Full Breakdown
Andy Pages' Ninth-Inning Heroics Propel Dodgers Past Padres
5/21/2026, 1:43:00 AM
The Decisive At-Bat
In the top of the ninth inning at Petco Park on May 20, 2026, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages faced San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller with the game tied 4-4. After falling behind 0-2, Pages fouled off eight of Miller’s pitches—including three 101-102 mph fastballs and multiple 87-88 mph sliders—before connecting on a 101.5 mph fastball for a line-drive sacrifice fly that drove in pinch-runner Alex Call. The run gave the Dodgers a 5-4 lead, which they held to secure the win and move back into first place in the National League West.
Series Context and Standings
The victory followed a 1-0 loss in the series opener, leaving the Dodgers at 30-19 on the season and tied with the Padres for the division lead. The win shifted the Dodgers ahead by a half-game in the NL West. Both teams entered the game with strong pitching; Miller arrived with a 0.79–0.82 ERA and 15 saves, while the Dodgers’ bullpen combined for five scoreless innings after starter Emmet Sheehan’s four-run outing.
Key Players
- Andy Pages – Dodgers third-year outfielder, leading the team with a .299 batting average, 42 RBIs, 10 home runs and a .865 OPS.
- Mason Miller – Padres closer, regarded as the league’s top reliever, with a 0.79–0.82 ERA, 15 saves and a fastball averaging 101-102 mph.
- Freddie Freeman – Dodgers first baseman, who hit two homers in the game and praised Pages’ at-bat.
- Dave Roberts – Dodgers manager, who highlighted the defensive miscue that placed Call on third.
- Will Klein – Reliever who recorded his first career save.
Statistical Highlights
- Pages fouled off eight of nine pitches, including three fastballs above 101 mph and three sliders in the 87-88 mph range.
- Miller’s season WHIP before the game stood at 0.79, and his slider had a 68 % whiff rate.
- The Dodgers produced five runs on 12 hits; the Padres recorded four runs on nine hits.
- The win marked Miller’s first loss in over a year according to some reports, while other accounts label it his first loss of the season.
Official Statements
Roberts noted the defensive error that allowed Call to reach third: “We got a break there.” Klein described the atmosphere: “It’s good to feel the energy from both sides in the ninth inning, all the way through there.” Miller, speaking after the game, commended Pages: “Good approach from him and staying on the slider enough to foul it off and get to the heater above the zone, too. So hats off, outstanding job by him.” Pages reflected on his mindset: “In my mind, I never thought he was going to strike me out or dominate me. I was 100 percent certain I was going to move the ball forward.”
Criticism & Opposition
Analysts highlighted Miller’s uncharacteristic miscue on a pick-off attempt, noting that the error contributed to the Dodgers’ scoring opportunity. The loss ended Miller’s unbeaten streak, prompting discussion of his vulnerability when forced to pitch from the stretch.
Verbatim Quotes
- “In my mind, I never thought he was going to strike me out or dominate me,” — Andy Pages, Outfielder, Los Angeles Dodgers
- “one of the greatest at-bats I’ve ever seen in person.” — Freddie Freeman, First Baseman, Los Angeles Dodgers
- “We got a break there,” — Dave Roberts, Manager, Los Angeles Dodgers
- “Good approach from him and staying on the slider enough to foul it off and get to the heater above the zone, too. So hats off, outstanding job by him.” — Mason Miller, Closer, San Diego Padres
- “He knew the next time he faced him, he was going to do a better job,” — Teoscar Hernández, Outfielder, Los Angeles Dodgers
- “It’s good to feel the energy from both sides in the ninth inning, all the way through there,” — Will Klein, Reliever, Los Angeles Dodgers
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on Miller’s ERA (0.79 vs. 0.82) and on whether the loss was his first of the season or his first in over a year. The exact number of pitches fouled off by Pages varies between eight and nine in different accounts. No official post-game statistics have been released to resolve these discrepancies.
What’s Next
The Dodgers will host the Padres for the series finale on Wednesday, with Shohei Ohtani slated to start. The outcome will determine whether the Dodgers maintain their division lead heading into the next week of the season.
