Padres comeback bid falls short in 7-5 loss to Dodgers

The Padres recorded four runs in the final three innings thanks to a pair of home runs by Manny Machado and Jurickson Profar but it wasn’t enough to overcome a six-run deficit built by the Dodgers as they fell 7-5 in the series finale this afternoon at Petco Park.

Dodgers CF A.J. Pollock got the scoring started for the day with a solo home run in the top of the second. That was quickly answered on the other side of the inning by a Jason Castro RBI double to score Wil Myers from third. The Padres missed a prime opportunity to open the game up when Dustin May walked Profar to load the bases. Unfortunately, Trent Grisham grounded out to first.

Through the next three innings, Los Angeles piled on six more runs, highlighted by Chris Smith’s two hits for three RBIs and LF Chris Taylor’s solo home run.

The Padres used a nine-pitcher rotation in this one, with starter Adrian Morejon leading the team with three strikeouts in two innings of work. The efforts of Craig Stammen, Pierce Johnson, and Emilio Pagan should be highlighted as they combined to allow zero hits through the final three innings.

With the win tonight, the Dodgers became the first team in the majors to clinch a spot in the playoffs. San Diego is currently 3.5 games behind the Dodgers with eight games left in the month of September.

Tomorrow is a day off the the Friars before they begin a three-game road series with the Seattle Mariners (22-26). Chris Paddack is expected to be back for his first start after coming off the short-term IL.