The Los Angeles Dodgers erupted for nine runs in the sixth inning to defeat the San Diego Padres 10-2 on Saturday night at Petco Park.
The outburst matched their biggest inning of the season, previously set with a nine-run first inning against the Angels.
Mookie Betts highlighted the rally with a three-run homer, and Kyle Tucker added a two-run shot. Tommy Edman contributed an RBI double and a triple.
The Dodgers collected 11 hits in the game, chasing Padres starter Randy Vasquez after 3 1/3 innings in which he allowed seven runs.
The victory extended Los Angeles' lead in the National League West to eight games over San Diego.
It came one night after a 7-1 loss, where Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki struggled with command.
Sasaki's Command Issues
Sasaki lasted just over four innings, giving up three runs on three hits while tying his career high with five walks.
Two of those walks preceded a three-run homer by Ty France.
"Today's game, I really struggled to throw strikes.
There's a lot of things I need to work on, and I need to go over that," Sasaki said.
The pitcher has posted an 8.36 ERA over his last three starts after a strong May.
He attributed his control problems to mechanical issues in his lower body.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged the challenges young pitchers face.
"Sometimes, certain pitchers, if they're out of whack a little bit, they can't really do what they're accustomed to doing or wanting to do.
So I think Roki is a little bit like that.
But at the end of the day, even if you don't feel great, you still gotta go out there and make pitches and not walk guys.
That's just the bottom line. That's the big leagues," Roberts said.
The coaching staff believes Sasaki can adjust his lower-half mechanics to regain his earlier form. "I know that there's confidence in there.
But when you feel good and you don't feel good mechanically and can't execute pitches, yeah, then the results are walks, and you know, [0-2] homers, things like that.
But yeah, I do think that we can kind of tackle the mechanic things that he's probably looking for right now," Roberts added.
Tucker's Return and Smith's Status
Kyle Tucker returned to the starting lineup Friday after missing two games with lower back spasms.
He went 0-for-3 in that game but homered Saturday, a positive sign for the Dodgers after signing a four-year, $240 million contract in the offseason.
"I think that there were some things that we were working on, as far as on the mechanics side, before the back went out.
They built on that the other day, and so yeah, I think we got the mental reset, and also physically, he's in a good spot," Roberts said.
Tucker had been in a prolonged slump, hitting . 196 over his previous 30 games.
Roberts noted that hitters often become overanxious when trying to do too much.
"I think that no hitter wants to chase, but I do think that there gets to be an overanxiousness, wanting to do more, trying to force something that isn't there.
I think that's kind of what most hitters fall into … when they start to expand [the zone]," he said.
Catcher Will Smith remains sidelined with neck inflammation and has not resumed baseball activities, making an immediate return unlikely.
"I think it's concerning in the sense that it's a lot longer than we'd expected. It's not concerning because we don't think it's a long-term situation," Roberts said.
In other injury news, pitcher Blake Snell threw a 15-pitch bullpen session Friday, his first since undergoing left elbow surgery on May 19.
He is expected to return after the All-Star break.
