After crushing the Dodgers the night before, San Diego faithful were confident the momentum for the Padres would carry over to the Wednesday matinee game, and that their team would notch a second victory in the three-game series. That was wishful thinking on their part and would eventually set them up for a disappointing afternoon.

It certainly was not lack for of opportunity for San Diego. In the second inning Gavin Sheets, Xander Bogaerts and Jake Cronenworth hit back-to-back-to-back singles. Dodger pitcher Ben Casparius then walked the next two batters, Jose Iglesias and Martin Maldonado. Yet, with all those players getting on base, the Padres were only able to scratch one run. Credit that to Dodger center fielder Andy Pages who threw out Sheets at the plate with a 99 mph throw on the fly to catcher Will Smith.

San Diego would hold that slim one run lead until the top of the fifth inning. That is when the struggling Michael Conforto homered to left center fielder off Padre pitcher Randy Vasquez. That evened the score 1-1 in the middle of five.

Things went from bad to worse for the Padres in the very next inning as reliever Adrian Morejon gave up an infield single to Freddie Freeman and then walked catcher Will Smith. The Padres then sent in pitcher Jeremiah Estrada to face last year’s All-Star Game Home Run Champ, Teoscar Hernandez. With the count at 2-1 Hernandez took the next pitch to dead center field, up and over the wall. That blast jumped the Dodgers out to a 4-1 lead.

Manny Machado reached on a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the sixth and scored on a Sheets sacrifice fly to center field. That closed the gap for San Diego, 4-2.

The next “Golden Opportunity” for the Friars came in the bottom of the seventh, courtesy of Dodger reliever Micheal Kopech. After getting Cronenworth to ground out, Kopech issued three walks in a row. With only one out, the bases loaded, and with Luis Arreaz at the plate and Machado on deck, it looked like the Padres were going to get back into the game and maybe forge ahead. But when Arreaz popped out and Machado grounded out, the inning was over with not a run to show.

Dodger pitcher Tanner Scott shut the Padres down in the eighth inning, helping the Dodgers hold on to that tight 4-2 lead going into the ninth.

Shohei Ohtani, who had been relatively quiet during his visit to San Diego, tripled off the right field wall and put himself in scoring position with only one out. Mookie Betts grounded out to the shortstop leaving Ohtani on third with two outs. Enter Will Smith, who once again got the job done, punching a single to right field. Ohtani scored, putting the Dodgers ahead, giving them a bit of breathing room, and a 5-2 lead after the top of nine.

Dodger reliever Alex Vesia came in to secure the final three outs. He was set to face Cronenworth, Tyler Wade and Elias Diaz who were looking to get on base and putting themselves into scoring position. Vesia, not wasting any time, squashed whatever plans they had and struck them all out to close the show.

With the 5-2 victory the Dodgers came out on top in this three-game series.

Dodger pitcher Lou Trivino picked up the victory while Alex Vesia was credited with the save.

Padre pitcher Adrian Morejon was handed the loss. 

By William Trillo