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Hernández’s Grand Slam Lifts Dodgers Past Padres 4-3

Teoscar Hernández hit a seventh-inning grand slam to break a 3-0 deficit, powering the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 4-3 victory over the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on Saturday.

Knox Esparza

July 4, 20262 min read

Baseball victory - illustration, Jake Team LLC
Baseball victory - illustration, Jake Team LLC
MLBFinal
San Diego Padres3
Los Angeles Dodgers4

July 4, 2026

Hernández Breaks the Tie

Teoscar Hernández delivered the decisive blow in the seventh inning, launching a grand slam to center field that shifted the momentum entirely in Los Angeles’ favor. The 419-foot home run cleared the bases, accounting for four runs and turning a 3-0 deficit into a 4-3 lead. Hernández’s blast was the only multi-run hit of the contest and proved sufficient to secure the win for the home team.

Padres’ Early Lead

San Diego jumped out to an early advantage, capitalizing on offensive opportunities in the first inning. Sheets singled to right field, driving in Tatis Jr. to make it 1-0. Cronenworth reached third base on the play but did not score. The Padres extended their lead in the fourth inning when Merrill homered to center field, measuring 423 feet. This solo shot pushed the score to 2-0.

San Diego added another run in the sixth inning. Bogaerts doubled to right field, allowing Merrill to cross the plate and extend the Padres’ advantage to 3-0. The Padres’ offense remained silent after that point, unable to answer the Dodgers’ comeback attempt.

Pitching Performances

Shohei Ohtani started for Los Angeles, pitching six innings. He allowed seven hits and three earned runs while striking out nine batters. Despite giving up the early runs, Ohtani kept the game within reach. Kyle Hurt entered in the seventh inning and pitched one scoreless inning, earning the win with a record of 3-1. Edgardo Henriquez followed with another scoreless frame, recording one strikeout. Tanner Scott closed the game in the ninth, securing his 12th save by striking out three batters in one hitless inning.

For San Diego, Michael King pitched six innings, allowing three hits and two earned runs while striking out five. Adrian Morejon took the loss, pitching one inning and allowing one earned run on two hits. Bradgley Rodriguez pitched the final inning for the Padres, allowing one walk but no hits or runs.

Final Score and Records

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-3 at Dodger Stadium. The attendance was 49,578. The Dodgers improved their record to 58-31, while the Padres fell to 43-44.

Sources

https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/401816013

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Knox Esparza

Knox Esparza covers Pleasanton high school and area college sports.

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