Mookie Betts delivered the decisive blow in the eighth inning, launching a solo home run that lifted the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 5-4 win over the San Diego Padres on Sunday afternoon. The victory capped a three-game sweep at Dodger Stadium and extended Los Angeles’ lead in the National League West standings to two games.
Oddsmakers had listed the Dodgers as -145 favorites entering the matchup, with the Padres priced as +125 underdogs. Betts’ clutch performance helped the Dodgers cover those odds and complete a pivotal sweep.
The game began with fireworks from the Dodgers’ offense. Facing Padres starter Yu Darvish, Los Angeles jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the first inning. Freddie Freeman connected on a two-strike, three-run homer, and rookie Andy Pages followed with a solo shot to left field. The home run was Pages’ sixth of the season and came during Players’ Weekend, when he used a uniquely designed bat that resembled a pencil. Darvish, who has been particularly vulnerable on the road, surrendered both long balls before settling in.
Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow worked with the early cushion but could not hold the Padres entirely in check. San Diego began chipping away, eventually erasing the four-run deficit. Gavin Sheets doubled off reliever Anthony Banda in the sixth and later scored on Ryan O’Hearn’s double to make it 4-3. The Padres then tied the game, setting the stage for late-inning drama.
Betts, who had walked and flied out twice earlier in the game, came through in the eighth inning. Leading off against Padres reliever Robert Suarez (4-5), Betts turned on a pitch and sent it into the left-field seats for his second homer in nine games. The solo blast put Los Angeles ahead 5-4, a lead the bullpen preserved over the final two frames.
The Padres threatened multiple times but could not capitalize. They had the potential tying and go-ahead runs on base in the fifth and sixth innings, but failed to deliver key hits. Freddy Fermin struck out looking with two men on in the sixth, ending one of San Diego’s best chances.
For Los Angeles, Alex Vesia (3-2) earned the win in relief after recording a key strikeout of Manny Machado to end the top of the eighth. Evan Phillips handled the ninth to secure the victory, as the Dodgers completed their first sweep of the Padres this season while outscoring them 14-6 across the series.
San Diego’s top sluggers struggled against the Dodgers’ pitching. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Machado combined to go 1-for-10 with five strikeouts, leaving San Diego unable to capitalize on its scoring opportunities fully.
The series sweep was crucial in the National League West race. The Dodgers began the weekend trailing the Padres by one game, but three consecutive victories flipped the standings in their favor. Los Angeles improved to 72-53 with the win, while San Diego fell to 70-55.
Looking ahead, the Dodgers begin a seven-game road trip Monday in Colorado with Yoshinobu Yamamoto (10-8, 2.84 ERA) on the mound. The Padres return home to face the San Francisco Giants, sending left-hander Nestor Cortes (1-1, 5.71 ERA) to start the series opener. Sportsbooks have installed the Dodgers as -175 favorites in Colorado, while the Padres are listed as slight -120 favorites at home against San Francisco.
