Dodgers bats again fall silent after third inning as Padres tie up NLDS
Entering this week’s National League Division Series, the Dodgers seemed to have every advantage over the San Diego Padres.
They were the more rested team, enjoying a five-day break while the Padres battled through a three-game wild-card series.
Their pitching was better positioned, as the rotation’s top two starters were lined up with ample prep.
And after surviving a narrow Game 1 victory the night before, they returned to Dodger Stadium on Wednesday with the chance to take a commanding two-game lead in the best-of-five matchup.
So much for all that.
Padres win NLDS Game 2 in first ever postseason victory over Dodgers
Padres 5, Dodgers 3 — FINAL
The Dodgers came up short, the missed opportunities adding to their Game 2 loss to the Padres on Wednesday.
It was the first postseason win the Padres have logged over the Dodgers ever.
Joey Gallo came out to play left field in the ninth inning, moving Trayce Thompson to center and ending Cody Bellinger’s night. Tommy Kahnle replaced Blake Treinen and pitched a clean ninth inning.
The top of the Dodgers batting order mustered a single hit. With one out remaining, Freddie Freeman hit a double, but was left stranded after Will Smith lined out.
Goose lands on outfield grass during Game 2 of Dodgers-Padres series
Padres 5, Dodgers 3 — End of the eighth
Nick Martinez replaced Robert Suarez to start the bottom of the inning on the mound for the Padres. He wasn’t nearly as exciting as what showed up on the field after him.
A goose glided onto the outfield grass and remained there through Gavin Lux’s at-bat. The grounds crew came out with a trash can and towel to get the goose and it did fly off the outfield grass. But it landed again behind home plate. They chased it to third base, where they were able to capture it and take it away through the home dugout.
Lux’s at-bat resulted in a single, which prompted another Padres pitching change for Josh Hader, who walked Trayce Thompson. Austin Barnes flew out to end the inning.
Jake Cronenworth hits solo home run on Dodgers reliever Blake Treinen
Padres 5, Dodgers 3 — Middle of the eighth
Blake Treinen replaced Yency Almonte to start the inning for the Dodgers on the mound. He got Brandon Drury to ground out, then gave up a solo home run to Jake Cronenworth. Cronenworth took a silent trot around the bases, clasping arms with Manny Machado when he returned to the visiting dugout.
He walked Jurickson Profar, then intentionally walked Trent Grisham.
The Dodgers tried to get Grisham out at second on Austin Nola’s grounder, but the throw to Gavin Lux was not in time.
The half inning was ended after Ha-Seong Kim popped out.
Dodgers can’t capitalize with bases loaded, Padres retain lead into eighth
Padres 4, Dodgers 3 — End of the seventh
The Dodgers could not capitalize with the traffic they generated on the bases. With the bases loaded, Will Smith lined out for the final out of the seventh.
Yency Almonte replaced Brusdar Graterol to start the top of the seventh inning. He struck out the top of the Padres order, Ha-Seong Kim, Juan Soto and Manny Machado on 17 pitches.
A trainer and Padres manager Bob Melvin came out to check on catcher Austin Nola in the middle of Trayce Thompson’s at-bat the bottom of the inning. Nola was hit in the mask by one of Thompson’s swings. Nola remained in the game. Thompson’s at-bat ended with a flyout.
Cody Bellinger reached base on a single that floated way over the outstretched glove of Ha-Seong Kim.
Mookie Betts put go-ahead run in scoring position with a double on a line drive that Padres center fielder Trent Grisham dove for but could not catch.
Freddie Freeman was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out remaining for the Dodgers in the inning.
All were left stranded.
Padres pull ahead of Dodgers by one run in the sixth
Padres 4, Dodgers 3 — End of the sixth
Brusdar Graterol replaced Clayton Kershaw on the mound to start the sixth inning.
He gave up a single to Brandon Drury, Jake Cronenworth grounded into a forceout, then Wil Myers reached on a fielder’s choice and fielding error by Trea Turner.
Jurickson Profar then singled in a run to give the Padres the lead, igniting a chorus of “Let’s go Padres” chants from the contingent of San Diego fans.
Graterol got the second out of the inning, charging after a bunted ball by Trent Grisham and quickly throwing it to Will Smith to get Wil Myers out at the plate.
Cody Bellinger secured the final out, a lineout near the warning track, by extending his right arm back while running and leaping to make the catch.
Will Smith reached base in the bottom of the inning on a Padres defensive mishap. The single bounced toward Cronenworth at second base, who stopped the ball with his glove but couldn’t secure it.
Max Muncy ended Yu Darvish’s night after he singled off the right field wall, moving the tying run into scoring position.
Darvish was replaced by Robert Suarez. Darvish’s final line: five innings, seven hits, three earned runs, two batters walked and seven struck out over 99 pitches thrown.
Smith and Muncy were left stranded and the Padres took their one-run lead into the seventh inning.
Clayton Kershaw finishes evening with strong fifth inning
Dodgers 3, Padres 3 — End of the fifth
It was another 1-2-3 inning for Clayton Kershaw. It was a strong finish to his night, which ended after five innings, six hits, three earned runs and six strikeouts over 80 pitches.
Ha-Seong Kim grounded out and Juan Soto sharply lined out — into the glove of Gavin Lux, who was positioned between first and second — which drew excited gasps from the home crowd. Manny Machado grounded out for the final out of the inning.
Mookie Betts worked a six-pitch walk on Yu Darvish to start the bottom of the inning. Betts then tried to steal second, but was caught by Austin Nola’s throw, which ended up right in the gloved hand of Jake Cronenworth, underneath Betts’ sliding body.
The Dodgers challenged the call, but it was upheld.
Clayton Kershaw back in command during fourth inning
Dodgers 3, Padres 3 — End of the fourth
Clayton Kershaw pitched his strongest inning of the game. On nine pitches, he struck out Jurickson Profar and Trent Grisham before getting Austin Nola to ground out.
Justin Turner worked a four-pitch walk on Yu Darvish and Gavin Lux singled to right field. Both were left stranded.
Trea Turner ties game for Dodgers with home run
Dodgers 3, Padres 3 — End of the third
Trea Turner returned the favor for the Dodgers again in the bottom of the third inning.
The shortstop, who hit his first postseason home run as a Dodger on Tuesday, sent one of Yu Darvish’s pitches into the night.
The shot was a no-doubter, traveling 400 feet toward the middle decks of the left-field pavilion near the foul pole.
Clayton Kershaw gives up two more runs, Padres retake lead
Padres 3, Dodgers 2 — Middle of the third
Padres shortstop Ha-Seong Kim singled to lead off the inning after Max Muncy dropped his grounder while attempting to throw to first.
Clayton Kershaw then gave up two more hits, a single by Juan Soto and then a double by Manny Machado. Machado’s hit allowed Kim to score and tie the game.
In the middle of Brandon Drury’s at-bat, Kershaw paused to fix his right sock and cleat. He then struck out Drury with his next pitch.
Will Smith came out to the mound to chat with Kershaw in the middle of Jake Cronenworth’s at-bat. Kershaw then threw what he hoped was a strike to end the at-bat. It was ruled a ball and Kershaw looked unamused, doubling over and putting his hands on his knees.
Cronenworth went on to ground out, which still allowed Soto to score and give the Padres the lead.
Max Muncy joins home run party with solo shot of his own
Dodgers 2, Padres 1 — End of the second
It was Max Muncy that delivered the theatrics of the inning. In the bottom of the second, he sent the seventh pitch he faced over the right-center field wall.
It was his first home run of this postseason.
Justin Turner followed with a single to right field, far out of Juan Soto’s reach.
He was left stranded after Yu Darvish struck out Gavin Lux, Trayce Thompson and Cody Bellinger in order.
In the top of the inning, Clayton Kershaw gave up back-to-back singles, one to Wil Myers and the next to Jurickson Profar, before getting his second out.
During Profar’s at-bat, he fouled a ball back toward the on deck circle, almost hitting Trent Grisham, who jumped out of the way.
A wild pitch by Kershaw during Grisham’s at-bat allowed Myers and Profar to move into scoring position at third and second, respectively.
Kershaw got out of the inning after striking out Grisham and Austin Nola.
Dodgers, Freddie Freeman respond with solo home run, tie Game 2 at 1-1
Dodgers 1, Padres 1 — End of the first
Freddie Freeman’s bat was quiet on Tuesday. On Wednesday, not so much.
After the Padres took the lead on a solo home run hit by Manny Machado, Freeman responded with a towering solo shot over the center-field wall.
The home run, hit off Yu Darvish’s 3-and-1 cutter, traveled 401 feet, eliciting a stadium-shaking, ravenous cheer from the home crowd.
Padres, Manny Machado jump to early 1-0 lead on Dodgers, Clayton Kershaw
Dodgers 0, Padres 1 — Middle of the first
Clayton Kershaw made light work of his first two batters, Ha-Seong Kim and Juan Soto, who grounded out and flew out. Then Padres third baseman Manny Machado made him — and the fans chanting “Manny sucks” — pay.
The former Dodger knocked a solo home run over the left-field wall for the game’s first run.
What followed was silence from the home crowd.
They eventually woke back up after Kershaw struck out the next batter, Brandon Drury, to end the inning.
Walker Buehler takes mound in Game 2 ... for ceremonial first pitch
Walker Buehler took the mound 10 minutes before the start of the Dodgers’ second game of their NLDS matchup with the Padres.
Dressed in his uniform pants and a warm up shirt, he cocked his left arm back, slightly lifted his leg and delivered the ceremonial first pitch of the game.
This was not the role Buehler or the Dodgers envisioned the right-handed pitcher would have for their first series of these playoffs. It is the one he earned after needing to get his second Tommy John surgery.
It was still a welcome sight for the Dodgers faithful and something Walker’s teammates were happy to see before the game got underway.
“Walker needs the center of attention at all cost, so he found it,” Game 2 starter Clayton Kershaw joked before Game 1 on Tuesday. “Walker has obviously been a really huge part of this team, and we’re going to miss him at this time. ... I think it’s great that we’re letting him be a part of it, and I hope he gets the standing ovation he deserves.
Buehler did get an ovation.
Dodgers’ closer du jour: Shohei Ohtani’s former teammate, Chris Martin
Not even half an hour had passed since the final out, and the Dodgers’ clubhouse staff had retrieved the game ball, enclosed it in a square plastic case, attached a label to the foundation supporting the case, and tucked the ball safely within the pitcher’s locker.
“1ST CAREER POSTSEASON SAVE,” the label read.
The proud owner of the ball is 36 years old, two years older than Craig Kimbrel, who ranks seventh on the all-time save list. On Tuesday morning, the Dodgers set their National League Division Series roster without Kimbrel. On Tuesday evening, the Dodgers’ closer was Chris Martin.
At the trade deadline, the Dodgers and San Diego Padres each acquired a reliever. To great fanfare, the Padres got Josh Hader, a four-time All-Star. The Dodgers got the relatively anonymous Martin, a former teammate of Shohei Ohtani in Japan, a champion last year with the Atlanta Braves, a holder of nine career major league saves.
Julio Urías was masterful in Game 1 until he wasn’t. Dodgers will need more from him
Julio Urías is still waiting.
He’s still waiting for that game that will change everything for him, that postseason performance that will allow him to cross the invisible boundary that separates him from the pitcher he wants to be.
That wasn’t the game he pitched Tuesday night.
Urías was the pitcher of record in the Dodgers’ 5-3 victory over the San Diego Padres in Game 1 of their National League Division Series.
He looked at times as if he were worthy of inheriting the crown previously worn by the likes of Sandy Koufax, Fernando Valenzuela and Clayton Kershaw.
He also unraveled in a startling fifth inning, reducing his team’s five-run lead to two and forcing manager Dave Roberts to rely on the bullpen to cover the last four innings.
Who needs Craig Kimbrel? For Dodgers, it’s always a game of next reliever up
The Dodgers cut one of the most distinguished relief pitchers in baseball history from their roster Tuesday. Los Angeles responded with a shrug.
When Dodgers manager Dave Roberts met with reporters before the National League Division Series opener against the San Diego Padres, the first question was not about eight-time All-Star Craig Kimbrel. Neither was the second question, nor the third, nor the fourth.
Granted, the breaking news was not shocking. With 12 games left in the regular season, the Dodgers had told Kimbrel he would no longer close. But the nonchalant reaction Tuesday was a tribute to a decade of Dodgers excellence, not only on the field but in the front office as well.
“A lot of times on a lot of teams,” Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner said before the Dodgers’ 5-3 win over the Padres on Tuesday, “you lose one guy and the thought is probably, ‘Oh, how are we going to fill that void?’
“It’s never really been that way here.”
Dodgers get a good October scare from Padres on a wonderful and worrisome night
First, there was October magic.
The sky still contained traces of smoke from fireworks. The building was still filled with echoes of Vin Scully’s welcoming voice. Dodger Stadium was still shaking off the remnants of a rousing pregame show and settling in for the first game of the National League Division Series between the Dodgers and San Diego Padres and …
Boom!
Trea Turner, the second Dodgers hitter, walloped a fastball from Mike Clevinger and drove it into a left-field pavilion that was still filling up with stunned fans.
Take your seat, here comes a home run!
Cue the dugout dancing. Cue the Ravine shaking. Cue the hopes that baseball’s best team can produce a postseason worthy of the hype.
But then, there was October madness.
Dave Roberts says no pitching plan decided for Game 3 just yet
Padres manager Bob Melvin announced Blake Snell as his Game 3 starter on Tuesday. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has not revealed his pitching plan for Game 3 just yet.
Tyler Anderson is a candidate to make a Game 3 or potential Game 4 start, but asked which game he could appear in, Roberts said he was still deciding.
“I think we’re contemplating and want to leave it open-ended,” Roberts said Wednesday. “We’ve had conversation with Tyler and kind of checking his pulse on being open to either start one of those games.”
Roberts will make a decision based on how Game 2 unfolds.
As for Anderson, he said: “I don’t know what the plan is going to be, but I’m available whenever they need me to pitch.”
Dodgers roll with same lineup against Padres for NLDS Game 2
The Dodgers will field the same lineup for Game 2 as they did in Game 1 of their National League Division Series against the Padres.
That Game 1 lineup, of course, did get the Dodgers a 1-0 series lead.
Mookie Betts, Trea Turner, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith will get their offense started. Betts’ and Freeman’s bats were quiet on Tuesday, while Turner’s and Smith’s were instrumental in getting the Dodgers their 5-3 win.
The rest of the lineup, with Clayton Kershaw on the mound, is as follows:
Yu Darvish wouldn’t object to an umpire ear inspection: ‘Touch my wherever’
If San Diego Padres ace Yu Darvish is dominating the Dodgers on Wednesday night, and he is checked for foreign substances the way teammate Joe Musgrove was when the right-hander had his sweaty ears thoroughly rubbed by umpires in New York Sunday night, Darvish won’t object.
“Anybody can come up and touch my ears, touch my nose, touch my wherever,” Darvish said through an interpreter on Tuesday, the Dodger Stadium interview room erupting in laughter. “I’m sure they had their reasons for doing what they did to Joe. I really don’t think too much about it.”
A touchy-feely Darvish will start Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Dodgers Wednesday night, the right-hander’s first playoff appearance in Chavez Ravine since Game 7 of the 2017 World Series, a start that quickly turned into the most ignominious night of his otherwise illustrious 10-year career.
A more relaxed Clayton Kershaw hopes he’s aced the timing on dominant stretch
Last week, Clayton Kershaw printed out copies of Major League Baseball’s postseason bracket for his children. They wanted to pick the winner for each series.
Their choices usually depended on which team had the better uniforms. Kershaw recalled the kids liking the Seattle Mariners’ threads the most. Ultimately, it became about whom they wanted their dad and the Dodgers to face in the World Series.
“Guys, we have to win first,” Kershaw told them.
The Dodgers’ attempt to reach that destination for the fourth time in six years began Tuesday night with Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres. A year ago, the Dodgers failed without Kershaw. This year, they steamrolled to a second straight season with the most wins in franchise history, and their future Hall of Fame pitcher is ready to start Game 2 on Wednesday night with the Dodgers leading the series 1-0.
ICYMI: Dodgers’ playoff party becomes NLDS nail-biter in Game 1 win over Padres
What started as a party turned into a nail-biter, an almost certain October blowout instead devolving into a sudden postseason stress test.
The Dodgers knew they didn’t have a traditional pitching staff.
They didn’t care about their unsettled hierarchy in the ninth inning.
During a franchise-record 111-win season, it rarely mattered — not when veteran closer Craig Kimbrel battled maddening inconsistency for most of the year, and not when they removed him from the role a month ago in favor of a closer-by-committee approach.
How to watch Dodgers vs. Padres in the NLDS
Here’s the schedule for the remaining games in the National League Division Series between the Dodgers and San Diego Padres.