Padres continue bad stretch with sixth consecutive loss to Dodgers

LOS ANGELES - Just when things look like they couldn't possibly get any worse for the San Diego Padres after leaving Chicago with their worst loss in franchise history, they've managed to prolong this grueling stretch of bad baseball.

Not only did they extend their losing streak to six games after their 12-7 loss to the Dodgers on Thursday at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium, but it was the way it happened that makes it feel like a new low for the season, giving up 12 unanswered runs.

The Padres thought they had a glimmer of hope to get back on track facing right-hander Roki Sasaki, who not only was the only starting pitcher charged with a loss during their series last weekend at Petco Park but he is currently the Dodgers weakest arm in their rotation.  

But all it did was even the playing field with San Diego having issues with their own lack of quality starting arms, and it continued to be the biggest issue with this ball club with struggling right-hander Randy Vásquez on the mound. 

"It's pretty tough," Padres manager Craig Stammen said. "I'm not going to say this is going to happen the whole rest of the season. It's happening right now. I don't think just because it's happening right now that means it's going to happen forever." 

At first, things started to look hopeful for a team that has now given 65 runs over the last six games. Before the bottom of the second inning, the Padres were ahead 6-0 and had right-hander Roki Sasaki at a 60 pitch count.   

Fernando Tatis Jr. doubled on the game's first pitch and advanced to third on second pitch on a wild pitch. A batter later, Manny Machado labeled a four-seam fastball inside the zone for a two-run homer.

Next inning Jackson Merrill reached out on a slider off the plate for a lead-off home run. Xander Bogaerts doubled five pitches later and later Tatis drew a four pitch walk to have two men aboard for Jake Cronenworth. In his third start since returning from the IL, Cronenworth connected on Sasaki's splitter for his first home run since April 8 against the Pirates, increasing the lead to 6-0. 

The Padres did leave two runners on base before Ty France popped out to end the inning. 

Vásquez, after pitching a scoreless first, gave up a couple of runs in the second. Kyle Tucker started the bottom half of the frame with a single and a batter later Dalton Rushing cashed in with a home run to lower the deficit to 6-2. 

Los Angeles continued their offensive attack on the 27-year-old on the mound in the third with three consecutive hits by Mookie Betts, Max Muncy and Tucker to make it 6-4.   

He would not see another inning after that, going only three innings on 50 pitches, giving up four earned runs, seven hits and recorded no strikeouts.

After the game, Stammen told the media that Vásquez, while going to the back to get an x-ray after taking ball to his ankle, fainted and was taken to the hospital. 

"He's conscious. He's getting all his tests on it, so we don't really know about his ankle yet," Stammen said. "They asked if we need a wheelchair and then (he) just fainted a little bit." 

They should know more either later tonight or tomorrow but added that he is in good shape.

Left-hander Wandy Peralta stepped in for Vásquez but he didn't come away unscathed. He gave up back-to-back singles to Rushing and Tommy Edman to lead off the fourth followed by a game-tying double down the third baseline to Andy Pages. A batter later, Betts doubled to center and Muncy singled to give Los Angeles their first lead, overcoming a six run deficit. 

Yuki Matsui started the next inning, similar to the other pair of pitchers before him, allowing the opposing bats to roll. Rushing and Edman hit consecutive doubles to begin the inning. Edman would come to score on a wild pitch from Matsui during his at-bat with Pages.  

Right-hander Germán Márquez made his return from the 15-day IL and pitched during the sixth inning. He gave up a run after a sac-fly by Rushing that scored Tucker, who finished tying a career high in hits (4). Rushing came up again during the eighth with an RBI single to make 12-6.

Márquez would pitch Padres final three innings, giving up a pair of runs, hits and walked three with a strikeout. 

The Padres finished the night scoring a run by Miguel Andújar on single to center field.

In addition to how bad this game was for Padres, Rushing was a triple away from hitting the cycle and finished setting a new high hits (4) and RBIs (4). The Dodgers tied their season high in hits as a team with 17 for the sixth time this season. 

Despite all the pain and adversity the Padres have faced this season, one thing that has stayed the same is the team staying optimistic that they'll eventually figure out their woes and get through this rough patch. 

"Treat each day like the present," said Gavin Sheets on how to pull out of this funk. " Whatever happens the day before, you got to keep behind you. All we can do is come out tomorrow and, you know, get off to a hot start and try to get momentum back on our side and win that day."   

Game two of the four game series will take place at 7:10 p.m. with right-handers Michael King (5-7, 3.55 ERA) and Shohei Ohtani (8-2, 1.58 ERA) on the mound.