Dodgers turn blowout loss into sixth-inning farce, then flip the series on the Padres

For six glorious innings on June 10, Petco Park was rocking like it hadn’t in weeks. The party was on.

In the second game of a critical three-game set between the Padres and Dodgers, San Diego jumped all over Los Angeles with a barrage of hits and a ruthless mindset. A three-run third inning was only the beginning. By the time the bottom of the sixth rolled around, it was 9–0. The Friar Faithful were on their feet, and the dugout was thriving, feeding off their energy.

Dylan Cease was in full control. Dominant. Filthy. Absolutely ruthless. Seven shutout innings, 11 strikeouts, and just three hits allowed. For a pitcher whose early-season struggles had raised eyebrows, this was a statement — Cease hadn’t lost his edge at all. He’d simply been biding his time. And on this night, against a division rival, he reminded everyone exactly what he's capable of.

But then, just as the Padres were soaking in the moment, something strange — even somewhat disrespectful had happened. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had clearly made his decision early. After using opener Lou Trivino in the first, he sent out long-reliever Matt Sauer to absorb damage, eat innings, and likely some embarrassment. And he did by the tune of four and two-thirds innings, 13 hits, and nine earned runs.

Yet, there was no panic from the Dodgers’ dugout. Then came the bottom of the sixth inning. With the Padres leading 9–0, Roberts signaled for a position player. Out trotted Kiké Hernández — relaxed and ready to pitch mop-up duty. It felt like mockery. Like Roberts wasn’t taking the game seriously. Like he had already waved the white flag and was ready to go home.

The Padres tacked on a couple more runs and walked away with an 11–1 victory. The series was tied at one game apiece. The mood at Petco was triumphant with a message sent. Or so it seemed.

Padres expose the Dodgers for one night, but got outplayed in the end

Roberts’ trap was set. After conceding Game 2, Dave Roberts unleashed a bullpen onslaught in the rubber match. Ben Casparius opened the game with four innings of one-run ball — exactly what the Dodgers needed. And then the bullpen door began to swing open. Over and over again.

Seven relievers. Fifteen outs. One hit allowed. The Padres were stifled and outmaneuvered. Roberts’ plan was clear all along. Burn one game. Reset the bullpen. Win the series. It wasn’t pretty baseball. It wasn’t exciting. It was surgical. And it worked.

To his credit, Padres manager Mike Shildt didn’t roll over. He matched Roberts' intensity in the finale, deploying six bullpen arms himself to navigate what felt more like October than June. Both clubs treated the rubber match like a playoff game — with only a single game separating them in the NL West standings, it had that kind of weight.

But in the end, the Dodgers walked away with the series. And the Padres were left holding emotional baggage from a blowout win that ended up feeling hollow.

For the Padres, this series should stick. Not because of a losing effort — but because they walked right into a trap. That blowout victory, complete with a position player pitching and the crowd basking in a rout, may have felt like a turning point. In truth, it was a detour. Almost viewed as a calculated loss designed to strengthen the Dodgers’ position for the game that mattered most.

Dave Roberts didn’t disrespect the Padres — he simply disarmed them. And he did it with a strategy that San Diego will need to learn from if they hope to unseat the kings of the NL West. This wasn’t just about seven innings of dominance or seven relievers locking things down. This was about understanding the long game — not just celebrating a one-night blowout.