Dodgers beat Padres 4-3 as Ohtani and catcher Dalton Rushing find rhythm

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-3, with two‑way star Shohei Ohtani delivering a quality start. Ohtani held the Padres to three runs through six innings, walked the first two batters, then struck out three of the next four and retired ten consecutive hitters. He left the game after a sixth‑inning at‑bat due to a precautionary biceps issue and was pinch‑hit for by Miguel Rojas.

Catcher Dalton Rushing, the primary catcher since Will Smith’s injury on June 6, showed markedly better chemistry with Ohtani compared with their previous matchup. Rushing credited a relaxed approach, saying “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” The partnership helped anchor the win, highlighted by Teoscar Hernández’s seventh‑inning grand slam that broke any lingering doubts about the battery’s sync.