Nestor Cortes delivered six strong innings, allowing one hit while taking a perfect game into the sixth and retiring the first 16 Dodgers batters. Cortes struck out three, issued no walks and worked with three relievers on a two-hitter as the Padres beat Los Angeles 5-1. The win moved San Diego into sole possession of first place in the NL West. Miguel Rojas produced the Dodgers' lone baserunner before Cortes retired Shohei Ohtani to end the inning and his outing. Manager Mike Shildt praised Cortes' rhythm, and Cortes cited baseball's second chances.
Nestor Cortes had one of the lowest moments of his baseball life last October when he gave up the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history to Freddie Freeman. In a new uniform and a new pennant race Saturday night, Cortes faced his Dodgers demons head-on -- and he came out smiling. The veteran left-hander produced six brilliant innings of one-hit ball while his San Diego Padres surged past Los Angeles into sole possession of first place in the NL West with a 5-1 victory.
But he didn't see this stellar performance as redemption for his role in Freeman's now-iconic slam at Chavez Ravine and the Dodgers' ensuing five-game victory over his New York Yankees. "Obviously there's a history," Cortes said. "Everybody knows about it. It sucks as a player to go through those moments, but the good thing about baseball is that you always have another opportunity. Once the opportunity comes, you try and make the best out of it, and that's what I did today."
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