Machado hits a home run and a 2-run, go-ahead single to lift the Padres over the Dodgers 8-3

By BERNIE WILSON
AP Sports Writer

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Manny Machado homered into the second deck in left field in the fourth inning and then hit a go-ahead, two-run single in the seven-run eighth inning for the San Diego Padres, who beat NL West-leading Los Angeles 8-3 Saturday night to snap a six-game losing streak to the Dodgers.

The Dodgers’ bullpen meltdown was similar to the one by the Padres on Friday night that helped Los Angeles rally for a 10-5 win.

With the Dodgers leading 3-1, Yency Almonte (3-2) loaded the bases with one out and was replaced by Caleb Ferguson. Juan Soto hit an RBI infield single and a throwing error by second baseman Kiké Hernàndez on the play brought in the tying run. Machado then singled to left to bring in two more runs for a 5-3 lead.

Machado was caught in a rundown but ended up on third after a throwing error by Ferguson. Machado was checked by a trainer and manager Bob Melvin said he has hamstring tightness.

The Padres had six singles and three walks while sending 12 batters to the plate in the eighth.

Two innings earlier, Machado tossed his bat in anger and argued with home plate ump John Bacon after taking a called third strike, apparently thinking it was a quick pitch.

“I think he has a pretty good understanding that we needed him in that game,” Melvin said. “Cooler heads prevailed.”

The Padres had some “really big at-bats late in the game when we were behind, which we haven’t seen in a while, too,” Melvin said. “After last night we had to have a much better game today. Even though for a while it didn’t look great, the intensity was there the entire game and we realize we have to have games like this if we’re going to keep moving forward.”

The Padres are having a disappointing season in the wake of their NL Championship Series appearance. They’re buried in fourth in the NL West, nine games back, and three games out of the third wild-card spot, with three teams ahead of them. They’ve been under .500 since May 12.

“If we keep playing baseball like that, we’re going to go a long way,” Soto said. “Don’t give up, pass the baton to everybody, believe in your teammates. Don’t try to hit the ball 500 feet, just get a single and let the guy behind you do the job, too.”

The rally got big league ERA leader Blake Snell off the hook for a loss and spoiled the Dodgers debut of Ryan Yarbrough, who was impressive in his Dodgers debut. Nick Martinez (5-4) got the win.

Padres pitching coach Ruben Niebla was ejected in the fourth inning by first base umpire Gabe Morales after a balk was called against Snell, who was done after throwing 108 pitches in five innings. Snell’s ERA rose from 2.50 to 2.61 after he allowed three runs and four hits while striking out eight and walking four.

Melvin said Niebla was ejected for saying something about a checked swing the Padres felt should have been called earlier.

“Ruben said what he needed to say and I’m so excited for what he said and I love it. That’s all I’m going to say,” Snell said.

Snell said he was trying to change the pitch call on his PitchCom device and the umpires told him he had come set twice. “They’ll figure it out. It’s just frustrating,” the left-hander said.

Yarbrough held the Padres to one run and three hits in 4 1/3 innings while striking out three and walking none in relief of opener Michael Grove. Yarbrough’s only mistake was allowing Machado’s 21st homer, which pulled the Padres to 2-1 in the fourth inning. Yarbrough was acquired from Kansas City on Tuesday.

Grove struck out his first four batters and he and Yarbrough combined to strike out seven of the first nine Padres batters.

Will Smith homered to left with two outs in the first, his 14th. Hernàndez’s sacrifice fly in the second brought in Chris Taylor, who drew a leadoff walk and stole second and third.

The Dodgers went ahead 3-1 in the fifth when Freddie Freeman singled in Mookie Betts. Betts had doubled and taken third on left fielder Soto’s error, sliding in headfirst and getting his hand on the base just ahead of Machado’s tag. Machado helped Betts up and the two chatted during a review that upheld the safe call. Betts then scored on Freeman’s opposite-field hit.

UP NEXT

RHP Lance Lynn (7-9, 6.32 ERA) is scheduled to make his second start with the Dodgers since being obtained from the Chicago White Sox while LHP Rich Hill (7-10, 4.76) is set to make his Padres debut after being acquired from Pittsburgh on Tuesday. The Padres are his 13th team. He pitched for the Dodgers for parts of four seasons.

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