For the second consecutive night, the Los Angeles Dodgers have another comeback win and this one came against the San Diego Padres.
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.
"I thought they did a good job. They seemed to be on the same page tonight," Dave Roberts said via SportsNetLA on Ohtani and Rushing's performance.
For Ohtani, he delivered a quality start through seven innings en route to a Dodgers 4-3 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.
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 ImagesThis type of outing from Ohtani has 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).
"Good outing, but I think, again, with Shohei, the stuff that he has, he's just got to be more efficient to be able to get into that seventh inning and the last few starts he just hasn't given himself a chance," Roberts said.
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.
“I think I did the bare minimum, which is to get through six, give the team the chance to win, keep the game in check, but there was some good and some bad in there," Ohtani told the media in the postgame via SportsNetLA.
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.
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 ImagesOn 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.
The one blurb in Friday's win was the premature removal of Ohtani in the seventh inning. He was pinch hit for by Miguel Rojas who then hit a double down the left field line.
Ohtani provided some clarity on the situation.
“More precautionary reasons. I was a little concerned with my biceps on the last at-bat I took," Ohtani said.
Roberts took it a step further and announced that Ohtani would not be DH'ing for Saturday's contest. He also added that every possibility is on the table regarding Ohtani making one more start before the All-Star break.
Roberts does not expect Ohtani to pitch in the Midsummer Classic, but did not rule it out 100%.
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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