Roki Sasaki’s struggles with command played a significant role in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 7-1 loss to the San Diego Padres on Friday at Petco Park. Despite allowing only three hits, Sasaki issued five walks—tying his season high—and hit a batter before being pulled early in the fifth inning. The free passes contributed more heavily to the Padres’ scoring than the lone home run he surrendered.

The turning point came in the second inning when Ty France’s three-run homer cleared the left field wall, breaking open the game for San Diego. The home run was more eye-catching, but Sasaki’s inefficiency on the mound, marked by multiple walks and an elevated pitch count, ultimately forced his early exit with runners on first and second base.

Sasaki’s control issues emerged quickly. After striking out Padres leadoff batter Fernando Tatis Jr., he issued a 10-pitch walk to Samad Taylor. He managed to induce a double play to limit the damage that inning, but the following frame proved more costly. Sasaki walked Manny Machado—also after a protracted battle of 10 pitches—and Gavin Sheets to start the next inning, handing the Padres a prime scoring opportunity. Xander Bogaerts followed with a sharp line drive to center field, setting the stage for France’s home run.

The only clean inning for Sasaki was the third, highlighted by catcher Dalton Rushing’s successful challenge of a called ball four to Tatis, which converted a potential walk into a strikeout. Nonetheless, the overall lack of command overshadowed his outing, marking his third start in a row where he failed to pitch beyond the sixth inning.

On the Dodgers’ side, Mookie Betts provided the lone offensive highlight, hitting his second home run in as many games. Betts has shown signs of regaining his form at the plate, entering Friday’s game with an on-base plus slugging percentage of 1.061 over his previous 11 contests.

Former Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler earned the win for the Padres with 5⅓ innings of work, tallying five strikeouts. The Padres extended their lead late in the game against Dodgers reliever Jonathan Hernandez during the eighth inning amid a boisterous crowd chanting “Beat L.A.”

The Dodgers struggled with runners in scoring position, going 0 for 4 and failing to capitalize on a bases-loaded, one-out opportunity in the sixth inning. Max Muncy grounded out and Kyle Tucker, returning after missing recent games due to back spasms, flew out to end the threat.

Despite the loss, the Dodgers maintain a comfortable lead atop the division, holding an eight-game advantage over the second-place Padres.