Simulating the Dodgers’ 2020 season: Game 39 vs. Padres

This is the 30th installment of an ongoing series, where my dad and I will simulate each game on the Dodgers schedule until real Dodger baseball returns. Catch up on the rest of the series here!

Last time out, we split a doubleheader with the Padres. Today we’ve got the rubber match, as Julio Urias (3-2, 3.73 ERA) will face Joey Luchessi (4-2, 4.34 ERA).

Watch it here or scroll below to find out what happened. If you want to be notified when we go live with future simulations and chime in with your live feedback and/or input on managerial decisions, follow me on Twitch!

The Dodgers once again had to play from behind in this one, as Franchy Cordero hit his fifth home run of the year and third of the series, a two-run shot that put the Padres ahead 2-0 in the top of the second.

The Padres extended that lead in the top of the fifth, ending Julio Urias’ day earlier. With one out, Jurickson Profar singled, Fernando Tatis Jr. walked, and Manny Machado singled to load the bases. We gave Urias one last shot to get out of the inning against the lefty Trent Grisham, but Grisham hit a double to the left-center gap, scoring Profar and Tatis Jr. and building the Padres’ lead to 4-0. Joe Kelly came in and struck out Wil Myers and Austin Hedges to end the inning.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Dodgers finally struck back. With just one hit to this point in the game, Gavin Lux led off the inning with a double, and Austin Barnes singled him to third. Pinch hitting on his day off, Justin Turner grounded into a run-scoring double play, making it 4-1 but putting the Dodgers in a two-out hole.

No matter: Mookie Betts, Kiké Hernández, and Corey Seager hit consecutive infield singles, scoring Betts and putting two on for A.J. Pollock. The left fielder smashed a three-run home run to left field, taking a 5-4 Dodger lead and sending the simulated Dodger Stadium into virtual rapture.

From there, it was up to the Dodger bullpen. Caleb Ferguson struck out three in a scoreless sixth, Brusdar Graterol struck out the side in the seventh, and Graterol and Pedro Baez combined to strike out three in a scoreless eighth.

With Kenley Jansen and Blake Treinen both tired, we let Baez finish the game in the ninth. He struck out Tommy Pham, Jurickson Profar and Fernando Tatis Jr. in order sealing the Dodger win in the game and the series.

Here’s the box score:

With that win and two consecutive Diamondbacks losses, the Dodgers retake first place in the NL West by a single game. Next time up: a three-game series at Philadelphia. Cody Bellinger will also miss that series, but will be back in time for the next one at Kansas City.

First up: Ross Stripling (1-1, 3.27 ERA) vs. Aaron Nola (4-1, 2.59 ERA).

See you then!