Portland wasn’t ready to beat the best teams in the West this time around.

The good news? Even on a night that definitely belonged to the hosts LA Galaxy, the Timbers weren’t far off.

Portland lost 3-2 at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday night, but it showed the kind of resilience that has defined this summer. The Timbers kept the game interesting until late in the game, despite trailing 2-0 and 3-1 in the second half.

Jonathan Rodriguez and Santiago Moreno both scored for Portland (10-9-6, 36 points), which has given up its most goals since a 3-2 loss to LAFC on April 27, also away in Los Angeles.

The win keeps Western Conference favorites Galaxy undefeated at home this season, while also extending a seven-game unbeaten streak against Portland (four wins, three draws).

The Galaxy (14-5-7, 49 points) were the enforcers from the start on Saturday, routinely using slick passes to put Portland backup goalie James Pantemis in sticky situations. Pantemis faced 10 shots in the first half, including a trio in the first nine minutes. He made impressive saves on all three shots, stopping another potential goal in the 23rd minute with a diving save, but his night turned into a nightmare from there as the onslaught intensified.

LA finally broke the dam in the 38th minute when a deep through ball left Pantemis vulnerable, off his line and ultimately unable to continue his string of admirable saves. Galaxy forward Joseph Paintsil found possession after making a run for the ball, eluded the oncoming Pantemis on the right flank and fired the ball to striker Gabriel Pec, who effortlessly slotted home a goal.

The Galaxy doubled early in the second half from Ricard Puig’s foot. Paintsil collected his second assist of the night in the 47th minute after Puig was left unchallenged at the top of the penalty area and fired a clean shot into the bottom left corner of the net.

From then on the score only went up.

Even on a night where Portland never really managed to control the midfield or stop LA in transition, the Timbers wouldn’t end the night without a word from their offense. It came not surprisingly from the DPs, Evander navigating upfield in transition and pushing the ball to Rodriguez for a strike in the 51st.

Just as quickly as the Timbers had tightened the scoring, the Galaxy opened things up again in the 58th. Paintsil took it himself, weaving around the Portland defense for his third goal of the night.

Then it was the Timbers’ turn again.

Santiago Moreno, who has been in excellent form of late, pressed the chasers on, cutting across the pitch, capping a deep run across the pitch with a powerful goal in the 73rd minute as Portland responded again.

Both teams had 16 shots attempted on Saturday night, but the Galaxy outscored the Timbers and made the most of the big chances their offense created. It was the difference in a result that kept Portland on life support for far longer than LA’s performance seemingly should have allowed.

The Timbers didn’t just leave the field and had chances to put the Galaxy under pressure in the eight-minute extra time. They failed to capitalize on any of them and Portland ultimately lost their second game of a hugely successful summer.

Next one: The Timbers return home to take on Leon in the opening round of the Leagues Cup on July 28 at 7:30pm

— Shane Hoffmann for The Oregonian/OregonLive