LOS ANGELES (AP) — Julio Urias continued to solidify his spot atop the Dodgers’ rotation while Mookie Betts hit one of Los Angeles’ four home runs in a 12-1 victory over the San Diego Padres on Saturday night that ended their three-game losing streak.
Trea Turner, Justin Turner and Will Smith also homered as the Dodgers ended their first skid of three games since they were swept by San Francisco in June. Betts’ home run was his career-best 33rd.
Manny Machado homered for the Padres, who had won four in a row.
Urias (15-7) gave up just one run on two hits over six innings to earn the win for the 11th time in his last 13 starts to go along with a loss and a no-decision. In the process, he has moved atop a talented rotation that has been forced to make adjustments.
Staff ace Walker Buehler is out for the season after Tommy John surgery, Clayton Kershaw is just returning from his second injured list stint and All-Star Tony Gonsolin is on the IL with a forearm strain.
A 20-game winner from a season ago, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has expressed comfort in having Urias head the staff into October.
“We’re putting ourselves in the situation where we can set the (playoff) rotation but he’s a top end guy,” Roberts said. “Every year he’s gotten better and has earned that potential opportunity.”
The Dodgers staked Urias to an early lead against Sean Manaea (7-8). Betts led off the bottom of the first with a triple on a ball that was misplayed by Padres right fielder Juan Soto. Turner followed with his 19th homer.
Los Angeles made it 3-0 in the third on Smith’s RBI double.
Betts connected for a three-run homer in the fourth. It gave him one more home run than he had in his American League MVP season of 2018.
“It’s been an up-and-down year and I don’t know how I got to where I am,” Betts said about his home run total. “I’m just enjoying it.”
Manaea gave up eight runs and nine hits over 4 1/3 innings while allowing three home runs. He has a 15.63 ERA in three starts against the Dodgers this season and has given up a combined 14 runs in consecutive starts against the Kansas City Royals and Dodgers.
Padres manager Bob Melvin was asked if a change in roles could be upcoming for Manaea down the stretch.
“I don’t make decisions like that after games,” Melvin said. “He has performed really well for us. A couple of outings (ago) he had a real good outing. He hasn’t (done it) for a stretch here, but my confidence in him has not waned.”
The Dodgers built the lead to 8-0 in the fifth on a two-run homer by Justin Turner, his 10th.
Machado hit a solo home run for the Padres in the sixth, his 26th. Los Angeles answered with four more in the bottom half on Freddie Freeman’s RBI single and a three-run homer from Smith, his 20th.
Dodgers infielder Hanser Alberto made his eighth appearance on the mound this season, recording his first career strikeout in the ninth when he fanned Josh Bell. He also hit a triple in the sixth inning.
“Having Hanser man, he’s that catalyst in the clubhouse that keeps us all loose, keeps us having fun,” Betts said. “He’s always dancing, always making us smile. He’s just a very important person to have.”
WELCOME BACK
Dodgers RHP Blake Treinen pitched a perfect seventh inning in his return to the club. Treinen had just three prior outings this season and had not pitched since April 14 because of a partial tear in the front of his shoulder capsule.
Treinen, who has served as the Dodgers setup man in recent seasons, was experiencing a dip in velocity during a recent rehab outing but hit 98 mph on the radar gun with one of his five pitches against the Padres.
“I think he was excited to get that first one under his belt after being down for so long,” Roberts said. “To have it clean, see some 98 and see soft contact, that’s what he does.”
TRAINERS ROOM
Padres: INF Brandon Drury was not in the starting lineup one day after he was hit by a pitch in the flap that extends over his face from his helmet. While Drury had a bruise on the side of his face, he was not seriously injured.
Dodgers: LHP David Price is expected to go in the injured list before Sunday’s game, Roberts said, with left-wrist inflammation. … INF/OF Gavin Lux received a cortisone shot to help with neck and upper back discomfort, leaving him unavailable for the remainder of the series. … RHPs Gonsolin (forearm) and Brusdar Graterol (elbow) had MRIs that came back clean. Neither pitcher has a timetable for a return.
UP NEXT
Padres: RHP Mike Clevinger (5-5, 3.59 ERA) gave up five runs at Los Angeles in a start last month.
Dodgers: LHP Caleb Ferguson (1-0, 1.85) will serve as the opener with RHP Ryan Pepiot (2-0, 4.02) expected to be called up and pitch the bulk of the innings.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports