Dodgers’ energy show stops Padres, sends NLDS to Game 5

SAN DIEGO — Mookie Betts and Will Smith homered in the early innings as the Los Angeles Dodgers used a makeshift lineup to keep their season alive with an 8-0 victory over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday in Game 4 of the National League Division Series.

Gavin Lux added a home run and eight Dodgers pitchers combined to allow seven hits in a bullpen game as Los Angeles tied the series 2-2 to set up a deciding Game 5 at Dodger Stadium on Friday. Evan Phillips (1-0) pitched 1 1/3 innings to get the win.

Without both shortstop Miguel Rojas (groin) and first baseman Freddie Freeman (ankle), the Dodgers had Enrique Hernandez and Chris Taylor in the starting lineup, while Max Muncy moved to first base and Tommy Edman moved to shortstop.

San Diego right-hander Dylan Cease (0-1) started on three days’ rest but lasted just 1 2/3 innings, while giving up three runs on four hits and throwing 38 pitches. He struck out one and walked one.

Fernando Tatis Jr. had a double in four at-bats and Jake Cronenworth had a triple for San Diego. Jurickson Profar and Manny Machado combined to go 1-for-8.

Betts gave the Dodgers a home run in the first inning for the second consecutive game, belting a solo shot to center field off Cease.

In the second inning, Lux worked a one-out walk and Enrique Hernandez followed with a single. Shohei Ohtani delivered a two-out RBI single, and Betts followed with a run-scoring single after Cease was replaced by Bryan Hoeing.

The Dodgers added two more in the third inning for a 5-0 lead when Muncy led off with a double and Smith crushed a home run to center field for his first hit in 10 NLDS at-bats.

Los Angeles nearly scored again in the fourth inning, but Ohtani was thrown out at home after Teoscar Hernandez’s hit down the third base line was deflected by Machado off the arm of third base umpire Mark Ripperger. Machado recovered to make the play at the plate.

In the fifth inning, Muncy’s drive to right-center was tracked down against the wall by Padres rookie center fielder Jackson Merrill.

The Dodgers scored three more times in the seventh inning, when Edman laid down a run-scoring safety squeeze and Lux hit a two-run homer.

–By Doug Padilla, Field Level Media