Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Padres Sink Dodgers
()
Do you remember San Diego’s old uniform from the early 80’s? They had a dark brown shirt with the name Padres across the chest. Outlined in yellow, it was like the opening credits to a bad seventies movie. It could easily be mistaken for being an ode to an era filled with disco and roller-skating.
The jovial and rotund friar mascot is waving his bat like the mighty Casey. He sits on the left shoulder of their uniform. I always got a kick at the smile that guy sports. I’ve never seen a happier man.
Unfortunately, the Padres can attest to being just as happy. They started the series by winning the first two games. The Dodgers pitched well, but the Padres pitched better. The Dodgers could barely muster any offense in the first game and were shut out in the second game. The Padres scored just enough runs to win.
Support for LAist comes from
The Padres start tonight's game only two games back. The wind is blowing at their sails, and the Dodgers need to find a way to stop their progress. Brad Penny has to have a good game, but the recent past has not been kind. This year Penny has a 7.36 ERA with 9 earned runs in 11 innings against San Diego. The Padres are hitting .318 against Brad Penny.
The game started poor enough. The Padres scored 3 runs in the first inning. Then, Wilson Betemit, the Dodger third baseman, hit his 14th homerun of the year to make it 3 to 1. San Diego countered with another run in the third inning. Again, the Dodger upped the ante and scored a run when Ethier hit a triple past a diving Cameron. The score is now 4 to 2.
Then things get worse from here. Julio Lugo is thrown out of the game for throwing his batting helmet. The Padres score two more runs during a 5th inning that includes Grady Little and Brad Penny being thrown out of the game. By the time the dust had settled and the lights turned off the Padres had finished off the Dodgers 7 to 2. There is no joy in Dodgerville tonight. The Padres are only one game back. The sweat at their brow and dirt on their uniforms are a testament to their great play this week against the Dodgers.
Today's Padres uniform is now dark blue, but that happy friar still sits on their shoulder. He grins back with his swing in full stride. When a right-handed batter is up to bat he stares at the pitcher like a taunting onlooker. No doubt it's meant to scare the opposition. Unfortunately, only the Dodgers have been spooked. The Padres are 11-3 against the Dodgers now, and 14-24 against the other teams in the National League West.
But hope springs eternal and one series will not kill the season. It just makes the path to the playoffs a bit more hazardous.
AP photo by Danny Moloshok
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Isolated showers can still hit the L.A. area until Friday as remnants from the tropical storm move out. -
First aspiring spectators must register online, then later in 2026 there will be a series of drawings. -
It's thanks to Tropical Storm Mario, so also be ready for heat and humidity, and possibly thunder and lightning. -
This measure on the Nov. 4, 2025, California ballot is part of a larger battle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives next year. -
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5425437/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6298x3897+0+0/resize/640x396!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
L.A. County investigators have launched a probe into allegations about Va Lecia Adams Kellum and people she hired at the L.A. Homeless Services Authority. -
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass suspended a state law allowing duplexes, calling more housing unsafe. But in Altadena, L.A. County leaders say these projects could be key for rebuilding.
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/45c201e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6298x3894+0+0/resize/786x486!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
Best of LAist