Andy Pages' two home runs push Dodgers past Padres

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers took care of the Padres despite Dave Roberts being ejected, winning their fourth game in a row, 8-6, on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium in front of 51,555 fans.

As the Dodgers and Padres faced off for the fifth time in eight games, tensions began to rise as three batters were hit by a pitch, while the Dodgers also hit three home runs during the game.

Andy Pages did not disappoint during his first career multi-home run game in the regular season. He hit his first home run in the second inning off right-hander Randy Vasquez and followed it with his 15th home run of the season in his second at-bat, tying the game at three in the fourth inning. It seemed that Pages found some motivation overnight, as he achieved two home runs in his first two at-bats. On Monday night, Pages was hit by a pitch, which ignited tension between both teams. Padres manager Mike Shildt was seen shouting at Pages, saying, “Who the f*** do you think you are?”

The video was trending on social media, and I’m sure Pages saw it, which may have contributed to the Padres' struggles. After the game, Pages mentioned that he had seen the video on Tuesday morning but didn't pay too much attention to it.

“I have a lot of confidence in the work I'm putting in,” Pages said. “I'm finding pitches in my zone and hitting them as well as I can.”

In the third inning, tension rose once again between the Dodgers and the Padres after Vasquez hit Shohei Ohtani in the right thigh with a pitch. The umpires warned both teams, and Roberts wasn’t pleased with the warning. He exited the dugout to discuss the situation and was subsequently ejected from the game for arguing with third base umpire Tripp Gibson. There is a history between the Dodgers and Gibson, which dates back to a few weeks ago when the Dodgers were playing at Citi Field. During that game, Gibson made a critical call that cost the Dodgers the game when Max Muncy was called for visual obstruction.

Roberts commented on the events that unfolded after Ohtani was hit in the third inning.

“Absolutely. Absolutely. If they feel like that’s warranted on their side, then own it and we move on,” Roberts said. “It’s not a misfire. I do feel that it was intentional.”

Before Ohtani was hit by a pitch, right-hander Lou Trivino struck Tatis Jr. in the left shoulder. The third player hit that night was Jose Iglesias, who was plunked by Matt Sauer after both dugouts had been warned, but he was not ejected from the game.

Despite Roberts being ejected from the game, the Dodgers' bullpen managed to secure a victory in his absence. Left-hander Jack Dreyer started the game, pitching two innings and allowing two hits, one run, and striking out two batters on 34 pitches. Trivino followed, also pitching two innings, during which he allowed two runs on two hits. Sauer came in next, throwing 2 ⅓ innings while allowing three hits and three runs, along with three strikeouts. Right-hander Michael Kopech then entered the game, successfully shutting down the Padres in the seventh inning for ⅔ of an inning. Finally, left-hander Anthony Banda pitched a scoreless eighth inning, despite facing some trouble.

Left-hander Tanner Scott entered the game in the ninth inning, securing his 14th save of the season during his third appearance in as many days. Scott pitched a scoreless inning, needing just 13 pitches.

The Dodgers rallied for five runs in the sixth inning as Pages recorded his third hit of the night with an RBI single to left field, scoring Teoscar Hernandez. Pages finished the night going 4-for-4 with two home runs and two singles, driving in three runs on the night. Tommy Edman then delivered a two-run double into the gap in left-center, extending the Dodgers' lead to 8-3.

Will Smith continued to be a clutch performer for the Dodgers, hitting a go-ahead two-run home run into the left-field pavilion off right-hander Jeremiah Estrada in the sixth inning. This marked Smith's seventh home run of the season. 

Ohtani had a tough night on Tuesday, going 0-for-4 at the plate with four strikeouts. He is coming off his first game pitching after nearly two years. According to Roberts, Ohtani is expected to pitch every six days, which suggests he will take the mound on Sunday against the Nationals at Dodger Stadium.

Trenton Brooks hit a pinch-hit, two-run home run off right-hander Matt Sauer, narrowing the deficit to three runs. The Padres loaded the bases but managed to score only one run due to a balk by right-hander Michael Kopech. With runners on second and third and two outs, Xander Bogaerts grounded out to end the inning. The Padres were unable to capitalize on their opportunities in the seventh inning, as they loaded the bases again in the eighth.

The Dodgers won the first two games of the four-game series, extending their lead over the Padres in the National League West Division to five games. Looking ahead to Wednesday, right-hander Emmet Sheehan is set to make his season debut after recovering from Tommy John surgery, having not pitched in over a year.