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J.D. Martinez homers early as Dodgers outlast Padres

May 14, 2023

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Julio Urias throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres in Los Angeles, Saturday, May 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Juan Soto of the San Diego Padres celebrates his solo home run in front of Will Smith of the Los Angeles Dodgers, to take a 1-0 lead, during the first inning at Dodger Stadium on May 13, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres reacts to a strike during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on May 13, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Ha-Seong Kim of the San Diego Padres celebrates his solo home run with Manny Machado, to trail 3-2 to the Los Angeles Dodgers, during the second inning at Dodger Stadium on May 13, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Xander Bogaerts of the San Diego Padres celebrates a pick off of Miguel Vargas of the Los Angeles Dodgers by Joe Musgrove, to end the second inning at Dodger Stadium on May 13, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Joe Musgrove of the San Diego Padres pitches during the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on May 13, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Dodgers fans hold up syringes during an at bat by Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres during the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium on May 13, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Julio Urias of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts with Miguel Vargas after a bloop single from Juan Soto of the San Diego Padres during the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium on May 13, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

J.D. Martinez of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates his solo home run with Max Muncy as he comes in to score, to take a 3-1 lead over the San Diego Padres, during the first inning at Dodger Stadium on May 13, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Joe Musgrove of the San Diego Padres reacts as he comes off the mound at the end of the first inning trailing 3-1 to the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on May 13, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Joe Musgrove of the San Diego Padres pitches during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on May 13, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Caleb Ferguson of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates his save and a 4-2 win over the San Diego Padres with J.D. Martinez at Dodger Stadium on May 13, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Caleb Ferguson of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates his strikeout of Jake Cronenworth of the San Diego Padres to end the game and a 4-2 win at Dodger Stadium on May 13, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Caleb Ferguson of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts to his strikeout of Jake Cronenworth of the San Diego Padres to end the game and a 4-2 win at Dodger Stadium on May 13, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

San Diego Padres’ Juan Soto celebrates with Xander Bogaerts after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Saturday, May 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Julio Urias is greeted in the dugout before a baseball game against the San Diego Padres in Los Angeles, Saturday, May 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

San Diego Padres’ Ha-Seong Kim celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Saturday, May 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

San Diego Padres’ Ha-Seong Kim celebrates as he crosses home plate after hitting a home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Saturday, May 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Dodger Stadium is reflected in the sunglasses of San Diego Padres’ Manny Machado as he returns to the dugout after flying out during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Saturday, May 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

J.D. Martinez of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates his solo home run with Dino Ebel, to take a 3-1 lead over the San Diego Padres, during the first inning at Dodger Stadium on May 13, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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LOS ANGELES ― The Dodgers and San Diego Padres will meet Sunday for the sixth time in the last nine days. Each game has been decided by three runs or less, including the Dodgers’ 4-2 win Saturday before an announced crowd of 51,334 at Dodger Stadium.

J.D. Martinez had the big hit early against Joe Musgrove (1-1), a three-run home run in the first inning. More than stockpiling wins against an emerging rival, Martinez believes the Dodgers’ fourth win in five tries against the Padres bodes well for the future.

“As far as our preparation, the way we get ready, it’s another team,” Martinez said. “Obviously the fans get into it. There’s more energy out there. You can feel it. Especially when we were in San Diego, I feel like it was really rowdy for a bit. It’s cool though. I love it.

“I’m a firm believer, seeing it in ‘18 when we (the Boston Red Sox) played the Yankees, it was insane ― a World Series-type atmosphere every game. These kind of environments where it’s rowdy, it’s loud, a lot of pressure, prepares you for the playoffs, you know?”

The playoffs felt like a distant concern before the Dodgers won 12 of their last 14 games, pulling 10 games over .500 (25-15) and claiming a firm grasp on the National League West. They now lead the third-place Padres (19-21) by six games in the division.

The Dodgers’ recent run has coincided with the team getting healthy in the case of Martinez, who returned Friday after spending 15 games on the injured list recovering from a back injury, and catcher Will Smith, who missed 13 games following a concussion. Another five players ― Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, Brusdar Graterol, Evan Phillips, and Caleb Ferguson ― entered and exited the paternity list.

Now that the roster is healthy and properly paternalized, the Dodgers’ depth is flexing its muscles. A sweep would give the Dodgers three sweeps in their last three series at home, for a total of nine consecutive wins at Dodger Stadium.

“We’ve done the work to put ourselves in this spot right now,” manager Dave Roberts said. “We’ve got a chance to go for the jugular.”

Julio Urías (5-3) pitched seven strong innings in his second consecutive start against the Padres. The left-hander allowed solo home runs to Juan Soto and Ha-Seong Kim in the first two innings, when Dodger Stadium was mostly bathed in sunlight for the afternoon contest. He allowed only one hit the rest of the way, striking out four batters and walking none.

Urías also helped himself in the sixth inning with his glove.

With one out, Manny Machado reached base on a throwing error by third baseman Max Muncy. Juan Soto hit a slow tapper between the pitcher’s mound and first base, perfectly placed to give the Padres their first hit since the home run by Kim.

The next batter, Xander Bogaerts, hit a hard ground ball back to the mound that Urías did well simply to field cleanly. He then spun to second base and threw quickly enough to start a 1-4-3 double play ― ending the inning and preserving the Dodgers’ 4-2 lead.

“I needed it,” Urías said in Spanish.

Urías finished the seventh inning by striking out Kim on his 86th and final pitch. Evan Phillips pitched a scoreless eighth inning. Brusdar Graterol got two quick outs in the ninth, then allowed consecutive singles to Xander Bogaerts and Nelson Cruz to extend the inning.

With left-handed hitter Jake Cronenworth representing the winning run, Roberts summoned southpaw Caleb Ferguson from the bullpen to record the final out. Ferguson struck out Cronenworth, earning his first save since the 2018 season.

Freeman had two of the Dodgers’ eight hits. Martinez followed first-inning singles by Freeman and Muncy with a 407-foot blast to left field, his fifth home run of the season.

The veteran DH said he’s feeling more comfortable now after straining to make a strong impression early in his new surroundings. Having a deep and healthy lineup around him ― at last ― has made that easier.

“At the beginning I felt like I was pressing a little bit, trying to do too much,” Martinez said. “We’ve got a good enough team, I don’t have to do anything, really. Just do what I know how to do. If it’s me that night, it’s me. If it’s the other eight hitters it’s the other eight hitters. Our lineup’s really potent.”

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J.D. Martinez homers early as Dodgers outlast Padres

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