The San Diego Padres are in the middle of a key race for the National League West against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Manny Machado drove in three runs against Justin Verlander and the San Diego Padres beat the San Francisco Giants 8-4 on Thursday in a sloppy game. The Padres took three of four from the Giants and have won three straight going into a second straight weekend showdown against the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Runs by Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. in the fourth inning stood up, as Darvish went a strong six innings.

Manny Machado hits a solo home run to left-center field to put the Padres ahead 3-0 in the bottom of the 3rd

The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres play two more in their weekend series at Petco Park, next entering a Saturday night first pitch in a first-place tie atop the National League West Division.