Ohtani's Quality Outing, Hernández's Grand Slam Lift Dodgers Over Padres

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Seems as though Shohei Ohtani and Dalton Rushing are on the same page.

The batterymates' miscommunication from their previous outing last week against the Minnesota Twins was a pivotal moment between the two teammates. That context amplified the second game of a four-game series against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on Friday night.

For Ohtani, he delivered a quality start through seven innings en route to a Dodgers 7-3 win.

Despite the Padres tagging him for three runs on 110 pitches (the most pitches he's thrown in a Dodgers uniform), a go-ahead grand slam by Teoscar Hernández was just enough for Los Angeles to come away with the tight victory.

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Jul 3, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) throws during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. -- © Jon Endow-Imagn Images

These type of outings from Ohtani have been something of a recurring theme. In his last four starts, the Dodgers' two-way man has given up 14 runs (4.38 ERA) but is still generating a sub-2.00 ERA following his start on Friday (1.79).

Even with the nine strikeouts, San Diego hitters managed to generate seven hits and score three runs. Most notably, Jackson Merrill's solo shot in the fourth became the first home run that Ohtani gave up at Dodger Stadium this season.

On the offensive end, the Dodgers had no answer for Padres starter Michael King. Through King's first five innings of work, the Dodgers mustered just one base runner against the righty.

It wasn't until the seventh inning that King was unable to record an out after Mookie Betts reached on a walk and Max Muncy singled to end King's night on the mound.

Kyle Tucker followed that with a grounder to second baseman Jake Cronenworth, but he bobbled it on the delivery.

For the first time all game, the Dodgers were brewing for a big offensive inning.

They capatilized all on one swing from the bat of Hernández.

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Jul 3, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernandez (37) hits a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. -- © Jon Endow-Imagn Images

On the first pitch he saw from Adrian Morejon, Hernández belted a go-ahead grand slam to straight-away center field. That marks his first home run since returning from the Injured List.

The bullpen — which comprised Kyle Hurt, Edgardo Henriquez and Tanner Scott — held the Padres scoreless and handed San Diego their sixth straight loss.

With the win, the Dodgers improve to 58-31 and notch their second consecutive come-from-behind victory.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto toes the rubber on Saturday.

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