Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Addresses Tough Loss to Padres

The series momentum shifts to San Diego's side.

"I think tonight they’re feeling pretty good about themselves, like we felt [on Friday Night]." That was the sentiment shared by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and echoed by Manny Machado and the Padres. 

On Friday night, the Dodgers scored 8 runs in the 8th and 9th innings to come from behind and beat the Padres 10-5. On Saturday night, the script was flipped and the Padres took advantage of sloppy play from LA to put up a 7 spot in the 8th to shock the Dodgers and earn only their second win in the season series in 2023.

“A team like that, any team, if you’re going to give them free bases, you’re going to give up bases by not making plays and things like that,” Roberts said. “It was really uncharacteristic. But, unfortunately, it was the end to a really good night through seven innings.” 

The problems started with a shaky outing from Yency Almonte, whose ERA ballooned to 5.36 on the season after allowing 3 runs and recording just one out. Those problems were exacerbated by a pair of errors including an awkward do or die attempt by Kiké Hernandez on the infield.

The Dodgers gave the Padres too many freebies and it cost them dearly. Now the momentum could be shifted toward San Diego's corner as the club fights for its playoff life.

Sunday is an opportunity to wipe the slate clean as Lance Lynn makes his second start for LA against old friend Rich Hill who will be making his Padres debut. The game will be nationally broadcast on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball, a setting where the Dodgers inexplicably tend to struggle this season. They haven't won a game on a Sunday in two and a half months.