Dodgers beat Padres, clinch NL-best record
Max Muncy hit the first grand slam homer of his career and eight Dodgers pitchers -- starting with Rich Hill -- held the Padres to three runs on five hits Tuesday night as the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers defeated San Diego 6-3 at Petco Park.
The Dodgers 101st win assured they would finish the regular season with the best overall record in the National League.
The Dodgers took a 5-0 lead Tuesday before the Padres scored three times in the fifth.
Los Angeles loaded the bases against Padres rookie right-hander Ronald Bolanos in the first on two walks and a hit batter. A.J. Pollock then topped an infield roller up the third-base line for a single that scored Muncy from third.
Will Smith drew a two-out walk from Bolanos in the fourth to begin setting the table for Muncy's slam. Pitcher Tony Gonsolin - who was credited with the win to improve to 4-2 -- followed with a single to center and Bolanos walked Joc Pederson to fill the bases.
Right-hander Gerardo Reyes then followed Bolanos and Muncy pulled Reyes' first pitch 366 feet into the right-field stands. It was Muncy's 34th homer of the season and the Dodgers' seventh grand slam of 2019.
The Dodgers final run came on Joc Pederson's 33rd homer of the season in the ninth off Michel Baez.
Bolanos (0-2) gave up four runs on three hits and five walks with four strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings to take the loss. Hill, who was wearing a brace to protect his left knee, worked two innings as expected and had five strikeouts against two walks.
Catcher Luis Torrens got the Padres first hit with a one-out double to left past the dive of third baseman Justin Turner in the fifth off right-handed reliever Dylan Floro. Luis Urias followed with an RBI single to right. Then, with two out, Urias scored on Manuel Margot's triple to right center with Margot scoring on a wide relay to third.
Nick Martini and Manny Machado followed with singles off Floro to put the tying runs on. But left-hander Adam Kolarek struck out Eric Hosmer to end the rally.
All five of the Padres' hits came in the fifth. Only two Padres reached base in the final four innings. Kenley Jansen picked up his 31st save.
--Field Level Media
