Nester Cortes shuts down Dodgers, Padres move into first
Aug 23, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Nestor Cortes (65) delivers during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images Nestor Cortes allowed just one hit over six shutout innings Saturday night and Ramon Laureano knocked in two runs to lift the San Diego Padres to a 5-1 win over the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers to move back into first place in the National League West.
Cortes (2-2) retired the first 16 men he faced before Miguel Rojas ended his bid for a perfect game with a one-out single to right in the sixth. Cortes fanned three and threw 56 of his 81 pitches for strikes.
Tyler Glasnow (1-2) absorbed the loss, permitting three runs off two hits and four walks in four innings while fanning three. San Diego managed only three hits but drew six walks in the game, bunching most of its runners into the two innings in which it scored.
After walking two in a scoreless third inning, Glasnow found more trouble via walks in the fourth. He passed Manny Machado to start the inning and gave up a single to Ryan O'Hearn, the first hit for either team.
A walk to Xander Bogaerts filled the bases before Gavin Sheets lined out. Laureano cashed in Machado and O'Hearn with a two-run single to right-center and Jake Cronenworth scored Bogaerts with a sacrifice fly to left.
Los Angeles broke up the shutout in the eighth when rookie Alex Freeland homered for the second time in as many nights off reliever Jeremiah Estrada. But Estrada and Adrian Morejon mowed down the last five men they faced, with Morejon getting credit for his third save.
More wildness in the bottom of the eighth gave the Padres insurance. Fernando Tatis Jr. walked and stole second. Reliever Justin Wrobleski retired Luis Arraez but intentionally walked Machado.
O'Hearn's grounder to short moved the runners up 90 feet and Bogaerts laced a two-run double into the right field corner to cap the scoring.
The teams combined for just five hits. San Diego pitchers faced only two batters over the minimum and the Dodgers didn't take a single at-bat with a runner in scoring position.
--Field Level Media
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