LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jake Cronenworth lined out on a close-up of Craig Kimbrel’s back that led to a four-run rally in the ninth inning as the San Diego Padres defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2 on Sunday to take a win. “sweep” of four games.
San Diego had lost 14 of 15 to the Dodgers since they were swept last June. The Padres also lost nine games at Dodger Stadium.
Mookie Betts returned from the injured list with two doubles and scored both Dodger-runs. Clayton Kershaw threw a quadruple in seven innings.
The Padres had only one runner past second base in the first eight innings before breaking through for all of their runs in the ninth.
Trailing 1-0, Cronenworth started the comeback with his infield-hit that struck Kimbrel (1-4). Luke Voit then followed with a deep flyout that bounced off the top of the Dodgers’ bullpen gate into center left – Cronenworth scored the tying run while Voit, hanging out of the batter’s box, ended with a double.
Eric Hosmer, who had two hits, singled home the go-ahead run to finish Kimbrel. With two outs, Ha-Seong Kim homered off Yency Almonte for a 4-1 lead.
Taylor Rogers worked the ninth for his 23rd save and gave up Freddie Freeman’s sacrifice fly.
Nick Martinez (3-3) gave up one basehit in 2 1/3 innings to take home the win.
Kershaw had gone 1-2, giving up 10 runs in 19 innings in four starts since returning from the IL, but the ace of the Dodgers had one of his best starts of the season. The lefthander struckout eight batters and walked only once when he threw seven innings for the first time since May 7 against the Chicago Cubs.
Betts was activated for the game after being sidelined for two weeks due to a cracked right rib. He was back in his familiar leadoff spot and in rightfield and reached base four times.
Betts led off the Dodgers first with a double into the left field corner, then scored when Trea Turner lined MacKenzie Gore down the left field line for a double.
In the ninth, Betts doubled to right-center with one out, moved to third base on Turner’s single and scored on Freeman’s sacrifice fly.
Betts tried to score from second base on a single to the left by Freeman in the fourth inning, but Jurickson Profar played quickly to the ball and threw at home, where catcher Jorge Alfaro put in the tag. Betts, who is still struggling with the injuries, tried not to slip.
San Diego had a shot at a tie in the third. José Azocar led off with a ground-rule double to right-center, moved to third base on Profar’s grounder but was out at plate when short stop Turner threw home on Manny Machado’s grounder.
Gore gave up one run in 5 2/3 innings on five hits and struckout four.
TRAINERS ROOM
Dodgers: IF Hanser Alberto will likely miss three games after receiving an injection for knee pain. … OR Chris Taylor was available off the bench after leaving Saturday’s game in the sixth inning due to a bruise to the left foot.
MOVE ROSTER
The Padres called Triple-A El Paso’s RHP Tayler Scott to help support the bullpen. LHP Ray Kerr was given an option and RHP Kyle Tucker was nominated for assignment.
NEXT ONE
Padres: Return home from Monday for a two-game run against Seattle. LHP Sean Manaea (3-3, 3.92 ERA) went 1-0 in five starts in June.
Dodgers: LHP Julio Urias (5-2, 2.94 ERA) will start on Monday as Los Angeles opens a three-game set against Colorado.
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