Teoscar Hernández strikes out with Mookie Betts at third base in the ninth inning of the Dodgers' 2-1 loss to the San Diego Padres that ties the teams for first in the NL West.

The Dodgers were held to one hit before the ninth inning, when Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman gave them one final gasp against All-Star closer Robert Suarez. The closer blew a 101.6 mph sinker past Hernández to close out a night in which they hardly ever threatened.

When will the Dodgers' hierarchy finally come to the same conclusion as everyone else in Dodger nation? Teoscar Hernández is a hack in right field, Michael Conforto needs a one-way ticket to the waiver wire and the Dodgers are a better team with Mookie Betts in right field.

The Padres have effectively played shorthanded the last few days, with Ramón Laureano sliding over from left to center field and Gavin Sheets backfilling the left-field vacancy. Merrill's unavailability has coincided with shortstop Xander Bogaerts and second baseman Jake Cronenworth both missing a game apiece because of their own ills.

Michael Conforto made his 100th start in left field Friday, but the return from injury of Kiké Hernandez, Hyeseong Kim and eventually Tommy Edman could allow the Dodgers to shake up their

That’s because here, at Petco Park, they have consistently bottled successful baseball. Only one team, the league-leading Milwaukee Brewers, has a better winning percentage at home. The Padres have not lost a series in the East Village since the second week of June, when the Dodgers took two of three games.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praises Blake Snell after tough loss to the San Diego Padres in an NL West clash at Petco Park.

The Dodgers and Padres are tied atop the National League West with 33 games remaining on the regular season schedule. San Diego pulled even with a 2-1 win on Friday night at Petco Park. Blake Snell took the tough-luck loss despite allowing only two runs and pitching into the seventh inning for the first time

The Los Angeles Dodgers lost 2-1 against the San Diego Padres, losing the lead in the National League West in the process.