Dodgers vs Padres Final Score: San Diego Wins 4-2 to Clinch Postseason Berth

Quick Answer

The San Diego Padres beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2 on September 24, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. The Padres scored three runs in the seventh inning to seal the win and clinch their franchise-record third consecutive postseason berth. Tyler Glasnow struck out 11 for the Dodgers but took the loss.

Introduction

Look, I’ve watched a lot of baseball. But sometimes a game just hits different.

The Dodgers vs Padres rivalry delivered again on September 24, 2026. San Diego walked into Dodger Stadium needing one win to punch their playoff ticket. Los Angeles needed a win to keep their home dominance alive.

What happened? A pitcher’s duel that exploded in the seventh inning. A rookie catcher came up clutch. And a franchise finally broke through after years of falling short.

Here’s the thing — this wasn’t just another September game. The Padres clinched their franchise-record third straight postseason berth. The Dodgers locked up a first-round bye. Both teams got exactly what they needed, but only one walked away with the win.

I’ll break down the Dodgers vs Padres game results, key player stats, and what this means for both teams heading into October.

What Was the Dodgers vs Padres Final Score?

The San Diego Padres defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2 on Thursday night at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium.

The Padres improved to 89-70 on the season, while the Dodgers dropped to 97-62. The win gave San Diego the series victory, two games to one, after losing the September 22 opener and winning September 23.

Here’s the thing about this game — it looked like a Dodgers blowout early. Tyler Glasnow was dealing. He carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and struck out 11 batters. The Padres couldn’t touch him.

But baseball has a way of flipping scripts.

Key Takeaway

• Final Score: Padres 4, Dodgers 2
• Winner: San Diego Padres
• Venue: UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
• Season Series: Padres won two of three in this series

Direct Answer: The Padres beat the Dodgers 4-2 on September 24, 2026, clinching their third consecutive playoff berth.

How Did the Padres Score Their Runs?

The Padres scored all four runs after the sixth inning, breaking up Tyler Glasnow’s no-hit bid and exploding against the Dodgers bullpen in the seventh.

Let me walk you through it.

The Sixth Inning Breakthrough

Ethan Salas singled with one out in the sixth. Fernando Tatis Jr. followed with another single, sending Salas to third. Dustin Harris then hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Salas for a 1-0 Padres lead.

Just like that, the no-hitter was gone. The shutout was gone. And the momentum shifted.

The Seventh Inning Explosion

The Padres weren’t done.

Jackson Merrill doubled. Xander Bogaerts walked. Then Austin Hays — pinch-hitting — singled off reliever Justin Wrobleski, and the ball skipped off Max Muncy’s glove at third. Merrill scored. 2-0.

Ethan Salas then delivered a two-strike single to center, scoring Bogaerts. 3-0. Fernando Tatis Jr. followed with his own RBI single. 4-0.

Game over.

Key Takeaway

• The Padres scored 1 run in the 6th and 3 runs in the 7th
• Ethan Salas had a crucial RBI single in the seventh
• Fernando Tatis Jr. delivered the dagger with an RBI single

Direct Answer: The Padres broke a scoreless tie with a sacrifice fly in the sixth, then added three insurance runs in the seventh on RBI singles from Hays, Salas, and Tatis.

Who Were the Standout Players in Dodgers vs Padres?

Tyler Glasnow was brilliant for the Dodgers despite taking the loss. He struck out a season-high 11 batters over six innings, allowing just three hits and three runs. He also walked Fernando Tatis Jr. to start the fourth but didn’t allow another baserunner until the sixth.

For the Padres, Ethan Salas had the biggest hit of the night. The young catcher’s two-strike single in the seventh broke the game open. He finished 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Fernando Tatis Jr. also came up huge. He went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk, breaking up Glasnow’s no-hitter in the sixth and driving in the final run in the seventh.

On the Dodgers side, Mookie Betts had three hits — his 15th three-hit game of the season, the most on the team. Shohei Ohtani went 2-for-5 with an RBI double in the ninth, his first game back in the leadoff spot since returning from the injured list.

Key Takeaway

• Tyler Glasnow: 6 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 11 K (season-high)
• Ethan Salas: 2-for-3, RBI, 1 run scored
• Fernando Tatis Jr.: 2-for-3, RBI, 1 walk
• Mookie Betts: 3 hits (15th three-hit game)

Direct Answer: Tyler Glasnow dominated with 11 strikeouts, but Ethan Salas and Fernando Tatis Jr. delivered the clutch hits that won it for San Diego.

What Did This Win Mean for the Padres?

This win clinched a postseason berth for the Padres — their franchise-record third consecutive trip to the playoffs and fifth in seven seasons.

But it’s bigger than just getting in.

San Diego entered the day holding the top National League wild-card spot. A win meant they’d host a Wild Card Series at Petco Park, where they’ve been dominant all season.

Here’s the thing — the Padres have been the hottest team in baseball. They’d won 13 of 14 games entering this series. They beat the Dodgers 5-1 on Wednesday to snap Los Angeles’ 11-game home winning streak. And then they finished the job Thursday.

Manny Machado said it best after Wednesday’s win: “At the end of the day, we’ve got to take care of our business”.

They did.

Key Takeaway

• Padres clinched third straight playoff berth (franchise record)
• San Diego holds the top NL wild-card spot
• The Padres are 13-1 in their last 14 games

Direct Answer: The win secured San Diego’s playoff spot and kept them in position to host a Wild Card Series.

What Did This Loss Mean for the Dodgers?

The Dodgers clinched the National League’s No. 2 seed and a first-round playoff bye — even before taking the field.

That’s the thing about baseball. Sometimes you lose the battle and win the war.

Los Angeles secured the bye when Cincinnati beat Atlanta 7-6 earlier in the evening. The loss to San Diego didn’t matter in the standings. The Dodgers avoided the wild-card round and earned home-field advantage in the NL Division Series.

They’ll open the postseason on October 3.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has to be pleased with Glasnow’s performance. The right-hander has now struck out at least 10 batters in back-to-back starts, including 21 in his last two outings. That’s the kind of dominant pitching that wins playoff games.

Key Takeaway

• Dodgers clinched NL No. 2 seed and first-round bye
• They avoided the wild-card round entirely
• Tyler Glasnow has 21 strikeouts in his last two starts

Direct Answer: Despite the loss, the Dodgers secured a first-round bye and extra rest before the NLDS.

Dodgers vs Padres Box Score and Key Stats

Here’s the breakdown that matters.

Pitching Lines:

• Nick Pivetta (SD): 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 5 K (no-decision)
• Yuki Matsui (SD, W): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER
• Mason Miller (SD, SV): 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 38th save
• Tyler Glasnow (LAD, L): 6 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 11 K
• Justin Wrobleski (LAD): 0.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER

Notable Batting Stats:

• Ethan Salas (SD): 2-for-3, RBI, 1 R
• Fernando Tatis Jr. (SD): 2-for-3, RBI, 1 BB
• Austin Hays (SD): 1-for-1, RBI (pinch hit)
• Mookie Betts (LAD): 3-for-4, 1 R
• Shohei Ohtani (LAD): 2-for-5, RBI
• Freddie Freeman (LAD): 2-for-4

Key Takeaway

• The Padres made the most of 6 hits, scoring 4 runs
• The Dodgers stranded 10 runners on base
• Mason Miller recorded his 38th save of the season

Direct Answer: The Padres were efficient, scoring 4 runs on just 6 hits, while the Dodgers left 10 runners on base in the loss.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What was the final score of the Dodgers vs Padres game on September 24, 2026?

Answer: The San Diego Padres defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2 at Dodger Stadium. The Padres scored one run in the sixth inning and three in the seventh to secure the victory, clinching their third consecutive postseason berth.

Question: Did the Padres clinch a playoff spot with this win?

Answer: Yes. The 4-2 victory clinched a postseason berth for San Diego — their franchise-record third straight trip to the playoffs and fifth in seven seasons. They also maintained their position for the top NL wild-card spot.

Question: How many strikeouts did Tyler Glasnow have?

Answer: Tyler Glasnow struck out a season-high 11 batters over six innings. He took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before Ethan Salas and Fernando Tatis Jr. hit back-to-back singles.

Question: Did the Dodgers still clinch a first-round bye despite losing?

Answer: Yes. The Dodgers secured the National League’s No. 2 seed and a first-round playoff bye when Cincinnati beat Atlanta 7-6 earlier Thursday. They’ll get extra rest before opening the NLDS on October 3.

Question: Who was the winning pitcher in the Dodgers vs Padres game?

Answer: Yuki Matsui earned the win in relief for the Padres. Mason Miller recorded his 38th save of the season, though he allowed one run in the ninth on Shohei Ohtani’s RBI double.

Conclusion

September baseball doesn’t get much better than this.

The Dodgers vs Padres rivalry delivered a game that mattered for both teams — and both walked away with something valuable.

San Diego got the win and the playoff berth. Los Angeles got the bye and the rest.

But here’s what I’ll remember: Ethan Salas, a young catcher, delivering a two-strike single in the seventh inning with the season on the line. Fernando Tatis Jr. breaking up a no-hitter. Tyler Glasnow striking out 11 and walking away with nothing to show for it.

That’s baseball.

The Padres are heading to October for the third straight year. The Dodgers are reloading for a World Series three-peat. And we’re all better off for watching.

Bottom Line: The Padres beat the Dodgers 4-2 on September 24, 2026, clinching a franchise-record third consecutive playoff berth. Tyler Glasnow struck out 11 for Los Angeles, which secured a first-round bye despite the loss.

What’s your take? Did the Padres prove they’re a real October threat? Drop a comment below or share this with a baseball fan who needs to see it.

References

1. MLB.com — Padres vs Dodgers Gameday Final Score, September 24, 2026
2. ESPN.com — Padres 4-2 Dodgers Game Recap, September 24, 2026
3. Los Angeles Times — Dodgers clinch No. 2 seed and first-round bye despite loss to Padres
4. Associated Press via Daily Mail — Padres beat Dodgers 4-2 to clinch franchise-record third straight postseason berth.
5. MLB.com — Machado’s HR sets tone as Padres move one step closer to postseason berth

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