Dodgers Fall to Padres After Eight‑Inning Rally

Game Overview

The Dodgers could not recover from a five‑run deficit on Sunday, dropping a 5‑2 decision to the San Diego Padres. The loss snapped the Padres’ seven‑game losing streak while handing Los Angeles its second straight setback after a shutout win on Saturday. The game marked a tough day for the Dodgers’ offense, which managed only two runs on the afternoon.

Pitching Duels Early On

Emmet Sheehan and JP Sears each dominated the first three frames, limiting each other to hitless performance and a single walk combined. San Diego finally broke through in the fourth when Manny Machado walked, Gavin Sheets singled, and Jackson Merrill delivered an RBI single to end the shutout bid. Sheehan needed 28 pitches to close the inning, finishing with four plus innings on 96 pitches and a 1.94 ERA over his last two starts.

Middle Inning Trouble

The Padres chased Sheehan in the fifth after Luis Campusano’s second walk and Fernando Tatis Jr.’s line‑drive double gave them the lead. Jack Dreyer entered and escaped a bases‑loaded jam with two outs, preserving the advantage. Meanwhile, JP Sears kept the Dodgers off the board for five innings before Miguel Rojas’ single ended a near‑no‑hitter, though Sears exited with a 2‑1 win‑loss record and five strikeouts.

Dodgers Brief Response

Los Angeles summoned Yuki Matsui to issue back‑to‑back walks in the sixth, loading the bases, but Bradgley Rodriguez quelled the threat. The birthday boy, Shohei Ohtani, broke the drought with a run‑scoring single, joining Alex Freeland for the only Dodgers runs. Andy Pages had a chance to tie the game in the eighth, yet Adrián Morejón struck him out to end the rally.

Padres Extend Lead and Lock It Down

San Diego added insurance in the seventh when Tatis ripped an RBI single off Kyle Hurt, and Manny Machado followed with a three‑run homer to center field. The blast was Machado’s 26th of the season and moved him past Dave Winfield as the all‑time Padre leader in home runs against the Dodgers. Mason Miller sealed the victory with a perfect eighth inning, striking out the side and earning his 22nd save.

Individual Notes and Debut

The Dodgers could not celebrate Ohtani’s birthday with a win; he went 1‑for‑3 with an RBI and a walk, lowering his birthday batting average to .138 (4‑for‑29). Freddie Freeman’s on‑base streak ended after 19 games as he went 0‑for‑4. Meanwhile, Eliezer Alfonzo made his big‑league debut, recording two outs before Tommy Edman pinch‑ran for him in the seventh.

Game Stats and Key Moments

• Home runs— Manny Machado (18)
• WP— JP Sears (2‑1): 5 IP, 1 hit, 0 runs, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts
• LP— Emmet Sheehan (4‑6): 4 1/3 IP, 3 hits, 1 earned run, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts
• SV— Mason Miller (22): 1 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeout

Upcoming Series

The Dodgers will open the final week of the first half against the Colorado Rockies in a three‑game home series starting Monday. The contest, slated for 7:10 p.m. PT on SportsNet LA, features Eric Lauer squaring off against Kyle Freeland. Fans can expect a fresh start for a team looking to turn the page after the back‑to‑back losses to San Diego.