Then Betts rescued the Dodgers with the 394-foot shot to left-center off Robert Suarez. It was the shortstop’s 13th homer of the season and just his fifth since June. Betts had 25 in 2022 and 39 in 2023.

The defeat marks LA’s fourth straight loss and drops the Dodgers into second place in the National League West, behind the surging San Diego Padres. It is their first time out of first place since April and the first time this late in a season since 2021, marking a notable midseason setback for a club that has typically dominated the division.

The last time the Padres led the NL West this late in the season was in 2010; Dave Roberts told the Dodgers to 'ramp up the intensity.'

Things sure have changed since the last time the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers clashed, back in June. The Dodgers were running away in the NL West then with a nine-game lead. The Padres were in third place.

The Los Angeles Dodgers made an unexpected Will Smith decision before a crucial game against the San Diego Padres.