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It was more of the same for the Dodgers on Sunday, falling 6-4 to the Padres on Sunday afternoon at Petco Park in San Diego, dropping their third straight contest.
The Dodgers have lost eight of nine games and are 5-10 in their last 15. Before that, they had 10 losses in their previous 62 games.
Alex Wood returned from the disabled list to make his first start in 13 days, and was greeted with a first-inning run by San Diego. It was the second time in this series they allowed at least one run in the first inning, and the sixth time in their last eight games they have done so.
The home run bug continued to bite Wood, who allowed a two-run shot to Erick Aybar and a solo blast to Jose Pirela. That makes 10 home runs allowed for Wood in his last seven starts, after allowing just two in his first 14 starts of the season.
Wood also walked three batters, matching his total for his previous five starts. It was just the fourth time Wood has walked three or more batters in a game in 2017. He also summed up the Dodgers’ last week and a half rather well.
Alex Wood: "I think it's a statistical improbablity to go an entire season without getting punched in the face."
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) September 3, 2017
The offense showed signs of life, though the Dodgers failed to capitalize on a couple of big opportunities. Chris Taylor homered to lead off the fourth, then after Curtis Granderson reached on an error Justin Turner plated him with a doubled putting himself in scoring position with nobody out.
He did not score.
Cody Bellinger tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning, then another rally started thanks to a double by Yasiel Puig and an infield single by Alex Verdugo. But Logan Forsythe bounced into a double play to end the threat.
Jhoulys Chacin struck out eight in seven strong innings to earn the win for San Diego. He walked none, and neither did the Padres bullpen. It was just the sixth game the Dodgers -- who lead the majors in walks -- have been held with out a free pass this season. They are 2-4 in those games.
The Dodgers bullpen, after throwing 9⅓ innings in Saturday’s doubleheader, allowed some runs on Sunday. Fabio Castillo allowed three singles and a walk without retiring a batter in the seventh inning, giving San Diego a pair of insurance runs to widen their lead from one to three runs.
Brad Hand, who allowed a game-tying home run to Turner in Saturday’s first game, allowed another home run on Sunday, this one to Bellinger -- his 36th of the season, breaking Mike Piazza’s franchise record for home runs by a rookie.
Puig beat out an infield chopper with two outs to bring the tying run to the plate, but Hand got pinch-hitter Austin Barnes to pop out to end the game.
Up next
With the road trip now complete, the Dodgers return home for a week-long homestand against potential playoff-bound division rivals. The Diamondbacks are up first for three games, with Rich Hill starting the series opener on Monday against left-hander Robbie Ray. Monday is Labor Day, which means an earlier start time of 5:10 p.m. PT.
Sunday particulars
Home runs: Chris Taylor (18), Cody Bellinger (36); Erick Aybar (7), Jose Pirela (10)
WP - Jhoulys Chacin (12-10): 7 IP, 5 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 8 strikeouts
LP - Alex Wood (14-2): 6 IP, 7 hits, 4 runs, 3 walks, 7 strikeouts
Sv - Brad Hand (15): 1 IP, 2 hits, 1 run