• Manny Machado continues his torrid June, going 17-for-41 (.415) with 4 HR and 14 RBI for the month.
• The Dodgers defeated the Padres 5-2 to win the series rubber match.
• Teoscar Hernández hit a go-ahead, three-run home run in the sixth inning, which was the decisive play.
• The Padres' only offense came in the second inning, scoring two runs but leaving the bases loaded.
• Starter Ben Casparius pitched four innings, allowing one run before the bullpen surrendered the lead.

It's a tough pill to swallow. Dropping a series to the Dodgers always stings, and Wednesday's 5-2 loss felt like a classic case of one big swing changing everything. While the final score in the rubber match wasn't what Friar Faithful wanted, there's an undeniable, white-hot silver lining for San Diego: Manny Machado is playing on another planet right now.

Manny Machado is 17-for-41 (.415) with four home runs and 14 RBI in June alone.

One Inning Undone

The game was a nail-biter, locked at 2-2 heading into the sixth inning. Starter Ben Casparius battled through four frames, giving up just one run and impressively escaping a bases-loaded jam in the second. The Padres' only offense came in that same inning, scratching across two runs highlighted by a bases-loaded walk from Martín Maldonado. But the inability to cash in for more came back to haunt them. The Dodgers' Teoscar Hernández stepped up against the Padres' bullpen and delivered the knockout blow—a three-run shot that sucked the air out of the stadium and sealed the series for LA.

The Manny Mash Show Continues

Let's talk about the biggest positive. Despite the team's loss, Manny Machado is putting the offense on his back. Fresh off a five-RBI night on Tuesday, he's become the most feared hitter in the lineup. Through 66 games, he's hitting a stellar .325 with a .904 OPS, 10 homers, and 39 RBI. His performance in June has been nothing short of legendary. He's providing the middle-of-the-order thump this team desperately needs, and if the Friars are going to make a deep run, it will be on the back of their superstar third baseman.

Action Down on the Farm

The big league club wasn't the only one in a tight contest. In Double-A, the San Antonio Missions fell 3-1 to Amarillo, but the spotlight was stolen by shortstop Francisco Acuña, who had a perfect night at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base. That's the kind of performance that gets you noticed. Meanwhile, the organization continues to tinker with its pitching depth, promoting right-handers Eduarniel Nuñez, Carter Loewen, and Jose Espada from San Antonio to Triple-A El Paso, a clear sign they're looking for the next arm to contribute in San Diego.

Losing a series to the Dodgers hurts, no doubt. But at 38-28, the Padres are still in a strong position. The key takeaway from this week is the re-emergence of an MVP-caliber Manny Machado. As the team looks to bounce back, they'll need to find more consistent offense around him and get lockdown innings from the bullpen in high-leverage spots. The foundation is there, and with Machado leading the charge, this team has every reason to be optimistic as they head into their next series.