Shohei Ohtani of Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after swinging during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Saturday, May 11, 2024, in San Diego.
2:30 PM JST, May 12, 2024
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Teoscar Hernández hit a grand slam, James Paxton pitched six scoreless innings to remain undefeated and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres 5-0 on Saturday night.
Freddie Freeman hit a solo home run for the Dodgers, who have won eight of their last nine games.
Los Angeles-based designated hitter Shohei Ohtani came out after his fourth at bat when his back tightened. Manager Dave Roberts said his concerns are minimal, but Ohtani will most likely sit out Sunday as a precaution.
Paxton (5-0) was masterful, allowing four hits with four strikeouts and no walks in the win.
“James was good again. All his pitches worked,” Roberts said. “He was on the attack all night. He kept them off balance.”
In a start against San Diego on April 14, Paxton walked eight batters in a no-decision.
“Apparently very different,” Paxton said of his checkup Saturday evening. “Zero walks tonight felt really good after the eight walks.”
Petco Park’s attendance of 46,701 set the largest single-game attendance record in the stadium’s 20-year history. The previous high was 45,567 on March 30, 2014 – Opening Day – also against the Dodgers.
Despite the loss, the Padres have won four of seven games against the Dodgers this season. The teams will play the rubber match of the three-game series on Sunday.
With the Dodgers leading 1-0 in the sixth, Hernández blasted a shot 390 feet to left field off a slider from Padres reliever Enyel De Los Santos, who entered the game to face Hernández.
“I just try not to do too much, not to think about it too much and not to overdo my swing,” Hernández said of his approach that led to the grand slam. “He hung that slider and I was waiting for it.”
Freeman hit a solo home run off San Diego starter Matt Waldron (1-5) in the first inning to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. Freeman later doubled and walked intentionally in four at bats.
The Padres had just one prime opportunity to score against Paxton, but were unable to capitalize on it. Donovan Solano led off the fifth with a double, but Paxton retired San Diego’s next three batters.
“He had that curveball working. Especially (when) he rattled a few balls on that heater, and then he started flipping that curveball — and for strikes,” Padres second baseman Xander Bogaerts said of Paxton. “I mean, he had a good feel for that, I think, as the game went on.”
Waldron was strong in the loss, allowing one run and two hits while striking out six in 5 1/3 innings. He has lost his last three starts and four of his last five.
“You know the old saying, ‘Solo homers won’t beat you.’ Well, maybe tonight,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “But if you load the bases based on a walk, you’re putting yourself in danger.”
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