Dodgers Beat Padres in Wild NLDS Game 1 as Shohei Ohtani Homers, Bullpen Dominates
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The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres, 7-5, to take a 1-0 lead in the National League Division Series.
The Dodgers snapped a six-game postseason losing streak, and will look to take a 2-0 lead on Sunday night.
The Padres got things going early in the first inning with a three-run first against Yoshinobu Yamamoto, capped off by a two-run home run by Manny Machado.
The 3-0 lead gave Dodger fans some instant PTSD from last year’s NLDS against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
After the Dodgers offense left two runners on the bases in the bottom of the first, Yamamoto was able to settle down and get a 1-2-3 second inning.
In the bottom of the second, it was Shohei Ohtani that changed the game with one swing of the bat.
With two runners on and two outs, Ohtani crushed a 96.9 mph fastball off Dylan Cease, tying the game at three with a home run to right field.
Read more: Shohei Ohtani Hits Dodgers First Postseason Home Run of 2024 NLDS vs Padres
However, in the top of the third inning, the Padres offense got to Yamamoto again, this time with a two-run double by Xander Bogaerts. The third inning was the last of Yamamoto’s night. He ended with five earned runs on five hits with one strikeout. It was his worst start since his MLB debut in Korea, also against the Padres.
Read more: Yoshinobu Yamamoto Struggles Mightily vs Padres, Exits Early in NLDS Game 1 Start for Dodgers
Freddie Freeman got his second hit of the game in the bottom of the third inning and even stole a base despite his injured ankle. However, L.A. stranded him on the bases.
Ryan Brasier pitched a scoreless fourth inning, and the Dodgers offense came through again in the bottom of the inning.
Hits by Tommy Edman, Miguel Rojas, and Ohtani set up bases loaded and one out for Mookie Betts.
A wild pitch scored Edman, and then the Padres intentionally walked Betts. Freeman grounded into a force out at home, and then Teoscar Hernández came through with a two-out, two-run single to give the Dodgers their first lead of the game.
Brasier and Alex Vesia combined to pitch a scoreless fifth inning. The Dodgers added another run thanks to a Machado throwing error in the bottom of the fifth. Then Vesia and Evan Phillips combined for a scoreless sixth inning, and Phillips pitched a scoreless seventh.
Michael Kopech got the eighth inning, and walked two batters while retiring one. Blake Treinen came in with two on and one out. He got an out and walked a batter, setting up bases loaded and two outs.
Treinen got the massive strikeout, and maintained L.A.’s 7-5 lead.
The Dodgers stranded two runners in the eighth, and Treinen came on in the ninth to put the Padres away. He retired the first two Padres, before allowing a single and walk to bring Machado up with two on and two out. Machado struck out, and the Dodgers won.
L.A. wins Game 1. Game 2 is Sunday night.
Photo Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
