Although it felt like 10, the Dodgers finally snapped their two-game skid on Saturday night with a much-needed 5-4 win over the San Diego Padres in front of a (COVID-19) sold-out Dodger Stadium crowd of 15,596 that included (approximately) 500 in the Dodgers all new ‘Fully Vaccinated Fan Section.’

“It was a fun baseball game to be a part of,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said postgame.

“It was a good win all the way around,” added Dodgers left fielder AJ Pollock, who went 2-for-4 on the night.

“We grinded tonight,” said Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager, whose sixth inning two-run single to right with the bases loaded was the game-changer in which the Dodgers collected 12 hits. In fact, every Dodger in the starting line-up except first baseman Max Muncy, centerfielder DJ Peters (making his first MLB start), and right-hander Trevor Bauer had at least one hit.

“We kept the line moving,” said Roberts.

As for Bauer, although he allowed three Padres runs on five hits – including a pair of (thankfully) solo home runs by Padres superstar shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. – he finished his fourth start of the season having allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits, while striking out nine and walking none, and at one point retired 11 Padres batters in a row.

“I thought it was really good, actually,” Bauer said, when asked what he thought of his outing on Saturday night. “I thought I had probably the best command of my slider all year, I thought my curveball was really good, fastball command was good, velo was good, so overall, I thought it was really good.”

But Bauer wasn’t the only Dodgers pitcher who was ‘really good’ on the night. The Dodgers bullpen was also exceptional, especially right-hander Blake Treinen, who was superb in his one-plus inning of work in which he struck out three of the four batters he faced – most notably Tatis Jr. and Trent Grisham with runners on second and third and one out.

And then there’s Kenley Jansen. Roberts called upon his 33-year-old oft criticized closer for a four-out save, which he did. Like Treinen, Jansen had to face Tatis Jr. and Grisham with one out and the tying run on first base in the top of the ninth. He got Tatis to ground out to first and struck Grisham out swinging to secure the Dodgers win and notch his fifth save of the season.

“Kenley stepped up. Great job by Kenley tonight,” Roberts said of his three-time All-Star and two-time National League Reliever of the Year.

“…a good win all the way around” indeed.

Play Ball!

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