The San Diego Padres (29-18) looked to take the series against the Los Angeles Dodgers (29-19) tonight after claiming game one of three at Petco Park yesterday.

The Padres did just enough on Monday night to get a 1-0 win over the Dodgers as they ride a four-game win streak. Tonight, they looked to do the same, as they had Griffin Canning on the mound, who was looking to get on the right track, and he is going toe-to-toe with the always solid Emmet Sheehan.

Gearing up for Game 2. pic.twitter.com/ocCWPq8FvA

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) May 19, 2026

Both teams trade two-run shots in the first

After last night’s pitching masterpiece, both teams started with some fireworks on offense. At the top of the first, Griffin Canning gave up a leadoff double to left from Shohei Ohtani. Mookie Betts then grounded out to Fernando Tatis Jr.on a great defensive play up the middle, advancing Ohtani to third. This set up the always dangerous Freddie Freeman, and he got a hold of a fastball on the outer half of the plate, shot it opposite field into the left field stands to help the Dodgers strike first, 2-0. Canning was able to keep them at that to close out the first.

But the Padres had an answer to the early score. Emmet Sheehan was able to get through Fernando Tatis Jr.with a strikeout and Miguel Andujar with a groundout to third to start. But a good at-bat from Gavin Sheets forces Sheehan to give up a walk. Looking to make a splash was Manny Machado with two outs. He had a hitters count the whole way, and when a fastball leaked over the middle on full count, Macahdo unloaded on it 404 feet over the left center wall to tie the game at two apiece. His seventh long ball of the year.

Manny Machado, the Man that you are. pic.twitter.com/ICaavaYhKf

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) May 20, 2026

Miguel Andujar gives the Padres the lead, but the Dodgers start to chip away

You can criticize the Padres’ offense, but the guys who are playing well deserve their credit. Miguel Andujar is one of them. With one out in the bottom of the third, Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a ball up the middle where Hyeseong Kim ran it down and threw him out. But Craig Stammen wanted the umpires to have another look at the play, and Tatis Jr. was indeed safe. Miguel Andujar then would put the Padres in front with a 106.6 laser to left to put San Diego up 4-2.

The Padres did miss out, though, on building the lead in the fourth. With one out, Jackson Merrill got on with a bloop single, then Ty France got a ground-rule double a batter later. The ground-rule double occurred with two outs, and if it didn’t hop over the wall, Merrill would have scored to extend the lead. Freddy Fermin would have a 104mph groundout to close the inning.

“That was hit hard.” pic.twitter.com/1ZRCe3t868

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) May 20, 2026

However, the Dodgers are never out of the fight. In the top of the fifth, Teoscar Hernandez got an unbelievable lucky bounce as a grounder down the third base line bounced off the bag into the air over Manny Machado. Hernandez turned that into a double. Hyeseong Kim then grounded out to second, moving Hernandez to third. This led to a big moment in the game as Shohei Ohtani could do some serious damage and tie this one up right after the Padres got the lead. But Canning was able to get him to ground out to second, which allowed the run to score. SD leads 4-3.

That would close the night for Griffin Canning, and he did his job. Left the game with a lead, also giving Padres fans some confidence in his stuff. Great job setting up his off-speed and not giving up free passes. He finished with five innings pitched, giving up four hits, three runs (all earned), one walk, and grabbing five strikeouts.

Freddie Freeman strikes again to tie it up

Playing against the Dodgers has not been kind to Jeremiah Estrada in his career, with an ERA of 11.81 in thirteen appearances. That story would continue tonight. First batter he faced, Freddie Freeman golfed a low and in splitter over the right field wall to tie things up once again with his second homerun on the night. Not even a bad pitch, just a better swing from the stud first baseman. Estrada would get out of the inning without allowing any more damage to be done.

Freddie Freeman has his first multi-homer game of the season as the Dodgers have tied it back up! pic.twitter.com/T7b1Ikj6iI

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) May 20, 2026

Adrian Morejon has a huge eighth to keep the game tied

Adrian Morejon was the man for the moment at the top of the eighth. Morejon would give up a leadoff double to Shohei Ohtani. Mookie Betts would then fly out to center, letting Ohtani get to third. He then fell behind Freddie Freeman 3-1. Morejon would come back and strike him out, then get Kyle Tucker to ground out to first. Morejon would let out a primal scream, walking off the mound after the huge hold.

Mason Miller has his first big mistake of the year, which costs the Padres a chance to win

In what has been a legendary start to the season, you just knew the mistake was going to come sooner or later. In the top of the ninth, Mason Miller comes in with a 4-4 ballgame. He would get Will Smith to fly out to start it off. But the walks for Miller keep coming as he walks Max Muncy. The Dodgers would put in Alex Call to pinch run. During the at-bat to Andy Pages, Call took off to second before Miller went to the plate. Miller picked over to first, but rushed it and threw it down the left field line, allowing Call to advance all the way to third. Pages would have an extraordinary at-bat before getting a sac-fly to right field to bring the leading run across. LA leads 5-4.

Manager Craig Stammen would pull Miller and go to Ron Marinaccio to get Teoscar Hernandez out and close out the top half of the inning.

The Padres hitters wouldn’t make much of an effort to try to tie things up in the bottom half of the ninth. Ty France struck out swinging, Freddy Fermin grounded out to second, and Fernando Tatis Jr.grounded out to third. The Dodgers tie the series up with a 5-4 win.

Closing out the series

The San Diego Padres (29-19) will face off against the Los Angeles Dodgers (30-19) one more time tomorrow in the rubber match game three. Game time is 5:40 PM PST. The Padres got Randy Vasquez on the mound, and for the Dodgers, they got the former MVP Shohei Ohtani to close out the series.

Wyatt Dearen

Hi Padres fans, I’m Wyatt Dearen. I am from Farmington, New Mexico, which is home to one of the most prestigious high school baseball tournaments in America, the Connie Mack World Series. When it comes around, I do color and statistics for the radio. I am currently pursuing a degree in Sports Administration at the University of Houston #GoCoogs. I have been a sports fan my whole life, following all the major sports leagues since I could walk, and it has been my dream my whole life to work in sports. Thankful to write about the team and for the East VillageTimes.