LOS ANGELES — The San Diego Padres might consider the Dodgers their bitter rivals. But Saturday night, they were their own worst enemy.

In the first two innings alone, Padres starter Dylan Cease walked six batters, center fielder Jackson Merrill dropped a fly ball and three Padres baserunners were thrown out trying to steal second base. That fueled a five-run head start for the Dodgers, who went on to beat the Padres 6-0.

The sloppy start took the edge off the middle game of the showdown series. But the Dodgers’ back-to-back wins this weekend allowed them to regain sole possession of first place in the National League West and ensured they will have at least a share of first when the Dodger Stadium half of the home-and-home matchup ends Sunday. The two teams will meet again at Petco Par

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