demolished his second home run of the night to tie the game at three.

After allowing nine runs in his previous outing against San Diego, Matt Sauer was called upon to handle the bulk of the middle innings, and he rebounded with a pair of shutout innings to keep the game tied.

The Padres pulled Vazquez after five innings of work on just 68 pitches, and Jeremiah Estrada was the first arm that Shildt called on. The decision worked out horribly for the Padres, as Will Smith fought off 11 pitches before crushing a go-ahead two run home run. The Dodgers recorded three straight singles from Teoscar Hernández, Max Muncy, and Pages, the latter being Pages’ third RBI of the game. Estrada couldn’t record a single out before being replaced by Yuki Matsui, who allowed a two-run double to Tommy Edman to give the Dodgers a five-run sixth inning and an 8-3 lead.

Pages recorded his fourth hit of the night to increase his batting average to .293 and OPS to .845.

Sauer continued throwing into the seventh inning, where he let an inside fastball slip away and hit Jose Iglesias on his left wrist. Sauer wasn’t ejected after hitting Iglesias, leaving the Padres dugout incensed, with Manny Machado in particular barking about why the warnings were called in the first place. Rookie Trenton Brooks made Sauer pay for the hit batsman, as he connected for his first major league home run that cut the Dodger lead to three.

Michael Kopech came in relief of Sauer after putting Tatís and Arraez on base, and he added fuel to the fire by walking Machado to load the bases. Kopech recorded a pop out of Sheets before losing his balance on a 1-2 offering to Xander Bogaerts, allowing Tatís to score and trim the lead to two. Bogaerts added to his frustrating night by grounding out for his fourth time to escape the jam.

The Padres threatened with the bases loaded against Anthony Banda in the eighth inning, but the southpaw managed to get Arraez to pop out to Kiké Hernández in foul territory. Tanner Scott came in for a save situation after pitching in the eighth inning the night before, making quick work of his old team to give himself his 14th save. After a rocky start to his Dodgers career, Scott has allowed just one run over nine innings in June, striking out 12 while walking one.

Game particulars

• Home runs— Andy Pages (14, 15), Will Smith (7); Trenton Brooks (1)
• WP— Matt Sauer (2-1): 2 ¹⁄₃ IP, 3 hits, 3 earned runs, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts
• LP— Jeremiah Estrada (2-4): 0 IP, 5 hits, 5 earned runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts
• SV— Tanner Scott (14): 1 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeout

Up next

The Dodgers will go for a series win of the Padres and their fifth straight win on Wednesday (7:10 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA). Emmet Sheehan makes his return from injury, his first appearance since Game 1 of the 2023 NLDS. Stephen Kolek starts for San Diego.