Logan Forsythe powers Dodgers over Padres

LOS ANGELES — Logan Forsythe found his power stroke, driving in four runs to back a gem by Yu Darvish, lifting the Dodgers to a 9-3 victory over the Padres on Monday night at Dodger Stadium.

The victory gave the Dodgers 100 wins for the seventh time in franchise history, and the first time since winning 102 games in 1974.

The Dodgers loaded the bases with nobody out in the first inning against Padres starter Travis Wood, then one out later Forsythe unloaded them, doubling to left field for a quick 3-0 lead.

Forsythe’s double gave the Dodgers eight players with at least 20 doubles, matching 1934 & 2002 for most in franchise history.

“With Logan, he’s being a little more aggressive. When he’s getting into counts, he’s trying to take advantage of those hitters counts,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Early on, and most of the season, even in good counts he was passive. He still looks over the ball really well, but when he gets a ball in the strike zone, he’s putting good swings on it.”

In the third inning, with a 3-1 count, Forsythe hit a solo shot to left field to widen the Dodgers’ advantage, his sixth home run of the year.

Forsythe hit 57 doubles and 37 home runs in 2015-16 combined for the Rays, but in 2017 he is hitting .233/.360/.342, and the power really hasn’t materialized. Until the last few weeks, that is.

In his last 14 games, including 10 starts, Forsythe has six doubles and two home runs, hitting .282/.378/.590 during that span. Monday was Forsythe’s fourth game this season with multiple extra-base hits, two of which have come in September.

Forsythe reached base in all four plate appearances on Monday, adding a walk and a single to his night.

“Mechanically I feel like I’m in a better place, and the swing is coming out a little more consistently,” Forsythe said. “It’s just nice to see some results.”

Forsythe also missed 30 games in April and May with a fractured toe and a right hamstring strain, which may have played into his earlier approach and results.

“I’m not going to say no, but I’m not going to make an excuse with an injury,” Forsythe said. “Trying to fight to get back to these guys and help them win, the swing I thought was in a good place, but now we go back and look at it we realize, the quality of at-bat was still there … but it was a little more passive approach, because I wasn’t in a good position.”

Two things Forsythe has done consistently well for most of the season are reaching base — his team-leading and career-high 68 walks fuel his .360 on-base percentage — and hitting left-handed pitchers, the latter to the tune of .297/.429/.466, including both extra-base hits against the southpaw Wood on Monday.

That was more than enough support for Yu Darvish, who retired his first 12 batters faced on Monday. His perfect game bid ended when hit Cory Spangenberg with a pitch to lead off the fifth inning, then the no-hitter and shutout were done when Hunter Renfroe doubled Spangenberg home.

But that was all Darvish would allow, striking out nine in his seven innings. He has allowed one earned run — and two runs total — in his last three starts.

Austin Barnes, getting his fourth start of the season at second base on Monday, added a three-run shot in the fifth, putting the game away.

Notes

• With four doubles on the night, the Dodgers now have 301 on the season, the fourth time in franchise history they have reached 300 doubles. The franchise record is 307 doubles, set in 2006. Rob Segedin‘s two-base hit in the second inning was number 300 in 2017.
• The win on Monday was the Dodgers’ 55th of the season at Dodger Stadium, matching 2015 and 1980 for the most home wins since moving to Los Angeles. This came in the same season the Dodgers also tied the LA record for consecutive home losses, with nine.
• The Dodgers have scored eight or more runs in 26 games this season — they are undefeated in those games — seven of which have come against the Padres.
• In the race for home field advantage in the postseason, the Dodgers’ magic number over the Nationals is two, for the top seed in the National League. The Dodgers’ magic number over the Astros is three, and over the Indians is four, should they reach the World Series.

Monday particulars

Home run: Logan Forsythe (6), Austin Barnes (8)

WP - Yu Darvish (10-12): 7 IP, 2 hits, 1 run, 9 strikeouts

LP - Travis Wood (4-7): 4⅔ IP, 5 hits, 6 runs, 4 walks, 2 strikeouts