Rich Hill, Dodgers bats complete sweep of Padres

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers ended the home portion of their 2017 schedule the same way they began it -- with a bludgeoning of the Padres. Wednesday night saw a 10-0 victory over San Diego that moved the Dodgers one step closer to clinching home field advantage through the World Series.

Rich Hill was brilliant on the mound, allowing only two singles and two walks while striking out 10 in his seven scoreless innings. In five September starts, Hill has a 1.86 ERA with 40 strikeouts and eight walks in 29 innings.

He also helped out at the plate with an RBI single in the second inning, his second run-scoring hit on the homestand. The Dodgers were also able to provide Hill with much more support.

Austin Barnes matched his career high with three hits, including a pair of doubles, and Yasiel Puig was 2-for-4 with his 27th home run of the season. They batted seventh and eighth on Wednesday.

“You take a look at all the guys we have, it’s the lineup we sort of envisioned,” manager Dave Roberts said.

Barnes is hitting .292/.412/.495 on the season.

“I’m sticking with the same approach, trying to control the zone. I just keep working in the cage. It’s a constant battle every day, tinkering with your swing,” Barnes said. “I’m staying on top of it, and trying to put good swings on the ball.”

Curtis Granderson, who entered the game as a pinch runner in the first inning — Chris Taylor suffered a left knee contusion running to first base — hit a solo home run in the sixth inning. Granderson has five extra base hits — three home runs and two doubles — in his last nine games and 29 plate appearances.

Corey Seager followed in the sixth inning with his second home run in as many nights, showing signs of breaking out of his September slump after making some alterations to his batting stance. Before this two-game, two-homer stretch, Seager had two home runs in his last 46 games.

The Dodgers scored 28 runs in the series sweep, the first time ever they have scored nine or more runs against the Padres in three consecutive games. Los Angeles outscored San Diego 121-58 this season, winning 13 of their 19 matchups.

Clayton Richard took the brunt of the damage from the Dodgers offense, allowing eight runs in his five innings. Since tossing eight scoreless innings on Apr. 4 at Dodger Stadium, in the second game of the season, Richard allowed 26 runs (24 earned) on 40 hits in 26⅓ innings in his final five starts against the Dodgers in 2017.

The series sweep by the Dodgers was their 14th sweep of at least three games in 2017, matching the 1953 Brooklyn squad for the franchise record, per STATS LLC.

With 102 wins on the season, the Dodgers matched their high since moving to Los Angeles, set in 1962 and matched in 1974. They also extended their record for most home wins since moving to Los Angeles, finishing the season 57-24 at Dodger Stadium.

“If you look back at the great Dodgers teams and teams in baseball history, we’re in an elite group,” Roberts added. “It’s something we should be proud of.”

The victory also moved the Dodgers’ magic number for home field advantage in a potential World Series matchup to just one over both the Indians and Astros.

The Dodgers are off on Thursday, but could clinch home field through the World Series with losses by both Cleveland (9 a.m., vs. Twins) and Houston (4 p.m., at Red Sox).

Wednesday particulars

Home runs: Yasiel Puig (27), Curtis Granderson (26), Corey Seager (22)

WP - Rich Hill (12-8): 7 IP, 2 hits, 2 walks, 10 strikeouts

LP - Clayton Richard (8-15): 5 IP, 8 hits, 8 runs (6 earned), 3 walks, 7 strikeouts