Padres can’t overcome early deficit, fall 7-6 to Dodgers

It was another poor start by the Padres’ offense on Wednesday night that forced the team to scratch and claw their way out of a 7-2 hole early in the sixth inning. San Diego (7-6) got within one in the final stanza but the Dodgers (9-4) held on to secure the 7-6 victory.

The Dodgers are now tied with the Rockies for first place in the NL West while the Friars have now lost four of their last five.

I guess the only silver lining is that they still lead the majors in runs scored with 72? Sigh.

Los Angeles was propelled offensive by RF Joc Pederson and his two-home run performance. His first, a two-run shot, came in the second which gave them an early 2-0 lead. His second, this time a three-run homer, came against rookie Luis Patino, who relieved SP Garrett Richards in the sixth. Patino’s major-league debut didn’t nearly go as planned, unfortunately, finishing with three hits and three runs allowed through two innings pitched. He did strikeout two, for what’s it’s worth.

Richards allowed five hits and four runs on the night through five innings with an ERA of 4.60.

SS Fernando Tatis Jr. recorded his fourth home run of the season with a two-run shot in the fifth to put the Padres on the board. he finished with a pair of hits, RBIs, and runs scored on the evening.

Wil Myers helped spur their late comeback with his fourth home run of the season, as well, coming in the bottom of the eighth to bring the lead within two at 7-5. His final line of the night looked just like Tatis’ with two hits, a home run, two runs scored, but just a single RBI.

In the bottom of the ninth, LF Tommy Pham gave the Padres one last glimmer of hope when he singled to left, bringing home Tatis and CF Trent Grisham to third with one out on the board. In soul-crushing, however, 3B Manny Machado grounded out into a double play, ending things just short of what they wanted to achieve.

The Dodgers’ Ross Stripling (3-0) got the win and Kenley Jansen got the save. Stripling struck out seven on the night with six hits and four runs allowed through 5 innings.

The Padres have the day off before hosting the Diamondbacks at Petco Friday evening. First pitch is scheduled for 6:10pm PT.