Final: Dodgers beat Padres 8-3 to lower magic number to four
The Dodgers magic number to clinch the NL West is now four, after they evened their series against the San Diego Padres with an 8-3 win.
Julio Urías gave up just two runs in seven innings to further burnish his Cy Young Award credentials.
Freddie Freeman led the way offensively with four hits and four RBIs, including a two-run home run that helped put the game out of reach.
The Dodgers are now 95-43.
Final: Dodgers 8, Padres 4
Dodgers extend lead as Julio Urías completes another strong start
Julio Urías continued to brandish his Cy Young Award credentials, pitching seven strong innings of two-run ball to maintain the NL’s best ERA at 2.30.
His only blemishes tonight were two Manny Machado solo home runs, with the Padres third baseman belting his second of the night in the sixth inning.
However, Urías exited the mound with a six-run lead, after the Dodgers tacked on some insurance on Freddie Freeman’s two-run homer — his fourth hit and RBI of the night — and Chris Taylor’s RBI single.
End 7th: Dodgers lead 8-2
Dodgers explode for four runs in fifth inning to knock Blake Snell out of game
The Padres let Blake Snell face the top of the Dodgers order for a third time.
The Dodgers’ big three made him pay.
After a walk by Trayce Thompson and double by Austin Barnes to lead off the fifth, Mookie Betts also drew a free pass (following a lengthy mound visit with the count at 2-and-0) to load the bases.
Trea Turner then unloaded them, driving a three-run double into the gap to put the Dodgers back in front.
Freddie Freeman followed with a slicing RBI double down the left field line, knocking Snell out of the game before he could record an out in the fifth.
Mid 5th: Dodgers lead 5-1
Freddie Freeman gives Dodgers lead, then Manny Machado answers with solo home run
The Dodgers struck first tonight. But their lead didn’t last long.
After Freddie Freeman hit an RBI single in the top of the third, plating Trea Turner after his two-out triple, Manny Machado answered in the bottom half of the inning, hitting a hanging Julio Urías curveball to the Western Metal Supply Co. building.
End 3rd: Tied 1-1
Blake Treinen back on the injured list; will he return to Dodgers this season?
Two outings into his return from a partially torn shoulder capsule, Dodgers reliever Blake Treinen is heading back to the injured list.
The right-hander was placed on the 15-day IL Saturday with what the team called “right shoulder tightness,” after manager Dave Roberts said Trenien was battling some discomfort in his lat muscle area.
The 34-year-old veteran, who missed more than four months earlier this season and only narrowly avoided potential season-ending surgery, hadn’t pitched since Monday because of the recent shoulder issue.
And now, his status for the remainder of the campaign seems to be up in the air again.
“It’s not great,” Roberts said, “to be quite honest.”
Julio Urías takes mound as Dodgers try to trim magic number
The Dodgers enter Saturday with a magic number of six to clinch the NL West.
They are hoping their hottest starter can lower it even more.
Julio Urías will take the mound with a 15-7 record and 2.29 ERA, the best mark among any qualified National League pitcher entering the night. Over his last nine starts, he’s been lights out, with an 8-1 record and 1.13 ERA.
On the other side, the Padres will counter with left-hander Blake Snell, who is 6-8 with a 3.73 ERA on the season and has also been hot of late, with a 2.91 ERA in his last 10 starts.
Here is the Dodgers lineup for Saturday:
ICYMI: Dodgers’ weekend plans to clinch NL West thwarted by Padres
SAN DIEGO — The Champagne can stay on ice at least through the weekend. The Dodgers won’t be clinching the National League West in San Diego in the next couple days.
Needing a sweep against the Padres this weekend to lock up the division title on the opening leg of their three-city trip, the Dodgers instead lost the series’ opener in extra innings Friday night, getting walked off on Jake Cronenworth’s 10th inning RBI single in a 5-4 loss at Petco Park.
The Dodgers still lead the NL West by 18 games. But with their magic number stuck at six, the earliest they can clinch the division is Tuesday, when they’ll be in Arizona facing the Diamondbacks.
How to watch and stream the Dodgers this season
Here’s a look at the Dodgers broadcast and streaming schedule for the remainder of the 2022 regular season: