Friday, August 15, 2025

Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2025

The most important win since Game 5 of the 2024 NLDS against the San  Diego Padres.

Clayton Kershaw set the tone with his six-inning brilliance in a 3-to-2 victory over the San  Diego Padres on a beautiful Friday night at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers scored enough to win. In the third, the Dodgers played small ball to score two runs, and in the seventh, Teoscar Hernández hit a solo home run. While Alex Vesia allowed a run in the eighth, Blake Treinen, Alexis Diaz, and Jack Dreyer finished the game scorelessly. The Dodgers and the Padres are tied atop in the National League Western Division.

Knowing that runs would be at a premium when the Dodgers had to put Max Muncy on the IL, Clayton Kershaw put his team on his back. While Kershaw doesn’t pitch like he did in his prime, he knew how to retire the anxious Padres. Despite allowing a solo home run in the second, Kershaw was brilliant for six innings. He struck out three and issued a walk while allowing two hits.

In the third, Michael Conforto opened with a single. Alex Freeland singled Conforto to second. Miguel Rojas tried to sacrifice, but Manny Machado couldn’t field the bunt, allowing the Dodgers to load the bases. Shohei Ohtani hit into a force play, scoring Conforto, and Mookie Betts’ sacrifice fly scored Freeland.

Ben Casparius pitched well in the seventh.

Teoscar Hernández delivered in the seventh with a solo home run.

Lately, Alex Vesia has struggled, and Friday was no exception. He hit two straight hitters, which let the Padres score their second run.

Blake Treinen threw only one pitch to end the eighth. The Dodgers are determined not to have Treinen an up and down during the regular season.

Alexis Diaz, who was an All-Star closer while with the Cincinnati Reds, got the first two outs in the ninth but allowed a single. Dave Roberts played the match-up and brought in Jack Dreyer, who induced a fly ball to center field to end the game. The Dodgers snapped their four-game losing streak.