Pop stars make offense rock again

Freeman, Dalton homers help L.A. avoid series sweep

- BY JACK HARRIS

FREDDIE FREEMAN waves for the first of his two homers at Petco Park on a day the Dodgers fulfilled Dave Roberts' expectations for better at-bats.

Dave Roberts sought the best of both worlds from his slumping Dodgers offense Sunday.

More competitive at-bats, a more disciplined two-strike approach, and a renewed team-first mindset at the plate on the one hand.

But also, amid a two-month funk that dropped them to second place in the National League West, to not abandon the slugging prowess that makes them who they are.

"I want my cake, and [to] eat it as well," the Dodgers manager quipped.

"I'd be shocked," he added, "if we don't see a different offensive output from here forward, starting today."

Indeed, everything the Dodgers were missing in their first two games against the San Diego Padres this weekend — when they combined for just two runs and five hits to relinquish their place atop the division standings came roaring suddenly back when the club needed it most.

In a sweep-evading 8-2 win over the Padres at Petco Park on Sunday, the Dodgers got back to working better at-bats, manufacturing consistent baserunners, then pouncing on mistakes with their lineup's trademark pop.

Photographs by DERRICK TUSKAN Associated Press

DALTON RUSHING gets a sunflower-seed shower from Teoscar Hernández (37) for Dalton's tiebreaking, three-run blast against the Padres on Sunday.

The biggest swings came in a five-run seventh inning, when Dalton Rushing broke a 2-2 tie with a three-run home run to right and Freddie Freeman hit his second long ball of the day to put the score out of reach.