The closest factor to a playoff ambiance in an empty stadium in September unfolded at Petco Park on Monday evening. As a layer of haze hovered over the vacant ballpark, the 2 finest groups within the Nationwide League, separated by 2 half of video games within the standings, started a marquee three-game sequence with a pitcher’s duel, a heated trade of phrases, and a late-game collapse.
Ultimately, the Dodgers, even after a dominant begin from their ace, had been outclassed in a 7-2 loss to the scorching San Diego Padres.
The distinction was the seventh inning. The Dodgers (33-15) fell aside and the Padres capitalized on their miscues to interrupt open a tie recreation with 5 runs. With the win, the Padres minimize the Dodgers’ lead within the Nationwide League West and for the No. 1 seed within the NL to 1 half of video games. They’ve received 21 of 26 video games and eight straight. The Dodgers have dropped 5 of their final eight.
The Dodgers’ hassle within the seventh inning began when Wil Myers lined a leadoff single towards Clayton Kershaw. Two batters later, Kershaw, who had been cruising, allowed a single to Jurickson Profar to place two runners on base with one out. The sequence prompted supervisor Dave Roberts to drag Kershaw — not earlier than a dialog on the mound — and insert Pedro Báez.
Kershaw threw 99 pitches, 73 for strikes. He compiled zero walks, 9 strikeouts, and 21 swing-and-misses. Eighteen of the whiffs had been on sliders. His fastball averaged a promising 92 mph. However Roberts selected Báez to flee the jam.
Jorge Oña greeted Báez with a flare double down the left-field line to present San Diego the lead. Subsequent, Greg Garcia hit a floor ball to Max Muncy at first base. Throughout the diamond, Profar sprinted house and stopped midway when he noticed Muncy look his means. When Muncy walked in the direction of first base, Profar dashed house. Muncy, just a few toes from a positive out at first base, fired house. Profar slid in headfirst safely.
Trent Grisham adopted with one other floor ball to Muncy, who threw to second base to begin an inning-ending double play. As an alternative, the ball bounced off shortstop Chris Taylor’s glove and into left subject, permitting Oña to attain. The Padres (32-17) tacked on two extra runs towards Blake Treinen and didn’t look again.
Successful the division may not have a lot — if any — influence on the 2 groups’ playoff prospects. Barring a collossal collapse, whichever membership finishes second within the division would earn the No. four seed within the Nationwide League – the very best placement obtainable for a staff that doesn’t win one of many NL’s three divisions – and nonetheless play at house within the first spherical if Main League Baseball follows via with its postseason plan.
Consequently, each groups will doubtless face a staff that completed the common season with a file round .500 within the first spherical; the distinction between the fifth-place Miami Marlins and the eighth-place San Francisco Giants getting into Monday was 1 half of video games. And whether or not one membership is a greater matchup or not issues lower than ever in a three-game sequence.
No matter the place they end, the groups would meet within the second spherical, doubtless at a impartial website in Texas, in the event that they advance that far.
However successful the division stills means one thing. It’s a aim each staff strives to fulfill. For the Dodgers, it means exerting their dominance one other 12 months. For San Diego, it means lastly beating the bully on the block. The Padres, who’ve already clinched their first successful file since 2010, haven’t received the division since 2006. That was two uniform redesigns in the past.
“It is a massive sequence,” Roberts stated earlier than the sport.
It appeared greater for the Padres than for the Dodgers on Monday. The distinction in depth was obvious within the sixth inning when Grisham delivered the breakthrough towards Kershaw – a leadoff solo house run to proper subject.
Grisham admired his work. He stared into the Padres dugout earlier than taking a step, flipped his bat, and appeared again on the mound as he jogged to first base. On the finish of his trot, the Dodgers dugout expressed its displeasure together with his bravado. Grisham barked again and jumped on house plate with two toes.
SHORT HOPS
Justin Turner accomplished his typical pregame routine earlier than Monday’s recreation, together with taking batting apply on the sphere, and is anticipated to return off the injured record Tuesday. Roberts stated Turner would return because the staff’s designated hitter if he’s activated. Turner hasn’t performed since straining his left hamstring Aug. 28. …Roberts reiterated that he’s assured Dustin Could will begin in Wednesday’s sequence finale. Could’s season briefly appeared in jeopardy when he took a comebacker off his left foot final Thursday, however exams revealed no structural harm.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
1. Dinelson Lamet isn’t thought of the Padres’ ace — that title belongs to Mike Clevinger — however he’s pitched like one this season. He continued his breakout marketing campaign Monday, holding the Dodgers to at least one run on three hits with 11 strikeouts.
2. Joc Pederson batted third Monday and went zero for four with three strikeouts to proceed his deep stoop. The outfielder is bating .178 with a .656 OPS this season.
3. Cody Bellinger was caught stealing to finish the second inning when he seemingly forgot the variety of outs. Believing Edwin Ríos had struck out to finish the inning, Bellinger slowed down as he approached second base and was tagged out standing up.
