Dodgers strike back, routing the Padres 8-0 to force a decisive Game 5 in the NL Division Series. Mookie Betts continued his power surge with a home run for the second consecutive night, while Shohei Ohtani contributed with an RBI single, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a commanding victory over Dylan Cease and the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night.
Will Smith and Gavin Lux each added two-run homers, helping the Dodgers break a two-game losing streak. The team now heads back to Los Angeles for the next clash against their NL West rivals on Friday night at 8:08 p.m. ET, broadcast on FOX.
The outcome of Game 5 will determine which team gains home-field advantage in the National League Championship Series, where they will face the New York Mets, who recently eliminated the Philadelphia Phillies in their NLDS.
In a tense Game 2, the Padres triumphed 10-2 at Dodger Stadium, a match marked by heightened emotions both on the field and in the stands.
[Related: The moments that helped ignite the Dodgers-Padres rivalry]
The Dodgers showcased a stellar performance from opener Ryan Brasier and seven relievers, limiting the Padres to just seven hits and extending their scoreless streak to 15 innings. Evan Phillips, who secured the win, efficiently retired Jurickson Profar, Manny Machado, and Jackson Merrill on just five pitches in the sixth inning.
The Dodgers silenced a record crowd of 47,773 at Petco Park, who were eager to witness San Diego eliminate Los Angeles for the second time in three seasons.
With All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman sidelined due to a right ankle sprain, Betts and Ohtani stepped up to keep L.A.’s postseason hopes alive. Betts recorded two hits and drove in two runs, while Ohtani contributed one run and reached base three times.
In the fourth inning, with the Dodgers leading 5-0, Ohtani attempted to score from second base on a single by Teoscar Hernández. The ball deflected off third baseman Machado’s glove and struck umpire Mark Ripperger, leading to a quick play that saw Machado retrieve the ball and throw it to catcher Kyle Higashioka, who tagged Ohtani for the out.
The Padres’ decision to start Cease on short rest proved detrimental. Although he initially got Ohtani to ground out, Betts soon followed with a full-count home run. Cease then allowed two runners to reach before being replaced after Ohtani’s RBI single in the second inning.
Betts added an RBI single on Bryan Hoeing’s first pitch, giving the Dodgers a 3-0 lead and quieting the excited crowd.
This time, Betts confidently launched a 3-2 pitch into the Padres’ bullpen beyond left-center field, raising his right index finger in celebration as he rounded first base, while Ohtani cheered from the dugout.
On Tuesday, Betts had a home run that he initially thought was caught by Profar, turning toward the dugout before realizing it had cleared the fence. Profar had robbed him of a home run just days earlier, leading to a chaotic scene where fans threw baseballs and trash onto the field.
Ohtani had made headlines earlier in the series with a tying three-run homer against Cease during his playoff debut, solidifying his status as a dual-threat player with a remarkable season of 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases.
With Max Muncy on base after a leadoff double in the third inning, Smith launched a pitch from Hoeing to center field for a commanding 5-0 lead. The Dodgers continued to add runs in the seventh with Tommy Edman’s sacrifice fly and Lux’s two-run blast off Wandy Peralta.
The Dodgers effectively contained Fernando Tatis Jr., who had already hit three homers in the series, including two in Game 2. Brasier struck out Tatis in the first inning, marking the star’s first strikeout in six playoff games.
Up next
The Padres are set to start right-handed pitcher Yu Darvish in Game 5, while the Dodgers have yet to announce their starting pitcher.
