The Los Angeles Dodgers got some help from the bottom of their order as they defeated the Padres 8-4 in San Diego to remain three games back of the St. Louis Cardinals for the final NL Wild Card spot.
The Dodgers got four combined RBI on the night from third baseman Luis Cruz and catcher A.J. Ellis, the team's number seven and eight hitters. The Dodgers took a commanding 6-1 lead in the sixth inning before allowing the Padres to score three runs in the eighth, cutting their lead to 7-4. Los Angeles added one run in the ninth before Brandon League came in for the bottom of ninth inning and pitched a scoreless inning.
The game kept the Dodgers one game up on Milwaukee for third place in the Wild Card race as both teams look to run down the Cardinals in the final days of the regular season. Clayton Kershaw takes the mound for the Dodgers Friday night when they host the Colorado Rockies. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. CT.