Corey Seager Has Impressive Debut, But Dodgers Fall Short Against Padres

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Gonzalez struck out a second time on the night to start the fourth inning and other than a Turner one-out walk, the Dodgers didn’t make much noise. Though, Crawford did put a charge into one that was caught in front of the center field fence. Latos set the Padres down in order in the bottom of the fourth, which was the first time he’d done so on the night.

Seager hit a one-out double down the right field line in the fifth inning for his first career hit in the Majors. He advanced to third base on pinch-hitter Scott Schebler’s grounder to the right side and scored on Joc Pederson’s RBI infield single that lined off Rea.

Utley contributed to the small two-out rally with an RBI double that cut the Padres’ lead to 4-2 before Rea managed to get out of the inning. Joel Peralta replaced Latos in the bottom of the fifth and retired the side in order.

Odrisamer Despaigne took over for Rea in the sixth and promptly allowed a consecutive base hits to Turner and Crawford with no outs. Despaigne’s troubles continued as he walked Grandal on four pitches to load the bases. Marc Rzepczynski inherited the bases-loaded jam and allowed a run to come across on a Van Slyke RBI groundout.

Seager added to his first career hit and defied his young age by getting a green light on a 3-0 pitch from the left-handed Rzepczynski, and pushing the Dodgers ahead with a two-run base hit. Justin Ruggiano pinch-hit for Peralta and chipped in with an RBI single that extended the lead to 6-4.

Utley hit back to the box, but Rzepczynski’s throwing error allowed the veteran second baseman to reach third and a fifth run in the inning to score. Pedro Baez allowed a leadoff single to Upton in the bottom of the sixth, then appeared to induce Gyorko into a double play.

However, it was mysteriously ruled Utley was off the bag and the call was upheld after the Dodgers challenged. The missed call wound up hurting Los Angeles as Norris hit a two-out RBI double before Baez could get out of the inning.

J.P. Howell replaced Baez in the seventh and gave up a solo home run to Solarte, along with retiring Travis Jankowski and Spangenberg. Howell and Grandal exited with two outs in the inning as part of a double switch that brought on Jim Johnson and A.J. Ellis. Johnson needed all of two pitches to retire Kemp and keep the Dodgers ahead, 7-6.

Johnson issued a leadoff walk to Upton in the eighth and it quickly came back to haunt him as Gyorko followed with a two-run, go-ahead homer. Luis Avilan came on in relief of Johnson and retired Brett Wallace before turning the ball over to Juan Nicasio.

Melvin Upton Jr. hit a pinch-hit RBI triple with two outs, and Solarte added an RBI double to extend the Padres’ lead to 10-7 which the Dodgers were unable to overcome in the ninth.