Freddie Freeman, Shohei Ohtani Power Dodgers Past Padres 8-2; NL West Tied After San Diego Showdown

Sunday, August 24th, 2025

Dodgers Power Past Padres 8-2 to Even NL West Standings

The Los Angeles Dodgers surged past the San Diego Padres with an emphatic 8-2 victory, delivering a crucial win that brings both teams level in the National League West standings at 74-57 with 31 games remaining in the season.

Game Highlights

Freddie Freeman was the star of the game, blasting home runs in back-to-back innings to energize the Dodgers’ offense. In a pivotal moment, rookie Dalton Rushing hit a dramatic, tiebreaking three-run homer in the seventh inning, giving Los Angeles a decisive lead and marking his third career home run. Freeman later added a two-run shot as the Dodgers’ bats finally broke through late against the Padres’ formidable bullpen.

Shohei Ohtani, homerless the entire series, launched his 45th home run in the ninth inning to cap the Dodgers’ scoring. On the mound, Yoshinobu Yamamoto (11-8) delivered six strong innings, surrendering just four hits and striking out six to keep his team in contention until the offense erupted.

Padres’ Highlights and Pitching

The Padres, whose five-game winning streak came to an end, took an early lead on a two-run homer from backup catcher Elias Díaz in the third inning. Starting pitcher Nick Pivetta delivered a strong outing with six innings of two-hit ball and seven strikeouts, retiring 16 of 17 Dodgers before Freeman’s first homer ignited the comeback.

Pivetta, Yu Darvish, and Nestor Cortes combined to stymie the Dodgers over the series, allowing just three runs on four hits over 18 innings. However, the Padres’ bullpen faltered late, with Jeremiah Estrada giving up a crucial home run for the second straight day.

Key Moment

Dalton Rushing’s tiebreaking three-run homer in the seventh inning was the game’s turning point, breaking a tie and swinging momentum firmly in the Dodgers’ favor.

Key Stat

Mookie Betts contributed three hits for the Dodgers. After a challenging stretch, Betts is now hitting .348 since August 5, providing a boost at the top of the lineup.

Up Next

The Dodgers return home to host the Cincinnati Reds, with Emmet Sheehan (4-2, 4.17 ERA) slated to start against Los Angeles native Hunter Greene. Meanwhile, the Padres hit the road to face the Seattle Mariners; their starting pitcher is to be announced.

In summary

The Los Angeles Dodgers powered to an 8-2 win over the San Diego Padres behind key home runs from Freddie Freeman, Dalton Rushing, and Shohei Ohtani, leveling the NL West division race. With strong performances from both teams' starting pitchers, the Dodgers’ late offensive surge proved the difference. As the regular season enters its final stretch, both the Dodgers and Padres remain locked in a tight playoff battle, making every upcoming game crucial in the NL West pennant race.

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