Freeman drives in three as Dodgers blank Padres, close on bye
The short version
- Dodgers beat the Padres 7-0, moving to 97-60 and within one win of a first-round bye
- Freeman went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, including a two-run single in the second inning
- Eight Dodgers pitchers combined on the shutout in a bullpen game
- Roki Sasaki and Andy Pages each returned from injury in the win
- The Padres fell into a three-way tie for the final two NL Wild Card spots
Los Angeles beat San Diego 7-0 behind Freddie Freeman's three RBIs and a combined eight-pitcher shutout, moving within one win of a first-round bye.
Freddie Freeman drove in three runs and eight Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers combined on a shutout Tuesday as the Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 7-0 at Dodger Stadium. The win improved Los Angeles to 97-60, its 15th victory in the past 18 games, and left the club one game behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the National League's top seed with five games left in the regular season.
The Dodgers broke the game open with a four-run second inning. With two outs, Andy Pages, back in the lineup after about four weeks away with a fractured hand, was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Michael King followed with walks to Tommy Edman and Mookie Betts. Freeman then singled to center to score two more. He added another RBI single in the fourth and finished 2-for-4.
The shutout came without a traditional starter. Manager Dave Roberts used eight relievers, with Brock Stewart opening followed by Justin Wrobleski, Blake Treinen, Roki Sasaki, Edwin Diaz, Kyle Hurt, Alex Vesia and Jack Dreyer. Tommy Edman hit his eighth home run of the season in the sixth, and Will Smith added his 10th in the seventh.
Sasaki returned from the injured list to throw a scoreless inning, allowing two hits and striking out two on 20 pitches. He said he was originally told he might go two innings but understood the elevated pitch count meant a shorter outing. Pages reached base twice in his return, drawing a walk and getting hit by a pitch.
Freeman said the Dodgers need one more win to secure a first-round bye, which would give the roster a chance to rest before the playoffs. He also noted Shohei Ohtani was expected back the next day. The loss dropped San Diego into a three-way tie for the final two National League Wild Card spots.
