As if the Padres already taking some heat on ESPN’s broadcast of Sunday Night Baseball wasn’t enough, the Los Angeles Dodgers made sure San Diego got one last taste of humiliation before they left town.
In Monday’s finale of the four-game series, the Dodgers captured their third win in a 13-7 route. But it looked like it was going in the other direction early on.
The Pads scored five runs in the bottom of the third and once again had Dodgers fans chattering about Tony Gonsolin’s place in the starting rotation. Fortunately for Gonsolin, that discourse lasted about 10 minutes.
LA responded with eight runs in the top of the fourth, capped off by a grand slam from Mookie Betts. Padres starter Seth Lugo faced the minimum until that frame, when he allowed single, walk, double, double, walk, single, single, home run before getting the second out.
Then manager Bob Melvin went to the bullpen, but the damage was done. The Dodgers quickly took an 8-5 lead and the team’s social media account delivered the final blow.
Dodgers troll Padres in middle of series-clinching game after Mookie Betts HR
Que Padre! Really hope that’s not already on a shirt in the Petco Park team store or else Peter Seidler might be out a few more million bucks. Can’t have that if the Padres are planning on offering Juan Soto a contract extension in the offseason!
After the offense disposed of Lugo, they welcomed one of the Padres’ big trade acquisitions — reliever Scott Barlow — to the NL West. They hung a five-spot on the former Royals right-hander, who was brought in to help stabilize the back end of the bullpen. Once upon a time a rumored Dodgers target, Barlow got wrecked for five earned runs on four hits and two walks. Melvin left his guys out there to perish on Monday.
Then, Joe Kelly, after taunting Fernando Tatis Jr. in Friday’s win, struck out the struggling outfielder as he mowed theough the Padres’ order in the seventh inning. That one’s on social media for everybody to see, too. Wonder if that was premeditated or anything.
This was supposed to be a home series for the Padres. It could’ve been a huge “get right” moment for them. Instead, the finale seemed to be attended by mostly Dodgers fans as LA made it look incredibly easy. Remember, if not for a bullpen meltdown on Saturday night, this one’s a sweep.
The Padres have fallen further out of the playoff race and remain in serious danger of missing out on the final Wild Card spot, which should bring about momentous changes in the offseason.
The Dodgers have a 4.5-game lead over the San Francisco Giants in the NL West and their offense continues to solve all their pitching problems. Meanwhile, the Padres have opposing fans trying to cash in a $300 million bet as they continue to slide.
Ay Dios mio, San Diego.