Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws to the plate during the first inning of Friday’s game against the Padres at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Starting pitcher Yu Darvish #11 of the San Diego Padres throws to the plate against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Centerfielder Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers catches a drive by Trent Grisham (not pictured) of the San Diego Padres in the first inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Starting pitcher Yu Darvish #11 of the San Diego Padres throws to the plate against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Shortstop Corey Seager #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws late as Fernando Tatis Jr. (not pictured) of the San Diego Padres is safe at first base in the first inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres slips rounding second as left fielder AJ Pollock #11 of the Los Angeles Dodgers fields a single by Manny Machado (not pictured) of the San Diego Padres in the first inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres slides back to second base safe under the tag of second baseman Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres safe at second base after slipping rounding the base on a single by teammate Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres as second baseman Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on in the first inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres slides back to second base safe under the tag of second baseman Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers RBI single as teammate Mookie Betts (not pictured) of the Los Angeles Dodgers scores against the San Diego Padres in the second inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers high fives teammate AJ Pollock #11 after scoring on a single by Max Muncy (not pictured) against the San Diego Padres in the second inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Wil Myers #5 of the San Diego Padres rounds second base after hitting a solo home run against starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Wil Myers #5 of the San Diego Padres high fives teammate Tommy Pham #28 after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Left fielder AJ Pollock #11 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on as Wil Myers (not pictured) of the San Diego Padres hits a solo home run in the second inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
The Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. celebrates as he crosses home plate in front of Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes after hitting a solo home run during the third inning of Friday’s game at Dodger Stadium. Tatis added a second solo home run in the Padres’ 6-1 victory. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres points to the sky as he rounds third base after hitting s solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres points to the sky after hitting s solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres celebrates with teammate Manny Machado #13 after hitting s solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hit by a pitch against the San Diego Padres in the third inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hit by a pitch against the San Diego Padres in the third inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hit by a pitch against the San Diego Padres in the third inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers leads off second base after a stolen base against the San Diego Padres in the third inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres hits a solo home run his second of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres looks toward his dugout after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres rounds third base after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres looks to the sky after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres celebrates with teammate Manny Machado #13 after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on after giving up a solo home run and the second of the game to Fernando Tatis Jr. (not pictured) of the San Diego Padres in the fifth inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres celebrates with a teammate after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on after giving up a solo home run and the second of the game to Fernando Tatis Jr. (not pictured) of the San Diego Padres in the fifth inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Starting pitcher Yu Darvish #11 of the San Diego Padres throws to the plate against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the sixth inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Academy Award winning actress Helen Hunt during a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Starting pitcher Yu Darvish #11 of the San Diego Padres high fives third baseman Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres after making a lunging catch on a line drive by Mookie Betts (not pictured) of the Los Angeles Dodgers with runners on to end the seventh inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Relief pitcher Corey Knebel #46 of the Los Angeles Dodgers leaves the game after an injury against the San Diego Padres in the ninth inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Relief pitcher Corey Knebel #46 of the Los Angeles Dodgers leaves the game after an injury against the San Diego Padres in the ninth inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Manager Dave Roberts looks on standing on the mound after relief pitcher Corey Knebel (not pictured) of the Los Angeles Dodgers leaves the game after an injury against the San Diego Padres in the ninth inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
LOS ANGELES — Dad did it better.
Twenty-two years to the day that Fernando Tatis Sr. became the only player in baseball history to hit two grand slams in one inning – even off the same pitcher, Chan Ho Park – his son had his own two-homer game at Dodger Stadium.
Fernando Tatis Jr. only managed solo home runs off Clayton Kershaw – and not even in the same inning – on his father’s day but that was enough to lead the San Diego Padres to a 6-1 victory over the Dodgers on Friday night.
Elias Sports Bureau reported the unsurprising news that it was the first time a father and son had each recorded a multi-homer game at the same ballpark on the same calendar date.
“Well, I was two months old when he did it,” Tatis Jr. said when asked what he knew about his dad’s record.
“When I heard the story and started learning about the game and realized how hard this game is – with age, I started recognizing more of my dad and what he did in this game and on this date. It’s something that’s going to be in our family for the rest of our lives.”
Tatis said he heard from his father –who he described as “back home in the DR (Dominican Republic), chillin’ there” – after the game.
“Yeah, I definitely know this was the day,” Tatis said of his thoughts coming to the same ballpark on Friday. “I told myself, ‘If you hit two home runs today that would be so crazy.’ I feel like the baseball gods, they were in my favor today.”
After not giving up a home run in his first four starts this season and carrying a 19-inning scoreless streak into the second inning against the Padres, Kershaw gave up three home runs in the next four innings (one to Wil Myers, two to Tatis).
Tatis came into the game 4 for 25 since returning from his partially-dislocated shoulder. But his two homers covered a healthy 850 feet combined on their way into the left field pavilion.
“He’s a great player,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “He’s gonna get his hits and he’s going to slug, especially if you make mistakes and if you look at those pitches, they were just mistakes. Guys like that, you know they’re gonna make you pay.”
Tatis’ first home run came in the third inning when he jumped on a first-pitch fastball from Kershaw. It had an exit velocity of 113.4 mph – the fourth-hardest hit ball off of Kershaw since Statcast began tracking the measure in 2015.
The second, two innings later, came on a 3-and-1 slider and left the bat at 115.9 mph – the hardest-hit ball off Kershaw measured by Statcast.
“Obviously I made some mistakes and they went over the fence. That was kind of the difference in the game,” Kershaw said.
“Just made some mistakes (to Tatis). He did a good job of hitting the ball really hard.”
Kershaw might have made three costly mistakes. But the blame for the Dodgers’ fourth loss in their past five games rested elsewhere.
The Dodgers managed just four hits in seven innings off Padres starter Yu Darvish – and that was an improvement. They had managed no more than two hits off a Padres starter in their first four meetings and only one in seven innings against Darvish last Saturday.
The Dodgers’ only run in Friday’s loss (their third in a row to the Padres) came in the first inning when Mookie Betts led off with a double and eventually scored when Max Muncy broke an 0-for-14 stretch with an RBI single.
Muncy isn’t the only one in the Dodgers’ lineup dragging a trail of fruitless at-bats to the plate with them these days.
Over their past six games (four of them against the Padres), the Dodgers have hit .128 as a team (23 for 180) with just 11 runs scored.
With Cody Bellinger out of the lineup, Betts in and out and now Gavin Lux and Zach McKinstry on the Injured List, the Dodgers’ offense began limping even before that. Over their last 14 games, they have hit .198 as a team (89 for 450).
“I don’t think we’re pressing. I don’t think we’re there yet,” Roberts said when prompted. “I just think that we just have to find a way to create baserunners and keep putting ourselves in positions to drive runs in. If we do that, we’ll start scoring more. … It’s just one hitter at a time. We’ve just got to keep collectively taking good at-bats.”
After the first inning, the Dodgers’ best chances to score came in the third and seventh innings. The first ended with runners at the corners and Edwin Rios taking three called strikes. In the seventh, the Dodgers put two runners on with one out. But Sheldon Neuse struck out and the inning met a familiar end when Manny Machado intercepted a Betts liner headed for left field.
Dodgers reliever Corey Knebel left after facing one batter in the ninth inning after he felt discomfort in his upper triceps area. He will undergo testing on Saturday.
Dennis Santana replaced him and the Padres scored three times (with Tatis adding his third RBI of the night).
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