The Padres topped their very first sweep of the Dodgers because April 15-17, 2013, with a 5-3 victory on Wednesday night.” Im going to state something now for the individuals that desire to canine him on not hustling,” Padres starter Joe Musgrove said. A workmanlike rally, and unexpectedly, the Padres led, 5-3.
Theres still a long way to go in the NL West race, and the Padres– even after this cathartic sweep– route the Dodgers by a half-game and are 4 1/2 back of the first-place Giants. Itll be another two months up until the Padres face either of their 2 primary division competitors.

SAN DIEGO– The Padres have actually won video games and series against the competing Dodgers over the previous years, however absolutely nothing quite like this.
3 games in San Diego today, three statement Padres triumphes, three nights of raucous sellout crowds at Petco Park, eager to put a stamp on what has rapidly ended up being one of baseballs best rivalries.
The nature of that rivalry– slanted greatly in the Dodgers favor for so long– seems to be altering quite a bit.
The Padres topped their very first sweep of the Dodgers considering that April 15-17, 2013, with a 5-3 triumph on Wednesday night. San Diego has actually won seven of 8 versus Los Angeles for the very first time considering that 07. Heres the anatomy of that sweep:
With one out and 2 guys aboard in the ninth inning, Albert Pujols hit a rocket to the right of the Padres third baseman. Machado snared the ball and made an off-balance toss to second baseman Jake Cronenworth, doubling up Will Smith for a game-ending double play.
It was the Padres series. It was Machados series.
” Thats a bad man,” San Diego manager Jayce Tingler said. “Just an outright bad male.”
Machados first-inning homer in Mondays series opener set the tone, and he tacked on another first-inning blast on Wednesday, his 5th in 25 career at-bats against Dodgers right-hander Trevor Bauer. Machado is red-hot at the plate, however he likewise made a substantial effect defensively.
Machado was everywhere, making a handful of brilliant plays at third base– and another handful in other words ideal field. In the 8th, he came inches from locating a Max Muncy fly ball at the right-field caution track.
” Its essentially playing with 4 outfielders,” Dodgers 3rd baseman Justin Turner said.
For all of Machados highlight-reel contributions this week, his greatest effect Wednesday began a sluggish chopper to 3rd off his bat in the 8th. Turner was reluctant, turning to look at 2nd, prior to shooting to. Machado, busting it down the line, beat Turners toss by an action.
Not exactly in line with the Manny Machado narrative.
” Im going to say something now for the people that wish to dog him on not hustling,” Padres starter Joe Musgrove said. “The man knows. His baseball IQ is off the charts. He knows how tough he needs to go down the line, and the man plays every day. … You see it this evening, struck a one-hopper to 3rd base and got his [butt] down the line.”
The little thingsMachados hustle play put two men aboard with no outs in the 8th, and it sparked quite an inning. The Dodgers contacted left-hander Victor González to face left-handed-hitting Eric Hosmer, who dropped a gorgeous bunt up the first-base line– his very first sacrifice bunt in more than 6 years.
After an intentional walk to Wil Myers, Trent Grisham plated the go-ahead run by working a bases-loaded walk. Victor Caratini followed with a sacrifice fly. A workmanlike rally, and suddenly, the Padres led, 5-3.
” The eighth inning was amazing,” Tingler said. Theyre just people playing together.
Suffice it to say, when the Padres and Dodgers have fulfilled in the recent past, the Padres typically havent been the basically sound team performing all the little things. They were this week.
” We got outplayed,” stated Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
Added Bauer: “They concerned play, and we didnt.”.
Working on emptyPerhaps the most exceptional element of the Padres sweep– and their current seven-game winning streak– is that theyre still playing their finest baseball at the end of a stretch of 33 games in 34 days.
, thats for sure,” Tingler stated. “You get to enjoy this one, because of the off-day, maybe a couple hours more.”.
The nature of that grueling schedule was never ever on display more than Tuesday night, when the beleaguered San Diego bullpen requested for 9 huge outs from unheralded novices Nabil Crismatt and Mason Thompson.
No team in the National League requires more innings out of its relief corps than San Diego. The bullpen still ranks 2nd in the Majors with a 2.80 ERA. Closer Mark Melancon, proving to be one of the offseasons shrewdest finalizings, worked a scoreless ninth on Wednesday for his MLB-high 23rd save.
Petco Park was rockin In 27 innings versus the Dodgers, the Padres never tracked. The ballpark– a celebration environment from the start– reacted in kind.
” Outside of the World Series, thats the most energy Ive ever played in,” said Musgrove, who won a championship with Houston in 2017. “Any time those Dodger fans start, our fans silenced em and drowned em out. Its so special to be able to have a full crowd again and 100-percent capability, due to the fact that these fans have been revealing up for us.”.
Its been a week since Petco Park opened to capability, and the Padres have actually won all seven games since.
Theres still a long way to go in the NL West race, and the Padres– even after this cathartic sweep– track the Dodgers by a half-game and are 4 1/2 back of the first-place Giants. Itll be another two months until the Padres deal with either of their 2 primary department competitors. (They welcome the Dodgers back to Petco Park on Aug. 24.) In the meantime, theyve got ground to make up.
” We think we can beat anyone,” Tingler said. “We believe when were playing our game, well compare with anyone.”.
And after the past 3 nights– 3 nights that felt so utterly different from anything weve seen in this competition over the previous decade– who could argue?