Dodgers Tie Padres in Heated NL West Battle/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Los Angeles Dodgers tied the San Diego Padres for first place in the NL West with a 3-2 win Friday night. Once trailing by nine games, San Diego surged back, but the Dodgers ended their own four-game skid and the Padres’ five-game winning streak. With five more games between the teams in the next nine days, the division race is at full boil.
Dodgers vs. Padres Division Showdown: Quick Looks
- Dodgers defeat Padres 3-2 to pull even atop the NL West.
- Padres had taken over first for the first time since 2010.
- Dodgers snapped a four-game losing streak in the series opener.
- Padres’ five-game win streak came to an end.
- Clayton Kershaw earned the win and hopes momentum builds.
- Dodgers had led the division since April 27 before slipping.
- Tension remains from previous meetings, but no fireworks this time.
- Roberts and Shildt shook hands before the game, showing sportsmanship.
- Five more head-to-head matchups in the next nine days.
- Both managers downplay past disputes and focus on playoff push.
Deep Look: Dodgers and Padres Deadlocked in High-Stakes NL West Battle
LOS ANGELES (AP) — What a difference a few weeks can make in the NL West.
Just two months ago, the Los Angeles Dodgers looked to be cruising to another division title, holding a commanding nine-game lead over the San Diego Padres. But as the season enters its final stretch, the division has turned into one of baseball’s tightest races.
On Friday night, the Dodgers edged the Padres 3-2 at Dodger Stadium, snapping a four-game losing streak and halting the Padres’ five-game winning run. The win brings the Dodgers into a tie with San Diego for the top spot in the NL West—an unexpected but thrilling twist to a rivalry that’s taken on new intensity in recent years.
Clayton Kershaw, the veteran lefty and a steady presence on the mound, delivered the win and sounded confident after the game.
“We just played some bad games and we’re fine moving forward,” said Kershaw, whose presence was as steady as ever.
San Diego entered the night with a one-game lead—the latest it had led the division since September 2010. For the Dodgers, it marked the first time they’d been out of first place this late in the season since August 18, 2021.
Both clubs are fully aware that the next few games could determine the division’s fate. The teams face each other five more times over the next nine days, with every pitch, swing, and managerial decision under the microscope.
“The division isn’t won or lost in the next 10 days,” Kershaw said, “but it will make an impact and we know that.”
Padres manager Mike Shildt, maintaining a grounded approach, echoed that sentiment before the game.
“The only day in the standings that ultimately matters is the last day of the season,” he said.
Despite the loss, Shildt praised his team’s recent play and reiterated that the Padres are right where they want to be—competitive, confident, and ready.
The Padres haven’t won the NL West since 2006, when Shildt’s current counterpart, Dave Roberts, was their leadoff hitter. Now managing the rival Dodgers, Roberts sees this latest showdown as a test of resilience.
“They just got to go out there and take good at-bats,” Roberts said. “They’re motivated. I don’t like to be embarrassed, and I don’t think our players do either.”
Injuries and inconsistent performances have hurt the Dodgers in recent weeks, but Roberts isn’t hitting the panic button.
“It just takes one to get going,” Kershaw said. “Hopefully this was it for us.”
Friday’s game was intense but lacked the fireworks of the rivals’ earlier clashes in June, when hit batters and bench-clearing incidents dominated headlines. Ten players were hit during those earlier matchups, including Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr., who took three pitches.
That series ended with both Roberts and Shildt being ejected after a heated exchange.
This time, despite Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia hitting Padres batters Jose Iglesias and Jake Cronenworth in the eighth inning, cooler heads prevailed. There was no retaliation or benches-clearing drama—just focused baseball.
“It was a high-intensity game,” Roberts said. “But internally it was tempered. Our focus was keen.”
Both managers confirmed they hadn’t spoken since their June confrontation, but showed respect during Friday’s pre-game lineup exchange, even shaking hands.
“I’m not a grudge guy,” said Shildt. “I’m more of a day-to-day guy. Go and treat people with respect.”
“I’m past it,” Roberts added. “I just want us to play well.”
With the series knotted and the stakes rising, all eyes will remain on the NL West as the Dodgers and Padres battle it out for supremacy. The winner may not just take the division—but could gain momentum heading into the postseason.
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