YouTube The San Diego Padres walked into Dodger Stadium, on Friday, with a one-game lead in the NL West over the Los Angeles Dodgers. They left, on Sunday, two games behind the Dodgers after being swept over the weekend.

The Padres' de facto captain left the job of explaining a three-game series sweep in Los Angeles to his younger, less experienced teammates on Sunday.

Betts’ eighth-inning home run breaks a 4-4 tie and completes the sweep with a 5-4 victory over the Padres. It also extends a hot streak born of a different approach.

LOS ANGELES — It was touted as the biggest series of the month. It was billed as a potential passing of the torch, with the San Diego Padres threatening to win the National League West for the first time in 19 years. Instead, Sunday’s finale ended in a three-game sweep — and a relatively convincing one, at that.

Padres Swept by Dodgers After Gaining Control of NL West

Then Betts rescued the Dodgers with the 394-foot shot to left-center off Robert Suarez. It was the shortstop’s 13th homer of the season and just his fifth since June. Betts had 25 in 2022 and 39 in 2023.

Dodgers fans still haven't forgiven Manny Machado for leaving Los Angeles to sign with the Padres, but they ultimately got the last laugh on Sunday, as Machado struck out against Alex Vesia to end the series and secure a sweep for the Dodgers.