The Los Angeles Dodgers survived a tense battle against their division rivals, edging the San Diego Padres 3-2 in a game where clutch hits were scarce but timely. Clayton Kershaw delivered a vintage performance, holding the Padres to just one run over six innings while striking out three, but it was Teoscar Hernández's solo homer in the third inning that provided the decisive spark. The Dodgers' bullpen bent but didn't break, with Alexis Díaz escaping a late jam by striking out two in the ninth to preserve the narrow lead. San Diego's Ramón Laureano kept his team in it with a solo shot of his own, but the Padres' bats—including a rare 0-for-10 night from Fernando Tatis Jr., Luis Arraez, and Manny Machado combined—couldn't muster enough against LA's pitching.

For the Dodgers, the win extends their grip on the NL West, though their offense remains inconsistent—only three hits on the night, with Hernández and Miguel Rojas accounting for all the RBIs. The Padres, meanwhile, will rue missed opportunities, leaving runners in scoring position and failing to capitalize against a shaky LA bullpen. As the playoff race tightens, both teams know these one-run games could define their seasons.