Dodgers lose home run derby to Padres

The balls were flying out of Dodger Stadium on Saturday night, and the Padres got the better of it with four home runs to the Dodgers’ two in a 7-5 San Diego win.

Christian Villanueva hit two of the six long balls, including a game-tying shot in the sixth and an insurance shot in the eighth.

Justin Turner hit his first home run of the season, a solo shot in the fourth inning. Old friend A.J. Ellis followed with his first home run of the year in the top of the fifth. That was one of two hits on the night for Ellis, who is 7-for-19 (.368) with a home run and three doubles against the Dodgers since getting traded in 2016.

Neither starting pitcher was particularly good in this one. Alex Wood saw some rare run support but couldn’t do much with it, allowing three home runs. He had a 5-3 lead entering the sixth inning but Villanueva hit a two-run shot to tie things up and end Wood’s night.

Wood allowed four home runs in his first 10 starts of the season before the Padres tagged him for three on Saturday.

The six home runs by both teams combined tied the most in a game at Dodger Stadium this year, matching a 12-inning game on May 8 when the Diamondbacks (four homers) beat the Dodgers (two homers) 8-5.

The Dodgers had that lead because Jordan Lyles gave up two home runs of his own, and he also walked four batters, including three in the fifth inning to force in a run. San Diego relievers recorded the final 13 outs of the game and permitted just one single and a walk.

Up next

The Dodgers go for a series win on Sunday afternoon, with Walker Buehler on the mound in the 1:10 p.m. PT start. The Padres are going with a bullpen game.

Saturday particulars

Home runs: Chris Taylor (7), Justin Turner (1); Freddy Galvis (2), A.J. Ellis (1), Christian Villanueva 2 (14)

WP - Craig Stammen (2-0): 1⅔ IP, 1 strikeout

LP - Daniel Hudson (1-1): ⅔ IP, 1 hit, 1 run

Sv - Brad Hand (16): 1 IP, 1 walk, 1 strikeout