Offense struggles, Padres drop series to Dodgers with 5-2 loss
Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
Petco Park- San Diego, California
In the first meeting of the season, the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers did not disappoint Monday night with a battle that ultimately went to L.A.
The second game of the series was a laugher, as the Padres pounded the Dodgers, 11-1.
Wednesday’s game at Petco Park would decide the series between these two bitter rivals. San Diego would take an early lead, but the offense would falter, and the bullpen would struggle as the Padres dropped their first series of 2025 to the Dodgers, losing 5-2.
San Diego failed to get to Ben Casparius, as the right-hander went four innings and allowed one earned run on three hits. That was an issue as the offense went dormant for the Padres the day after an 11-run explosion. In essentially another bullpen game for the Dodgers, the Padres struggled to get going offensively.
Randy Vasquez has been a godsend for the Padres in 2025.
With injuries to Yu Darvish and Michael King, Vasquez has successfully eaten innings for San Diego and produced for the most part. On Wednesday, the right-handed pitcher went 4 2/3 innings, allowing one earned run and two hits. He struck out four in the game and left with two outs in the top of the fifth inning, as Mike Shildt elected to go to Adrian Morejon out of the pen to pitch to Shohei Ohtani. Vasquez only threw 70 pitches in the game. “I thought he was good. He did his job,” Mike Shildt said after the game about Vasquez.
This proved to be a catastrophe for the Padres as the bullpen was called on for action early in the game. Earlier than they arguably should have been used. “We had a rested bullpen,” Mike Shildt said after the game in the presser. His plan was to use them early.
Morejon got Ohtani out on the top of the fifth inning and also recorded the first out of the sixth inning for the Padres. However, the lefty misplayed a tapper back to him off the bat of Freddie Freeman. Mike Shildt, once again, went to a high-leverage reliever as he brought Jeremiah Estrada in to pitch to Will Smith with Freeman on first base.
Estrada did not have his good stuff on the day as he walked Will Smith and coughed up a three-run homer off the bat of Teoscar Hernandez to give the Dodgers a 4-1 lead. The 108.6 mph drive immediately deflated the energy from Petco Park and Padres fans.
Teoscar Hernández breaks the tie with a 3-run blast! pic.twitter.com/TpyzjgO9ro
— MLB (@MLB) June 11, 2025
San Diego punched back right away, scoring a run in the bottom of the sixth to make it a 4-2 game. But that was it.
Things got interesting in the bottom of the seventh as the team loaded the bases for Luis Arraez. Michael Kopech was wild out of the pen and created the situation for the Dodgers. Arraez popped out to make it two outs. Manny Machado strolled to the plate with a chance to do some damage. Machado worked the count to 3-0. The crowd was electric. Machado proceeded to swing at the next pitch and ground out to end the threat.
The Padres were a timely hit away from winning this contest. It just didn’t happen.
Los Angeles added to their lead with an opposite field ground ball off the bat of Will Smith with two outs to make it a 5-2 game.
Native San Diegan Alex Vesia pitched the ninth inning for the Dodgers in search of the save. Vesia is out of Steel Canyon High School in Jamul. The lefty was dominant as he struck out the side and preserved the win for Los Angeles.
Up next for the Padres is an off day on Thursday, followed by a series in Arizona that starts Friday night.
Stephen Kolek (3-1, 3.00 ERA) will battle Ryne Nelson (2-2, 4.60 ERA).
The first pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m.
James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. James has written about the Padres and their prospects for over a decade. He also writes about San Diego State as well as other local sports. James is the Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.