Dodgers top Padres, close in on NL West title

Shohei Ohtani drove in two runs, including a go-ahead RBI single in the sixth inning, as the Los Angeles Dodgers moved to the cusp of another National League West title after a 4-3 victory over the visiting San Diego Padres on Wednesday.

Teoscar Hernandez and Gavin Lux each drove in a run as the Dodgers moved three games ahead of the Padres and reduced their magic number for their 11th division title in 12 seasons to two. The Dodgers can win the West with a victory over the Padres on Thursday.

Alex Vesia (5-4) pitched an inning to earn the win and Michael Kopech pitched the ninth for his 15th save as Los Angeles (94-64) maintained the top record in major leagues, a half-game better than the Philadelphia Phillies.

Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a home run while Xander Bogaerts and Jake Cronenworth each drove in runs as the Padres (91-67) lost for just the fourth time in 12 games against the Dodgers. Jeremiah Estrada (6-3) allowed a run in two-thirds of an inning to take the loss.

For the second consecutive game between the teams, the Dodgers took a 1-0 in the first inning after Ohtani crossed the plate. The Los Angeles leadoff man walked, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on a Hernandez single.

The Padres answered with two runs in the top of the second, just as they did in the series opener. Manny Machado walked and Jackson Merrill doubled before a run-scoring single from Bogaerts and an RBI ground out from Cronenworth.

The Dodgers regained the lead on a two-out rally in the fourth when Tommy Edman doubled and came home on a single from Lux. After Miguel Rojas walked, Ohtani doubled home Lux for a 3-2 advantage. Rojas left the game after the inning with left groin tightness.

Tatis' home run in the fifth inning, his 21st of the season, to tie the score 3-all.

Will Smith and Edman opened the Dodgers' sixth inning with walks against Estrada and, with two outs, Ohtani singled to center against Adrian Morejon for a 4-3 lead.

In a matchup of top starters, Dodgers right-hander Jack Flaherty gave up three runs on four hits over five innings with three walks and five strikeouts. Padres right-hander Dylan Cease gave up three runs on five hits over five innings with three walks and four strikeouts.

--Field Level Media