Padres fall to Dodgers 8-7 on June 18 despite Manny Machado's heroic 5-RBI night. Shohei Ohtani's homer helped LA win the slugfest. Recap the action.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
In a game that had all the drama and tension of a postseason clash, the San Diego Padres went toe-to-toe with the Los Angeles Dodgers, ultimately falling 8-7 in a heartbreaker at Dodger Stadium. While the loss stings, Manny Machado put the team on his back, delivering a spectacular five-RBI performance that nearly willed the Friars to victory against their bitter rivals.
Manny Machado has posted a .996 OPS with five home runs and 20 RBIs in his last 15 games.
The Padres and Dodgers traded blows all night in a classic NL West showdown. San Diego's offense, led by Machado's clutch hitting, refused to quit, mounting a late-game rally that put the winning run on base. However, the Dodgers' high-powered lineup, featuring a key two-run homer from Shohei Ohtani, proved to be just enough. A go-ahead double in the seventh inning off reliever Alek Jacob ultimately sealed the Padres' fate, dropping them to 39-32 on the season.
If there's one massive takeaway from Wednesday's loss, it's that Manny Machado is playing on another level. Going 3-for-5 with five RBIs, he was the engine of the Padres' offense. Every time the Dodgers seemed ready to pull away, Machado answered. His scorching-hot June has raised his season batting average to .316 and his RBI total to 45. He's not just hitting; he's carrying the lineup and reminding everyone why he's one of the game's elite players.
All eyes were on right-hander Ryan Bergert as he made his first career MLB start. The recently promoted prospect was thrown right into the fire against the Dodgers' potent offense. While the final line—five runs over 4.1 innings—wasn't what he'd hoped for, Bergert showed flashes of the command that made him a system riser. It was a tough lesson against one of baseball's best lineups, but valuable experience for a player who projects to be a part of the team's future, either in the rotation or as a multi-inning weapon out of the bullpen.
While Bergert graduated to the bigs, the future continues to develop in the minor leagues. Phenom shortstop Leo De Vries is living up to the hype, while catcher Ethan Salas is finding his groove at the plate to match his elite defensive skills. The system remains top-heavy, but with bat-first prospect Romeo Sanabria also raking, there are key pieces developing. The pipeline is crucial for sustaining long-term success against rivals like the Dodgers.
Losing a one-run game to the Dodgers always hurts, but Wednesday's contest felt different. It was a showcase of the team's fight, Machado's superstar talent, and a peek at the future with Bergert's debut. The Padres remain firmly in the playoff hunt at 39-32, holding the third spot in the NL West with playoff odds still north of 60%. They'll need to shake this one off quickly, build on the offensive positives, and get ready to even the series. If Machado stays this hot, anything is possible.
