Yu Darvish outduels Blake Snell and the Padres’ bullpen closes it out — San Diego beats Los Angeles 2–1, tying both teams atop the NL West. Recap, key moments, standings impact and what comes next.
Dodgers vs Padres Quick take
Yu Darvish delivered a vintage, composed outing and the Padres executed small-ball in the fourth inning to beat the Dodgers 2–1 at Petco Park. Robert Suárez closed the door for his 34th save as San Diego pulled even with Los Angeles atop the NL West. This one-run pitching duel tightened a division race that has swung back and forth all month.
The scoreboard and why it mattered
- Final: Padres 2, Dodgers 1 (Petco Park) — Aug 22/23, 2025.
- Standings: The result left both teams at 73–56, effectively tying them for first place in the NL West and sharpening the playoff picture down the stretch.
This was more than one game — it was momentum. The Padres needed this win to stop the Dodgers’ recent push, and San Diego’s pitching staff answered with a clutch, three-inning relief hold that finished with Suárez’s trademark power and composure.
How the game played out — inning by inning
Early pitching duel: Yu Darvish settled quickly, navigating traffic with his usual mix of cutters and breaking stuff. He finished six innings allowing one run on one hit while striking out five — a dominant line in a rivalry game. Blake Snell matched him with seven strong innings but took the loss when his club couldn’t string hits together.
Fourth-inning small ball: San Diego manufactured both runs in the fourth. A leadoff walk, a sacrifice bunt, and a Manny Machado RBI single put the Padres up, and later a Xander Bogaerts sacrifice fly added an insurance run. It was textbook situational hitting — little things that win close games.
Late-inning drama: The Dodgers pushed in the ninth and threatened with runners on the corners, but Suárez battled through traffic — including a game-clinching strikeout of Teoscar Hernández — to preserve the one-run lead. Earlier, Mason Miller and Jason Adam bridged clean innings to hand the ball to San Diego’s closer. A pivotal double play in the eighth erased a Dodger rally and shifted momentum back to the home side.
Pitcher pages — why Darvish won this night
Yu Darvish’s outing was textbook elite veteran pitching: efficient, competitive and clutch. He retired 10 of his final 11 batters and kept the Dodgers off balance with a diverse pitch mix and situational command. In a series where matchups and bullpens decide outcomes, Darvish gave San Diego a chance to win every inning. After the game he credited improved command and teammates’ support.
On the other side, Blake Snell was excellent in his own right — six or seven innings of two-run ball and five strikeouts — but didn’t get enough run support. The Dodgers’ lone run came on Alex Freeland’s first big-league homer, a momentary spark that ultimately wasn’t enough.
The bullpen story — Miller, Adam, Suárez
The Padres’ pen answered the call. Jason Adam and Mason Miller set up in middle innings with clean, high-leverage work, and Robert Suárez finished in trademark fashion, collecting his 34th save despite a nervous ninth. Suárez’s fastball and breaking stuff forced the Dodgers into a few soft contact outs and a decisive strikeout to end it. That bullpen sequence — particularly the double play that erased an earlier threat — was the difference between a tied game and a Padres win.
Suárez has had rollercoaster moments this season (including a blown save earlier in August), but on this night he reasserted why he remains among baseball’s most electric closers when locked in.
Key plays and turning points
- Manny Machado’s RBI single (4th): The veteran’s clutch at-bat gave San Diego the initial punch they needed.
- Xander Bogaerts’ sacrifice fly (4th): The textbook sac fly produced insurance and shifted the pressure back to LA.
- Eighth-inning double play challenge: A Dodgers rally was erased after the Padres won a replay challenge that confirmed a force and turned two — a sequence that flipped late-game win probability in San Diego’s favor.
- Suárez’s ninth-inning K: The closer punched out Teoscar Hernández to end the game — the final note of a tense finish.
Stat lines that matter
- Padres (starter): Yu Darvish — 6 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 5 K (line).
- Dodgers (starter): Blake Snell — 7 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 5 K (line).
- Key bullpen: Jason Adam (scoreless), Mason Miller (scoreless bridge), Robert Suárez (SV, 34th).
- Offense: Manny Machado (RBI single), Xander Bogaerts (sac fly), Alex Freeland (solo HR for L.A.).
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What this means for the NL West race
This result tightened a division that has been neck-and-neck all month. With both clubs at 73–56, every series between them now swings the tiebreaker discussion and home-field permutations late in September. The Dodgers still own strong recent head-to-head numbers this season, but the Padres have momentum at Petco and have proven they can grind out one-run games — a critical skill in September baseball.
If San Diego continues to get starting performances from arms like Darvish and timely bullpen outings from Suárez, the division race could remain a two-horse sprint to the finish. For L.A., getting more offensive consistency and easing pressure on their bullpen will be the path back to control.
Matchups next and what to watch
- Next pitchers: The series continues with Tyler Glasnow (Dodgers) vs. Nestor Cortes (Padres) — a matchup that could favor either side depending on early-inning command. Keep an eye on bullpen usage patterns: San Diego’s pen logged key innings on a tight pitch count, and the Dodgers may need length from Glasnow to limit high-leverage appearances.
- Health and usage: Track Suárez’s workload and Darvish’s next-turn rest. The Padres will need both to be available and effective for a potential late-September push. The Dodgers must find more consistent run-support to maximize their rotation’s value.
Fan angle & narratives to follow
- Small-ball vs. big bats: The Padres won this one by manufacturing runs and locking down late — a contrast to games decided by big sluggers. San Diego’s ability to win both ways (power and manufacturing) makes them flexible.
- Bullpen reliability: Suárez’s 34th save is a headline, but the larger story is whether the Padres’ bullpen can maintain consistency after heavy usage. The Dodgers will test that depth in the coming series.
- Dodgers’ offensive pulse: LA’s offense was limited to a solo homer and a handful of baserunners — recurring offensive droughts can cost a team even with strong starting pitching. How the Dodgers respond at the plate will shape the division narrative.
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