In a tense battle that felt like a playoff showdown, the Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the San Diego Padres in a 2-1 defeat on Friday night at Petco Park. The game was ultimately decided in the bottom of the ninth inning when Luis Arráez hit a walk-off single, sealing the Padres' victory.

The Dodgers' struggles at the plate proved to be their downfall in front of a crowd of 43,338, which manager Dave Roberts likened to an October environment. The team had difficulty adjusting to the large strike zone of plate umpire Mike Estabrook, causing uncertainty among their batters. Roberts acknowledged this challenge, stating, "I think early on our guys were starting to wonder what was a strike, what wasn't."

The Padres' starter, Michael King, delivered an impressive performance, tallying 11 strikeouts over seven scoreless innings. Although the strike zone played a role in the Dodgers' frustration, Roberts credited King's skill in placing his pitches precisely. "The strike zone wasn't the reason Michael King was good tonight," Roberts admitted.

Despite a strong outing from Dodgers' starter Tyler Glasnow, who gave up only one run and struck out 10 over seven innings, the team's offense failed to produce enough runs. The Dodgers recorded more hits and walks than the Padres, but crucially, they couldn't capitalize on scoring opportunities with runners in scoring position.

In the eighth inning, the Dodgers had a chance to turn the tide, loading the bases with no outs while trailing 1-0. However, they could only manage one run from the opportunity. This set the stage for the decisive ninth inning when Arráez's walk-off single sealed the Padres' victory.

The lack of offensive production also highlighted concerns about the depth of the Dodgers' lineup, particularly with outfielder Jason Heyward nearing his return from a back injury. Heyward took live at-bats for the first time in a month and is expected to begin a rehabilitation assignment soon. This raises questions about who on the current roster will make way for Heyward's eventual return.

Outfielder James Outman and utility man Chris Taylor emerged as potential candidates for a roster change. Outman struggled at the plate, while Taylor has endured a dismal start to the season, boasting the lowest batting average in the majors among hitters with at least 50 at-bats.

As the Dodgers assess their options, they will need to address their offensive woes to avoid a repeat of their recent postseason frustrations. With a record of 26-14, the team aims to bounce back and regain their winning momentum in the coming games.