Walker Buehler Beats Former Team as Padres Win Big
The Dodgers vs Padres score from June 26, 2026, tells a story of revenge, redemption, and a rivalry that keeps getting spicier. The Dodgers vs Padres June 26, 2026, matchup ended with a lopsided Padres 7, Dodgers 1 final.
It was a night of heavy emotions in San Diego. Walker Buehler, who won two World Series rings with the Dodgers, got to face his old team for the first time at Petco Park. The result? A masterpiece.
The Dodgers-Padres game recap starts with Buehler dealing. He tossed 5.1 innings of one-run ball. He struck out five. He only allowed three hits. The Padres beat the Dodgers 7-1; the recap reads like a script Hollywood would reject for being too predictable.
But the story didn’t stop there. Ty France crushed a three-run homer in the second inning. That blast gave the Padres a lead they never gave back. The Dodgers vs Padres highlights package from this game will be played on a loop for Padres fans all season long.
The San Diego Padres vs Los Angeles Dodgers rivalry is one of baseball’s best. This game added another chapter. It was gritty. It was emotional. And it was a beatdown.
Let’s break down exactly what happened on that Friday night in San Diego. We’ll dig into the box score, the pitching duel, and what this MLB Dodgers Padres recap means for the National League West standings.
Dodgers vs Padres, June 26, 2026, Final Score Breakdown
The Scoreboard Tells the Tale
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| Dodgers | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
| Padres | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
W: Walker Buehler (5-3) | L: Roki Sasaki (3-5)
The Dodgers-Padres box score shows a clear winner. The Dodgers actually matched the Padres with seven hits. But the Padres made theirs count. San Diego drove in seven runs. L.A. only managed one .
The Dodgers vs Padres final score of 7-1 feels worse than it looks. L.A. had chances. They loaded the bases in the sixth. They loaded them again in the eighth. They failed both times.
The Dodgers-Padres game analysis points to one thing: clutch hitting. Or in the Dodgers’ case, a lack of it.
Walker Buehler vs Dodgers: Revenge Game
A Dodgers Legend Returns to Haunt Them
Walker Buehler spent nearly a decade in Dodger Blue. He was the man on the mound for the final out of the 2024 World Series. He knows the Dodgers’ lineup better than anyone.
That knowledge showed.
Walker Buehler vs Dodgers was the headline coming into this game. He delivered. Buehler threw 74 pitches over 5.1 innings. He walked three and gave up just three hits .
“He would love nothing more than to shove it up our you-know-whats,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the game. He was right .
Buehler mixed his pitches beautifully. He kept the Dodgers off balance all night. Freddie Freeman got two hits. Mookie Betts hit a solo shot. But nobody else could figure him out.
The Padres’ pitching dominance started with Buehler. He set the tone. Then the Padres bullpen slammed the door. Yuki Matsui, Jason Adam, Adrian Morejon, and Wandy Peralta combined for 3.2 scoreless innings .
Roki Sasaki’s Pitching Stats Show Wild Night
Command Issues Plague Dodgers Starter
Roki Sasaki’s pitching stats from this game are ugly. He went four innings. He allowed three runs. He walked five batters.
The walks were the killer.
Sasaki walked the first two batters in the second inning. That set the stage for Ty France’s three-run homer. The Ty France home run, Dodgers Padres, was a hanging slider. France crushed it 372 feet into the left-field stands .
Sasaki’s Dodgers offensive struggles aren’t entirely his fault. He put the team in a hole. But the offense couldn’t dig them out.
Sasaki’s ERA rose to 4.76 after this start. The Padres, who were reportedly finalists for Sasaki when he came from Japan, made him pay .
The MLB regular season results for Sasaki have been up and down. This was a down night at Petco Park.
Ty France Home Run Dodgers Padres: The Turning Point
France Stays Red Hot
Ty France’s home run, Dodgers Padres, is a phrase Padres fans will love hearing. France hit his 10th homer of the season. It was his fourth in seven games .
The ball left the bat at 98.1 mph. It had a launch angle of 30 degrees. It was a no-doubter .
France’s homer put the Padres up 3-1. They never trailed again.
Ty France three run homer vs Dodgers changed the game’s momentum. Before that swing, the Dodgers were up 1-0 on Betts’ homer. After it, San Diego was in control.
Dodgers Padres player stats show France with 3 RBIs on the night. He also walked. He reached base twice .
Mookie Betts Home Run Not Enough
Dodgers’ Only Spark Fizzles
Mookie Betts’ home run gave the Dodgers a brief lead. It came on the first pitch of the second inning. It was his 10th of the season .
The stadium went quiet. For a moment, it looked like the Dodgers would roll.
But Betts’ homer was the Dodgers batting lineup’s only highlight. The rest of the night was a struggle.
Mookie went 1-for-3 with a walk. He scored the only run. He was the only Dodger who seemed to have a plan .
The Los Angeles Dodgers performance as a team was flat. They left six runners on base. They went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position. They grounded into four double plays .
The Dodgers’ offensive struggles are a concern for a team with World Series aspirations. Getting shut down by your former teammate stings.
Fernando Tatis Jr RBI and Padres Offense
Padres Break It Open in the 8th
The score stayed 3-1 for a long time. The tension was thick. Then the eighth inning happened.
The Padres scored four runs off Jonathan Hernandez. It turned a close game into a rout.
Fernando Tatis Jr RBI came in that eighth inning. He singled to drive in a run.
Sung-mun Song had a two-run single in the eighth. Rodolfo Duran added an RBI double. It was a team effort .
The San Diego Padres’ performance was balanced. Every starter reached base except Jackson Merrill. The Padres’ batting lineup showed patience. They drew nine walks on the night .
The Padres’ bullpen performance was flawless after Buehler left. They escaped jams. They got outs. They won the game.
The Dodgers Padres rivalry game intensity was high. But the Padres played with more edge.
Dodgers Padres Game Recap: Key Takeaways
What This Means for the NL West
This Dodgers-Padres MLB game was the first of seven meetings in ten days between these rivals. The Padres drew first blood.
- Walker Buehler is Back: Buehler has been excellent in June. This performance proves he can still dominate. He has 26.1 innings pitched this month with just five earned runs. He is the Padres’ most reliable starter right now .
- Sasaki Needs to Find the Zone: The walks are killing Sasaki’s efficiency. He has now tied his season high for walks twice. He can’t pitch deep into games when he’s throwing 81 pitches in four innings .
- Dodgers Can’t Buy a Clutch Hit: Loading the bases twice and getting zero runs is a recipe for disaster. The Dodgers grounded into four double plays. They left six men on base. That won’t cut it against a division rival.
- Petco Park Game Recap: The atmosphere was electric. 43,153 fans packed Petco Park. The National League West rivalry is alive and well .
The NL West standings’ impact is minor for now. The Dodgers still have a nine-game lead. But the Padres showed they can hang with the big dogs.
The MLB scoreboard update shows the Padres winning their fourth straight. The Dodgers saw their three-game win streak snapped.
MLB June 26 2026, the Dodgers-Padres score is now a data point in the season. But it feels bigger than that. It feels like a statement.
Dodgers Padres Live Score and Analysis
Final Thoughts on the Matchup
The Dodgers-Padres live score never got close after the second inning.
The Dodgers vs Padres results from this game show the Padres’ blueprint for success. Pitch well. Hit homers. Play good defense.
The Dodgers-Padres game analysis is simple: Buehler was better than Sasaki. France was better than Betts.
For the Los Angeles Dodgers’ performance, this is a wake-up call. They can’t coast. The Padres are lurking.
For the San Diego Padres’ performance, this is a validation. They can beat the best. They just did.
The Baseball match statistics tell the story. Seven hits for both teams. But one team scored seven runs. The other scored one.
The Padres’ win over the Dodgers was comprehensive. It was a team effort. It was a star turn for Buehler.
The Dodgers-Padres highlights will show the France homer. They’ll show Buehler striking out his former teammates. They’ll show the Padres celebrating.
The Dodgers vs Padres score is final. But the rivalry is just heating up.
Dodgers Padres player stats to remember:
- Walker Buehler: 5.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 5 K, 3 BB
- Ty France: 1-2, HR, 3 RBI, BB
- Mookie Betts: 1-3, HR, RBI, BB
- Roki Sasaki: 4 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 K, 5 BB
1. What was the final score of the Dodgers vs Padres game on June 26, 2026?
The final score was San Diego Padres 7, Los Angeles Dodgers 1. The Padres won the game behind a strong start from Walker Buehler and a three-run homer from Ty France .
2. How did Walker Buehler perform against his former team?
Walker Buehler was excellent. He pitched 5.1 innings, giving up only one run on three hits. He struck out five batters and picked up the win. It was his best start in a Padres uniform against his old club .
3. Who hit home runs in the Dodgers vs Padres game?
Mookie Betts hit a solo home run for the Dodgers in the second inning. Ty France hit a three-run home run for the Padres in the bottom of the second inning. Those were the only homers of the game .
4. How many fans attended the game at Petco Park?
The game was sold out. The announced attendance was 43,153 fans at Petco Park in San Diego .
5. Why was the Dodgers vs Padres game so important for the NL West?
While the Dodgers still hold a big lead, this game was a statement win for the Padres. It was the first of seven meetings in ten days between these rivals. A win like this can change the momentum of a season .
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Statistics are based on official MLB sources and game recaps as of June 26, 2026.
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