Teoscar Hernandez hit a 3-run home run, Michael Conforto added a solo shot, and the Padres only managed one run in 4 innings off of Dodgers spot starter Ben Casparius.

Jeremiah Estrada came on and walked Will Smith before giving Hernandez a fastball right down the middle, and he didn’t waste it, smashing it 400+ feet to straightaway centerfield.

The Padres- who had just pounded out 11 runs on 16 hits yesterday- went 1-2-3 in the 1st, 3rd and 4th innings against Casparius, the reliever who had posted a 2.93 ERA in 40 appearances prior to today’s start.

The Pads loaded the bases with 1 out in the 2nd inning, but all they could manage was a walk to Martin Maldonado that scored Xander Bogaerts and a 1-0 lead.

Gavin Sheets was thrown out at the plate on Jake Cronenworth’s single 2 batters earlier.

Luis Arraez walked to lead off the Padres’ 6th. Manny Machado grounded into a 5-3 fielders choice, and Manny went 2nd on a throwing error by LA 2nd baseman HyeSeong Kim. Jackson Merrill singled to left, and Manny wisely held at 3rd.

Gavin Sheets then hit a sacrifice fly with 1 out to make it 4-2, and Bogaerts flew to right to end the inning.

Yuki Matsui struck out Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman around a Mookie Betts single in the top of the 7th, keeping the Pads in the game.

The Padres had a big threat going in the 7th, when Michael Kopech and Anthony Banda walked the bases loaded with 1 out and Luis Arraez coming to the plate.

The 3-time batting champ popped up on the infield, bringing up the red-hot Manny Machado, the perfect matchup for the Padres in that moment of the game.

Manny jumped ahead 3-0 on Banda, but grounded out to short on a 3-0 fastball that could have been a hit outside, ending the threat and leaving Jackson Merrill in the on-deck circle.

Merrill, Sheets and Bogaerts went down 1-2-3 in the 8th, and in the 9th.

Michael Conforto hit a solo homer in the 5th off Randy Vasquez, who went 4 2/3 innings, giving up just that 1 earned run on 2 hits and a walk on just 70 pitches before Adrian Morejon came on and retired Shohei Ohtani on a ground ball to shortstop with nobody on and 2 outs to end the inning.

Morejon struck out Mookie Betts before Freddie Freeman reached in an infield single to 3rd base.

***** ‘LIVE’ Instant Reaction from Jim “GRIES” Grieshaber

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The Pads hit the road for 3 games in Phoenix against the Arizona Diamondbacks. 1st pitch is set for 6:40pm.

Your PADRES POSTCAST- hosted by Jim GIES" Grieshaber- comes your way LIVE' right after the game.

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