Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts throws out San Diego Padres’ Jackson Merrill at first base on a ground ball during the fourth inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
A security guard stands on the field in the rain before of a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres, Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
A tarp covers the field during a rain delay before a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres, Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Gavin Stone follows through on a throw to a San Diego Padres batter during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Gavin Stone watches a throw to a San Diego Padres batter during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Fans wait in a lobby under Gold Gloves during a rain delay before a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres, Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
San Diego Padres starting pitcher Matt Waldron throws to a Los Angeles Dodgers batter during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani walks up to bat during the first inning of the team’s baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani steals second base against the San Diego Padres during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Gavin Stone throws to a San Diego Padres batter during the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts connects for a single against the San Diego Padres during the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ James Outman, right, steals second base past San Diego Padres second baseman Tyler Wade during the fourth inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ James Outman scores on a single by Mookie Betts during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani breaks his bat as he lines out to third base during the fourth inning of the team’s baseball game against the San Diego Padres on Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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LOS ANGELES — After the rain stopped and the wind died down, the night was perfect for Dodgers starter Gavin Stone. Until it wasn’t.
The right-hander flirted with a perfect game through five innings while striking out four in his third start of the season. Then came the sixth and it all fell apart.
But his Dodgers teammates salvaged the night for Stone, scoring three runs in the sixth and another in the seventh to beat the Padres 5-2 in a game that was delayed for more than two hours by persistent showers.
“We needed it,” Manager Dave Roberts said of Stone’s performance. “We needed the length, we needed to put up zeroes and he was fantastic all night. This is what can happen when you pitch with conviction and he was on the attack from pitch one — attacking the zone, making those guys uncomfortable and using his entire pitch mix.”
“I also thought Will Smith did a fantastic job (behind the plate). I can’t say enough about what our guys did tonight.”
Stone saw his chance at baseball’s rare feat disappear in a series of three base hits that led to the Padres tying the game, 1-1, in the sixth inning. The Dodgers had taken an early lead on Mookie Betts’ RBI single to left in the fourth inning.
Until then, Stone had been unflappable, not even getting bothered when Padres’ outfielder Jurickson Profar accused him of throwing a too-close inside pitch in the fifth inning and had heated words with Smith.
Stone remained stoic on the mound as players from both dugouts filed on the field, and the incident quickly ended without any punches thrown.
The Dodgers responded with an explosive sixth. After chasing Padres starter Matt Waldron (0-2), the Dodgers quickly jumped on reliever Tom Cosgrove, who started off by hitting third baseman Max Muncy.
Kike Hernandez (2 for 4), who started in left in place of a struggling Chris Taylor, then singled to put runners on at first and second. Gavin Lux singled to drive in Muncy for the go-ahead run. Betts (3 for 5) then singled to right for his second RBI to give the Dodgers a 3-1 lead. Gavin Lux scored on a sacrifice fly by Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers led, 4-1.
The Padres came back with one run in the seventh on Tyler Wade’s run-scoring single, ending Stone’s night. He left having given up two runs on five hits through 62/3 innings, picking up his first victory of the season. He struck out four and walked two.
The Dodgers weren’t ready to go home, though. With one out in the bottom of the inning, Muncy lofted a high fly ball to center that scored Teoscar Hernandez, who had singled then raced to third on a throwing error by Fernando Tatis Jr. for a 5-2 lead.
Daniel Hudson struck out all three batters he faced in the eighth and closer Evan Phillips pitched a scoreless ninth for his fifth save.
But for much of the game, the focus was on Stone, who last year struggled. He endured a blister on his right foot that led him to lose velocity, alter his mechanics and tip pitches. Despite all that, he earned the final spot in the Dodgers’ rotation to begin the season.
Through three starts, though, the right-hander has given up 10 runs on 16 hits and six walks.
Roberts said the Dodgers are going to have to rely more on Stone after placingright-handed pitcher Bobby Miller on the 15-day injured list because of an inflamed shoulder. Roberts said the shoulder has not responded to treatment as they would like.
“So, for us, there’s a little smoke so you want to nip it early,” Roberts said.
Miller, 25, was 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in three starts this season. As a rookie last year, Miller was key for the Dodgers with an 11-4 record and 3.76 ERA in 22 starts. In 124.3 innings, he struck out 119 and walked 32.
“I think (the situation) is something where Gavin is understanding that he has to up his game and he’s going to have a runway for opportunity, so he’s got to be good,” Roberts said.
For once, the spotlight wasn’t on Ohtani, who had a quiet night at the plate. After hitting a history-making 175thcareer home run the previous night, he went hitless, ending an eight-game stretch in which the Dodgers slugger had batted .458 (16 for 35) with four homers, seven doubles and six RBIs.
