Dodgers Highlights: L.A. Wins Franchise-Record 107th Game, Take Down Padres in Extras

The Dodgers beat the Padres, 1-0, in 10 innings on Wednesday night, establishing a new franchise record with their 107th win of the season. Alex Vesia gets the win in relief after a scoreless ninth inning, and Tommy Kahnle pitched the bottom of the 10th to become the 12th different Los Angeles pitcher to record a save this season.

For the second straight night, the Dodgers benefited from some poor catching by the Padres. After Trea Turner struck out to start the 10th inning, a passed ball allowed free runner Mookie Betts to move to third base. With the infield in, Freddie Freeman blooped a single into the outfield to score the only run of the game. Freeman’s single was his 192nd hit of the season, a new career high.

Freddie! pic.twitter.com/3uhwO3JBA6

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 29, 2022

With the Astros’ loss to the DBacks, the Dodgers’ magic number to clinch home-field advantage throughout the postseason is down to 2.

Julio Continues to Make His Case for Cy Young

Julio Urias threw six shutout innings but didn’t get a decision because the Dodgers were unable to score while he was in the game. Manager Dave Roberts let Urias come back for the sixth inning to face the heart of the order, and he got Juan Soto to start the inning. After Manny Machado walked and Brandon Drury singled to put runners on the corners with one out, Urias got popups from Wil Myers and Jake Cronenworth to escape the jam and finish six strong innings.

#ElCulichi makes his case through six scoreless innings! ? pic.twitter.com/2hOmwjtnhO

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) September 29, 2022

On the night, Julio struck out five, walked two, and allowed six hits in his six innings to lower his NL-best ERA to 2.17. Sandy Alcantara has more quantity than Julio this year, but it’s hard to make a case that any NL pitcher has had more quality than El Culichi.

In terms of final arguments, this was a pretty strong one for Julio Urías' case for a Cy Young Award. He battled out of that sixth inning with runners on the corner and one out and turns in a scoreless sixth inning and scoreless game. His ERA is now 2.17.

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) September 29, 2022

Gallo, Offense Continue to Leave Runners on Base

After stranding 14 runners on Tuesday night, the Dodger offense picked up right where it left off. Los Angeles made Padres starter Joe Musgrove throw 34 pitches in the first inning, but they stranded the bases loaded when Joey Gallo struck out for the first of four times.

Gallo would whiff with bases loaded again later in the game, and his four strikeouts came with a total of eight runners on base. Gallo has now struck out in 50 of his 120 plate appearances in Dodger Blue, and his 41.7% strikeout rate since joining the Dodgers is the worst he’s posted since he was a 22-year-old rookie.

The Dodgers left a total of 11 runners on base, but the one they didn’t leave on made all the difference.

Yency’s Back, Back Again

Yency Almonte was activated from the injured list before the game, and he was immediately thrown into the fire when he was asked to face the top of the Padres order in the bottom of the eighth inning. He got quick groundouts from Ha-Seong Kim and Soto, then struck out Machado with a wicked slider.

Welcome back, @showtimealmonte! pic.twitter.com/eFikeBhJDR

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 29, 2022

Almonte’s season ERA is now down to 1.11 in 32.1 innings pitched.

Up Next

The Dodgers and Padres will wrap up their three game series on Thursday evening in San Diego. Brusdar Graterol starts as the opener for L.A. with Andrew Heaney set to take up innings as the bulk guy after.