Field Level Media
13 Aug 2020, 12:35 GMT+10
The Los Angeles Dodgers finally showed signs of breaking out of an offensive funk as their abbreviated 2020 season nears the 20-game mark.
The San Diego Padres like having something to do with their opponent's scuffles.
Wednesday marked the third consecutive night that the Dodgers had a hard time getting their powerful offense on track against the San Diego Padres.
Los Angeles finally scratched together two runs in the fifth inning and powered its way to four runs in the eighth, capped by a three-run home run from Justin Turner, to emerge with a 6-0 victory.
The eighth-inning outburst was a long time coming. The Dodgers were held scoreless over the final eight innings Monday in the opener of a four-game series against the Padres and lost 2-1. On Tuesday, they scored just once in the first eight innings and lost again, 6-2.
In the third game of the series on Wednesday, there were more offensive issues as Padres starter Zach Davies opened with four scoreless innings. But the Dodgers used two bunts in the fifth to score a pair of runs. In the eighth, against the San Diego bullpen, Cody Bellinger had an RBI double to go along with Turner's home run.
It won't get any easier for the Dodgers on Thursday as they face San Diego right-hander Chris Paddack (2-1, 3.18 ERA). Paddack already has a victory over the Dodgers this season, limiting them to three runs over six innings on Aug. 3 as San Diego held on for a 5-4 decision.
Paddack is 1-1 with a 5.31 ERA in four career starts against the Dodgers.
It had been something of a statement week for the young Padres, who entered Wednesday with four victories in their past five games and had a chance to move alone into second place in the National League West.
"It's mid-August baseball," Padres catcher Austin Hedges told reporters, noting some intensity in six games between the teams so far. "That's the way that it is. ... Every game is a playoff push. That's obviously going to add a little bit of pressure to perform, and sometimes those instances lead to some chirping here. That's basically what it comes down to."
The Padres can still win the series with a victory Thursday.
The Dodgers will have left-hander Julio Urias (1-0, 2.40 ERA) on the mound. He originally was expected to start Wednesday, but the team gave him an extra day of rest and called up young right-hander Tony Gonsolin to take the mound Wednesday.
Urias gave up just one run to the San Francisco Giants in his previous outing, but he lasted just four innings, throwing an inefficient 78 pitches.
Urias has not faced the Padres this season, but he does have a 1.76 ERA against them over seven career appearances, two of those starts. He does not have a decision against San Diego.
The real question is what kind of run support will Urias get. Plenty was expected from Bellinger after his MVP season in 2019, but his RBI on Wednesday was just his seventh in 18 games.
"It happens every year that a group of guys aren't swinging the bat well," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters Wednesday. "We have this conversation every year. Every manager does. I think the guys are handling it well.
"We just have to be more consistent about scoring consistently. Runs per game, we're at the top, near the top ... so it's just about going out there and continuing to take good at-bats."
--Field Level MediaGet a daily dose of Cambodian Times news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Cambodian Times.
More InformationGENEVA, Switzerland: A new United Nations report alleges that dozens of global corporations are profiting from and helping sustain...
LONDON, UK - Lawmakers in the United Kingdom have voted overwhelmingly to proscribe the direct-action group Palestine Action as a terrorist...
DHARAMSHALA, India: The Dalai Lama is set to address a significant three-day conference of Buddhist leaders this week, coinciding with...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: In a significant ruling last week, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Texas law requiring age verification for users...
ISTANBUL/PARIS/BRUSSELS: As searing temperatures blanket much of Europe, wildfires are erupting and evacuation orders are being issued...
VENICE, Italy: Over the weekend, hundreds of protesters marched through the narrow streets of Venice to voice their opposition to billionaire...
ABU DHABI, 3rd July, 2025 (WAM) -- The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and the National Basketball Association...
New Delhi [India], July 3 (ANI): The social media accounts of several Pakistani actors and cricketers remain blocked after it was reported...
Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], July 2 (ANI): The much-anticipated LEGEN-Z T10 League will be played from August 7 to August 13 at the...
New Delhi [India], July 2 (ANI): The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Ombudsman Justice (Retd) Arun Mishra has directed...
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 2 (ANI): Actor-comedian Kapil Sharma is back with another episode of 'The Great Indian Kapil Show,'...
Birmingham [UK], July 2 (ANI): Former head coach and cricketer Ravi Shastri didn't mince his words while expressing his discontent...