Dodgers escape 6-run hole, overpower skidding Padres

Field Level Media|published: Fri 3rd July, 01:47 2026

Jul 2, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing (68) runs after hitting a two run home run against the San Diego Padres in the second inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Navarro-Imagn Images

Dalton Rushing had a home run among his four hits and drove in four runs for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who erased a six-run deficit for a 12-7 victory over the San Diego Padres on Thursday.

The Dodgers matched their season high with 17 hits and won for the eighth time in 10 games. The Padres took their sixth loss in a row, matching their worst skid of the season.

Rushing tied his career highs in hits and RBIs. Teammate Kyle Tucker matched his career best with four hits and also drew a walk.

Andy Pages delivered a game-tying two-run double for Los Angeles in the fourth inning.

The Dodgers' bullpen gave up one run over the final six innings after Roki Sasaki yielded six runs on seven hits in a season-low three innings. Will Klein (3-2) followed with two scoreless innings.

Manny Machado hit a first-inning homer before Jackson Merrill and Jake Cronenworth each went deep in the second as the Padres built a 6-0 lead. Randy Vasquez gave up four runs over three innings, and Wandy Peralta (1-1) was tagged for four runs on six hits in the fourth.

The Padres saw their losing skid begin with consecutive home defeats against the Dodgers last weekend before they were swept in a three-game road series against the Chicago Cubs, including a 23-3 demolition on Wednesday.

The Padres' fast start began when Fernando Tatis Jr. hit Sasaki's first pitch of the game for a double. Machado followed two batters later with a home run to center field.

San Diego made it 6-0 in the second on Merrill's leadoff home run and a three-run blast from Cronenworth.

Rushing began the momentum swing for the Dodgers with a two-run homer in the bottom of the second. Los Angeles pulled within 6-4 in the third on RBI hits from Max Muncy and Tucker.

Pages tied it 6-6 in the fourth on a two-run double to left before Mookie Betts and Muncy added RBI hits for an 8-6 lead. The Dodgers' run total reached double digits in the fifth when Tommy Edman had an RBI double before scoring on a wild pitch.

Rushing drove in runs in the sixth and eighth innings, and the Padres' Miguel Andujar had an RBI single in the ninth.

--Field Level Media