Roki Sasaki only lasted three innings, and the Dodgers trailed 6-0 in the second inning. But it simply didn’t matter because the offense roared into high gear in a 12-7 win over the San Diego Padres on Thursday night at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers tied their season high with 17 hits, and their 12 runs marked their 14th game scoring in double digits, matching their total for all of last season.
Dalton Rushing, who has started 18 of the last 24 games behind the plate, got the first two runs on the board with a home run in the second inning and also doubled, part of four hits, four RBI, and three runs scored on the night.
Max Muncy had an RBI double and Kyle Tucker an RBI single in the third inning to get the Dodgers closer. Tucker had hits in each of his first four at-bats and also walked, directly after walking all four times up Wednesday against the A’s.
Another crooked number came in the fourth inning, with Andy Pages tying things up with a two-run double, followed by a Mookie Betts RBI double for the lead, and a Max Muncy single.
The offense swept another bad start by Sasaki under the rug. He allowed six runs in the first two frames and needed 88 pitches to record nine outs. All six runs were scored on home runs, making for seven homers allowed over his last four starts after permitting only three long balls over his previous six outings.
The second-year right-hander has allowed 19 runs in 17 inning over his last four starts, with 11 walks and 15 strikeouts, including nine runs in seven innings over the last seven days to a Padres team that ranks dead last in the majors in runs scored per game (3.95) and 27th in wRC+ (91).
Padres starter Randy Vásquez has struggled against the Dodgers this season, allowing 14 runs (11 earned) in 10 2/3 innings over three starts, with 21 hits, 5 walks, and only one strikeouts. He allowed the first four Dodgers runs in three innings, then Wandy Peralta was much more efficient allowing his four runs in only one inning to take the loss.
The Dodgers bullpen was up to the task after Sasaki’s early exit, with six pitchers to cover the final six innings. The first five relief innings were scoreless before the Padres tacked on a run in the ninth. Will Klein struck out three in two scoreless frames to start the relief work and earned the win.
Thursday particulars
Home runs: Dalton Rushing (10); Manny Machado (17), Jackson Merrill (9), Jake Cronenworth (2)
WP — Will Klein (3-2): 2 IP, 1 hit, 3 strikeouts
LP — Wandy Peralta (1-1): 1 IP, 6 hits, 4 runs, 2 strikeouts
Up next
The four-game set continues on Friday night (7:10 p.m., SportsNet LA), with Shohei Ohtani pitching on eight days rest. Padres will turn to ace Michael King.
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