Dodgers 3, Padres 2 at Dodger Stadium tightens the NL West race as LA ties San Diego for first. Clayton Kershaw delivered a vintage, six-inning gem, supported by crisp defense and a bullpen that finally held a late lead. LA capitalized on offense from Ohtani and Betts, with Teoscar Hernandez adding a crucial insurance homer in the seventh. The win comes despite Max Muncy being placed on the injured list with an oblique strain, and a Padres bullpen game after Michael King’s shoulder issue.

Defensive plays—from Freeman, Freeland, and Kershaw on grounders to the infield help that kept San Diego quiet—were as decisive as any hit. Laureano’s deadline splash for the Padres provided early spark, but LA answered in kind, exorcising recent demons and reclaiming the top spot in the division. It was a high-intensity, finish-flat night that underscored why this is one of baseball’s marquee rivalries.