Photo credit: www.foxnews.com
Padres Advance to NLDS, Set for Showdown with Dodgers
For the third time in five years, the San Diego Padres have secured a place in the National League Division Series, setting the stage for a highly anticipated clash with their familiar rival, the Los Angeles Dodgers.
After completing a sweep of the Atlanta Braves in the Wild Card round, the Padres are poised to continue their playoff journey. San Diego clinched the series with a narrow 5-4 victory over the Braves on Wednesday night, an outcome that left Atlanta’s late surge feeling more like a missed opportunity.
In the decisive game, it was Atlanta that opened the scoring, with Marcell Ozuna driving in Michael Harris II via a sacrifice fly after he doubled to start the game. However, the momentum shifted as the Padres came alive in the second inning.
Despite Max Fried retiring the first two batters, the Padres exploded with a flurry of two-out hits, starting with a home run from Kyle Higashioka that leveled the score. The offensive onslaught continued with Manny Machado following up with a crucial two-run double, and Jackson Merrill adding a two-run triple to cap the inning. Remarkably, this productive burst accounted for San Diego’s entire scoring in the match.
Jorge Soler briefly revived the Braves’ hopes with a solo home run in the fifth, and Harris further chipped away with a two-run homer in the eighth. However, Padres reliever Robert Suarez closed out the game effectively, retiring the side in order in the ninth and sparking celebratory chants of “Beat LA” from the jubilant San Diego fans.
The Braves, who faced the challenge of a doubleheader earlier in the week to secure their postseason spot, may have stumbled under the weight of fatigue. Their season was marred by injuries, including a significant loss with reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. enduring a torn ACL. This relentless barrage of setbacks eventually seemed to take its toll during the playoff series.
The rivalry between the Padres and the Dodgers has become a hallmark of baseball, playing out over 13 regular-season games each year. Their playoff paths have crossed recently as well, with previous encounters in the 2020 and 2022 NL Division Series. The Dodgers triumphed in the first encounter, propelling them to a World Series victory, but the tides turned in 2022 when the Padres emerged victorious in four games.
Looking ahead, the regular season matchups might offer a glimmer of hope for San Diego. They emerged victorious in their season series against the Dodgers, winning 8 out of 13 games.
As the rivalry intensifies, Game 1 of the NLDS is slated for Saturday at 8:38 p.m. ET at Dodger Stadium. This match-up promises to be an exciting chapter in the storied rivalry between these two teams.
Source
www.foxnews.com