Dodgers extend winning streak with Ohtani’s two-way dominance over Padres
Shohei Ohtani’s leadoff home run and five-inning pitching performance underscore Los Angeles’ momentum as San Diego suffers fourth consecutive defeat.
The Los Angeles Dodgers reinforced their position atop the National League West with a 4-0 victory over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night at Petco Park. The win extends Los Angeles’ winning streak to seven of their last eight games, maintaining a half-game advantage over their Southern California rivals in the division standings.
Shohei Ohtani delivered a comprehensive two-way performance, homering on the first pitch and pitching five innings of three-hit ball. Ohtani drove Randy Vásquez’s high fastball 398 feet to centre field for his eighth home run of the season and his 27th career leadoff homer. On the mound, he struck out four batters and issued two walks, lowering his earned run average to 0.73 over eight starts. His record improved to 4-2.
Ohtani retired the first nine batters he faced, requiring 52 pitches to do so. He navigated a bases-loaded jam in the fifth inning by inducing a ground ball from Fernando Tatis Jr., who had drawn a leadoff walk in the fourth. Tatis later grounded into a double play with the bases loaded and one out in the fifth, ending a threatening Padres rally.
Teoscar Hernández contributed significantly to the offensive output, hitting a home run and driving in two runs. Hernández’s ninth-inning home run marked his sixth of the season. Max Muncy added a double in the second inning and scored on Hernández’s flyout, while Ohtani scored in the fifth on a single by Kyle Tucker after drawing a leadoff walk.
The Padres have now lost four consecutive games and were shut out over the final 15 innings of the series. Starting pitcher Randy Vásquez (5-2) yielded six hits and three runs. Padres centre fielder Jackson Merrill crashed into the wall attempting to catch Ohtani’s home run in the first inning but remained in the game until the fifth.
Both teams have Thursday off. The Dodgers return to play on Friday in Milwaukee with Justin Wrobleski (6-1, 2.49 ERA) set to start. Walker Buehler (3-2, 5.01 ERA) is expected to start for the Padres when they face the Athletics at Petco Park.
