During a live performance in the eighth inning Tuesday night, Blink 182’s Tom DeLonge led a record crowd of 47,744 fans at Petco Park in singing a celebratory anthem, setting the mood for a night where the San Diego Padres outperformed their rivals, the Dodgers, in all facets of the game. The Padres were able to capitalize on multiple opportunities, most notably by playing a strong defensive game, which the Dodgers did not bring. As a result, San Diego secured a 6-5 win, bringing them closer to sending their division-winning rivals home early in the postseason, much like they did in 2022. This year, however, the Padres’ position as a formidable team with few weaknesses is well established, unlike two years ago when they surprisingly beat the 111-win Dodgers with their 89-win team.
Entering Tuesday’s game, Padres’ star right fielder, Fernando Tatís Jr., was already putting up record-setting numbers with the highest OPS of any player ever with at least 18 plate appearances in the postseason. His outstanding performance continued when he hit a game-changing two-run blast in the second inning, prompting a frenzy among the fans at Petco Park. This abruptly changed the situation for the Dodgers and their fielder, Walker Buehler, who had previously been managing well but was now facing a daunting onslaught. The Padres took advantage of the Dodgers’ weakened infield, quickly racking up runs and evening the score.
In the first inning, Jackson Merrill’s grounder forced Freddie Freeman to dive to his right. Unfortunately for the Dodgers, Freeman’s throw from his knees to second base bounced off Manny Machado, who had cut off a clear path to the base, and into left field. A critical error by Miguel Rojas, the Dodger’s shortstop, set the stage for David Peralta, a former Dodger and unsung hero of the Padres’ two victories in the series, to hit a two-run double. Even though few balls had left the infield, the Padres had already scored three runs. Buehler managed to recover momentarily, but a fastball mistake led to a searing hit by Fernando Tatís Jr., putting the Padres firmly in the lead.
The Padres demonstrated their vast array of talents throughout the series of games. Their starting pitchers are capable of delivering exceptional performances, with Yu Darvish standing out as a prime example. Similarly, their offense showcased their ability to dominate the opposing field, as demonstrated by their game on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. The Padres managed to make history by becoming the first team to hit six home runs in a road playoff game. On Tuesday, again, they showed their incredible adaptability as a team by shifting from a power-hitting strategy to a more contact-centric one, leading to a six-run rally.
The quality of the Padres’ bullpen is another facet of the team that sets them apart. Following several key acquisitions by general manager AJ Preller, their bullpen made significant contributions to their late-season success leading to the best record in baseball after the break. In fact, their relievers were ranked among the top five in the major league in ERA, strikeout rate, and strikeout-to-walk ratio for the remainder of the year. Now, with a pared-down selection of top high-leverage threats, their bullpen appears even more intimidating.
Despite another disappointing performance for the Dodgers, there were some positives. Mookie Betts, who had previously been hitless in his last 22 postseason at-bats, managed to hit a home run in the opening frame. Buehler, although initially shaky, was able to hold the Padres scoreless in the following three frames. However, with a bullpen game on the horizon and the Dodgers just one loss away from a third consecutive first-round exit, these silver linings do not seem to offer much consolation. Meanwhile, the Padres are gearing up for Game 4, armed with their ace Dylan Cease who is expected to start on short rest.
