Will Smith’s 12th-pitch HR sparks Dodgers’ win over Padres

Will Smith hit a go-ahead home run on a 12-pitch at-bat in the sixth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers continued their success against the visiting San Diego Padres with an 8-6 victory on Tuesday.
Andy Pages had two home runs among his four hits and drove in three runs for the Dodgers, who improved to 4-1 against San Diego during a stretch of seven games in 11 days between the National League West rivals.
Los Angeles won while using six pitchers one night after it used seven to beat San Diego 6-3. The Dodgers took control with a five-run sixth that included a two-run double from Tommy Edman.
Trenton Brooks belted his first major league homer and Luis Arraez had three hits and an RBI for the Padres, who fell to 4-9 since June 4. San Diego reliever Jeremiah Estrada was tagged for five runs in the sixth without recording an out.
Gavin Sheets gave the Padres a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a single to right field. The Dodgers moved in front 2-1 in the second on a sacrifice fly from Max Muncy and Pages’ home run to left.
San Diego regained the lead at 3-2 in the third inning on an RBI single from Arraez and a sacrifice fly from Sheets. Los Angeles got even at 3-3 on Pages’ second home run off Vazquez and 15th of his season.
The Dodgers unloaded on Estrada (2-4) in the sixth while sending 10 batters to the plate. Smith’s two-run homer was the first round-tripper for the Dodgers on at least the 12th pitch of an at-bat since Smith did it on pitch No. 12 on May 29, 2022. Pages had an RBI single in addition to Edman’s two-run double for an 8-3 lead.
The Padres pulled within 8-5 in the seventh inning on a two-run home run from Brooks, then made it 8-6 when Fernando Tatis Jr. scored later in the frame on a balk by Michael Kopech. San Diego left the bases loaded in the eighth.
Dodgers left-hander Tanner Scott pitched a perfect ninth against his former team for his 14th save. Matt Sauer (2-1) gave up three runs in 2 1/3 innings but still picked up the win.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was ejected in the third inning for arguing after both benches were warned when Tatis and Los Angeles’ Shohei Ohtani were hit by pitches.