Padres Struggle Again with Lead in Loss to Dodgers

Los Angeles, CA — The San Diego Padres faced another setback in their ongoing series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, losing 8-6 on June 17. This latest defeat marked the 16th consecutive game in which the Padres held a lead at some point but ultimately fell short, bringing their record in such games to 7-9.

Padres infielder Jake Cronenworth emphasized the need for improvement, stating, ‘Holding a lead is a big thing. I think we have scored a lot of runs at the beginning of these games. It’s extending that lead throughout the middle of the innings.’

Despite taking an early 3-2 lead, the Padres allowed five runs in the sixth inning, as pitcher Jeremiah Estrada struggled against a Dodgers lineup eager to capitalize on opportunities. In a crucial moment, Xander Bogaerts grounded into a double play that ended a scoring threat with runners at first and third, leaving the Padres unable to extend their lead.

Emotions ran high during the game when Fernando Tatis Jr. was hit by a pitch, leading to tensions between the two teams. After a response from the Padres’ pitcher Randy Vásquez, who later hit Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was ejected for arguing about the inconsistency of the umpires’ decisions.

‘We ended up hitting Tatis, unintentional in that spot,’ Roberts said. ‘I just didn’t feel a warning on both sides was warranted.’

In the midst of this, Trenton Brooks, making his major league debut, hit his first career home run, providing a slight spark for the Padres. ‘It was surreal,’ Brooks said. ‘I’m speechless.’

However, the Dodgers’ power represented the significant difference in the game, contributing three home runs compared to the Padres’ one. The Dodgers lead Major League Baseball with a total of 115 home runs this season, while the Padres have just 62.

As the series progresses, the Padres must find a way to build leads if they want to remain competitive in the upcoming games. With 88 games left this season, time is running out for the team to establish consistent success.