Nestor Cortes carried a perfect game into the sixth inning and combined with three relievers on a two-hitter as the San Diego Padres defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 on Saturday night at Petco Park. The victory vaulted San Diego into first place in the National League West, a half-game ahead of Los Angeles, with just over a month remaining in the regular season.
Cortes (2-2), acquired by the Padres at the July 31 trade deadline, delivered his best outing since joining the club. The veteran left-hander retired the first 16 batters he faced before Miguel Rojas broke up his bid for perfection with a single in the sixth. Cortes finished with six innings of one-hit ball, striking out five and walking none, and has now allowed just four runs across his first four starts in San Diego. His performance came one night after Yu Darvish also held the Dodgers to a single hit through six innings.
The Padres’ offense provided timely support, beginning in the fourth inning when Ramón Laureano lined a bases-loaded single to score two runs. Jake Cronenworth added a sacrifice fly in the same frame, giving San Diego a 3-0 cushion. In the eighth, Xander Bogaerts delivered a two-run double, one of just three hits for the Padres all evening, to put the game out of reach.
Los Angeles managed only one run, coming in the eighth inning on Alex Freeland’s solo homer off reliever Jeremiah Estrada. It was Freeland’s second career home run and his second in as many games, but it was one of only two hits for the Dodgers, who have now lost four of their last six contests.
The Dodgers’ starter, Tyler Glasnow (1-2), could not capitalize on his early command. Pitching on his 32nd birthday, the right-hander allowed two runs on three hits while issuing four walks over four innings. Despite flashes of effectiveness, Glasnow’s winless streak stretched to 12 consecutive starts dating back to March, leaving Los Angeles with mounting questions about its rotation depth as September nears.
Adrian Morejon closed the game for San Diego, recording the final four outs to earn his third save of the season. The Padres’ bullpen combined with Cortes to hold the Dodgers’ powerful lineup to just two hits for the second straight game.
San Diego’s win marked its fifth straight overall and second consecutive victory over the Dodgers after being swept in Los Angeles last weekend. The Padres, now 74-56, are playing some of their most efficient baseball of the year, while the Dodgers, at 73-57, sit in second place in the division for only the second time since late April.
Sportsbooks listed Saturday’s matchup as nearly even, with both teams hovering around -110 odds on the moneyline. The over/under was set at 8.5 runs, but the combined score of six fell comfortably under, reflecting the dominance of both starting pitchers for most of the night.
The series concludes Sunday with a marquee pitching matchup. The Dodgers will send right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto (10-8, 2.90 ERA) to the mound, while the Padres counter with Nick Pivetta (13-4, 2.81 ERA), who has been one of the National League’s most consistent arms in 2025.
