Padres Squeak Past Dodgers in Game Three of NLDS

Padres 6, Dodgers 5

The San Diego Padres defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers, 6–5, in Game Three to take the NLDS series lead on Tuesday. Both starters, Michael King and Walker Buehler, got rocked early, but Buehler took the loss. The Padres scored six runs in the second inning, while the Dodgers got four in the third. After the frenzy by both teams, both team’s pitchers calmed the storm. The Padres will look to win the series on Wednesday, where they eliminated the Dodgers in the same fashion in 2022.

Dodgers – Padres Game Summary

Game Three started with a bang immediately in the bottom of the first. Mookie Betts caught a breaking ball, and it just tipped off Jurickson Profar’s glove for a solo home run. In the bottom of the second, Xander Bogaerts beat out a double play chance to score Manny Machado. David Peralta slapped a double to score Jackson Merrill and Bogearts. Kyle Higashioka hit a sacrifice fly to score Peralta, and Fernando Tatis Jr. capped the inning with a two-run home run. The Dodgers responded quickly. Teoscar Hernandez caught a high pitch to hit a grand slam to center field. Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Andy Pages all came in to score with Hernandez. However, the pitchers for both sides held it down, giving the Padres a one-run victory in Game Three.

TEOSCAR HERNÁNDEZ GRAND SLAM!

WHAT IS GOING ON????? #NLDS pic.twitter.com/urE1xfJIQD

— MLB (@MLB) October 9, 2024

What Went Right for the Dodgers

Mookie Betts

Mookie Betts came into Game Three with an 0-for-22 cold streak. Betts went 2-for-4, adding a home run and a single to his belt. The home run opened the scoring and, more importantly, the can of worms that has haunted Betts in his postseason career.

Bullpen

The Dodgers brought in three different relievers, all of whom did their job. Anthony Banda, Daniel Hudson, and Michael Kopech held the small Padres lead to their six runs. The three relievers pitched three innings, posting no hits, one walk and four strikeouts.

What Went Wrong for the Dodgers

The Second Inning

It was a crash course for the entire Dodgers infield and Walker Buehler. The inning had an error from Freddie Freeman, a double play that Miguel Rojas late was on, and a hitting spree for the Padres. It was all capped off by Tatis, powering a two-run home run to left center field.

Bottom of the Lineup

Where Game Two was an issue of the top of the lineup, it’s the opposite for the Dodgers in Game Three. As a team, the 5-through-9 hitters went 1-for-18, with the only hit coming from Miguel Rojas. Andy Pages replaced Rojas, who went 0-for-2 in his plate appearances. The top of the lineup hit well but needed support from the bottom.

What Went Right for the Padres

Bullpen

After a shaky start from Michael King, the bullpen came in to try and keep the one-run lead at bay. Although the offense couldn’t produce against the Dodgers relievers, the Padres bullpen gave no room for life. Jeremiah Estrada, Jason Adam, Tanner Scott, and Robert Suarez closed the door—four innings of outstanding pitching from four relievers.

Fernando Tatis Jr.

Although El Niño went 1-for-4 on the day, his one hit created the difference. With a swing that struck the baseball beautifully, Walker Buehler had no choice but to watch his mistake hit the stands. In this game, Tatis is the postseason king, with his 2.151 OPS being the highest OPS of any player in postseason history with at least 18 plate appearances.

Tatis explained what the moment felt like capping off the six-run inning, “When I hit it, I don’t know, I just blacked out, started screaming at my dugout, just the energy through the roof, especially that type of inning that we built after two outs.”

NANDO! PANDEMONIUM!!! #NLDS pic.twitter.com/mEWBVBqMrc

— MLB (@MLB) October 9, 2024

What Went Wrong for the Padres

Luis Arraez

The batting average king this season is not shining in the 2024 postseason. Luis Arraez posted a 0-for-4 day, dropping his average to .217. He now is 2-for-14 in this series, and the leadoff hitter needs to get on more. Nonetheless, the Padres have done the job without his contributions, but they shouldn’t become used to this slump.

Michael King

After a dominant outing against the Atlanta Braves, King struggled against the Dodgers. He allowed five hits, five earned runs, two home runs, and three punch-outs. It wasn’t the dominance he displayed the last time at Petco Park, but it was one he would like to forget. Although his performance wasn’t up to his standard, he still won.

Quick Hits

The Dodgers are now 1–5 at Petco Park in 2024. They look to try to avoid elimination on Wednesday.

The Padres eliminated the Dodgers in four games in the 2022 NLDS. The Padres won Game Three by one run, with a final score of 2–1. The Dodgers won Game One, and the Padres won Game Two.

In the last 30 years, the Dodgers have seven division titles without reaching the NLCS. They look to avoid making it eight, tying for second with the Minnesota Twins. The Braves rank first with 10.

Looking Ahead

The Dodgers have not announced their starting pitcher for Game Four, with the plans to turn to the bullpen. The Padres will return to Dylan Cease (0–0, 13.50 ERA), who struggled in Game One at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers have not announced if Shohei Ohtani will stay in the lead-off spot over Mookie Betts, but it seems unlikely to change.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed his plans for Game Four for the pitching rotation, “I think as far as pitching plans, it’s essentially all hands on deck. It’s probably — it’s a bullpen game. I see one of our relievers starting.”