SAN DIEGO -- The Padres intended to make a statement this week when the seven-time reigning National League West champion Dodgers came to town. On Monday night, they delivered it:\n\nThe race for the 2020 NL West title is on.\n\nThe Friars have already assured themselves of their first winning season in 10 years. They'll soon lock up their first trip to the playoffs in 14. Why not get a little bit greedy?\n\n• Box score\n\nSan Diego opened its biggest series in a decade with an emphatic 7-2 victory, its eighth straight, trimming L.A.'s division lead to 1 1/2 games. With 11 games remaining, the Padres find themselves within striking distance of ending the Dodgers’ longstanding reign atop the West.\n\n“We're playing really good ball right now, and we always look forward to playing our rivals right up the street,” said center fielder
The Dodgers’ bench responded to Grisham’s reaction by chirping at him as he rounded third base. Grisham chirped back. After the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he “took exception” to Grisham lingering for so long at the plate against a pitcher of Kershaw’s caliber.\n\nThe sequence was more or less what you’d expect from two division rivals vying for the top spot in the National League.\n\n“I was just turning around and celebrating a big moment in the game in a big series against a Hall of Fame pitcher,” Grisham said. “It was emotional, it was fun, it got us going.”
\n\n \n\nDid it ever. Grisham’s homer tied the game at 1 and got Padres right-hander
\n\nLamet finished with seven innings of one-run ball, allowing only three hits as he lowered his ERA to 2.12. He’s the first pitcher to strike out at least 10 Dodgers this season, and he moved into a tie with Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer for the NL strikeout lead.\n\n\"He just continues to get better,\" said Padres manager Jayce Tingler. \"... For the last couple outings, he's been as good as anybody in the league. We've got a lot of confidence and a lot of faith when he takes the ball on the mound.\"
\n\nIn the bottom half of the seventh inning, the Padres executed the type of relentless rally that the Dodgers have exacted on them so many times over the past decade. Jorge Oña, an unheralded bench piece, put San Diego on top with a bloop double. Max Muncy committed two pivotal blunders.