San Diego Padres @ Los Angeles Dodgers – NLDS G1 (10/6/20) — Final: LAD 5, SD 1

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It wasn’t the prettiest game, but the Los Angeles Dodgers, behind a four-run sixth, take the National League Divisional Series opener from the San Diego Padres, 5-1.

Walker Buehler, making his second start of the postseason, got Trent Grisham to ground-out to get things rolling. Fernando Tatís Jr. punched a one-out base hit the opposite way, but Buehler got Manny Machado looking as Tatís Jr. stole 2nd. Eric Hosmer pulled one sharply into the shift, allowing Buehler to escape. Mike Clevinger returned from the IL this morning, having only thrown one inning over the past three weeks, and was given the ball for the Padres. Mookie Betts lined-out to right before Corey Seager earned a walk. Clevinger responded with a strike-out of Justin Turner, but then walked Max Muncy on four-pitches. Tatís Jr.’s catch while falling to his side robbed Will Smith of a run-scoring knock, ending the first inning. Buehler walked Tommy Pham to open the second, but struck-out Wil Myers. Buehler, with his control still lacking and his pitch count rising, walked Jake Cronenworth and Austin Nola to load the bases. Buehler fought back with a strike-out of Jurickson Profar, and despite falling behind with three straight balls, he got Grisham swinging to escape — displaying his excitement very loudly. Clevinger’s initial pitch in the bottom half to Cody Bellinger was clocked at only 91mph, contrary to the 96-98mph earlier, resulting in a visit from the training staff. Clevinger, subtly wincing in pain, was removed from the game and replaced by Pierce Johnson. Picking up already behind two balls, Johnson threw two more to walk Bellinger. He got AJ Pollock to pop-out, struck out Joc Pederson, and got Chris Taylor to fly-out to deep center to strand Bellinger. Buehler, back out for the third, had bookend strike-outs of Tatís Jr. and Hosmer in a brief top half. Johnson got Betts swinging to begin the home half, and Ryan Weathers was then called upon. Weathers, making his MLB debut (in a playoff game…), was hit hard by Seager and Muncy, but right at the outfielders to allow him to work around a four-pitch walk to Turner. In the fourth, Buehler got Pham looking, but was squeezed on a full count pitch to Myers. After Cronenworth struck-out, Myers stole 2nd, and Nola came through with a two-out base hit to bring home the game’s first run. After getting the third out, Buehler’s day concluded: 4IP, 1ER, 2H, 4BB, 8K. He was erratic at times, but was a warrior and gave all he could to keep the Dodgers in it. Weathers walked Smith to leadoff LA’s half. Following a strike-out of Bellinger, Weathers got Pollock to pop-out and was relieved by Austin Adams with two-away. Adams hit the pinch-hitting Kiké Hernández and walked Taylor to load the bases, but got Betts to fly-out to the edge of the warning track to escape unscathed. With the lackadaisical Dodgers offense still yet to record a hit, Dustin May entered for the fifth. It took him twelve pitches to retire the heart of San Diego’s lineup down in order. With one-away in the bottom frame, Tim Hill walked Turner on four pitches. Muncy went down swinging, and Garrett Richards came in. Richards walked Smith, moving runners into scoring position again for LA. Bellinger grounded into the shift, seemingly ending the inning; however, Cronenworth’s throwing error allowed Turner to score, tying the game at 1. On the next pitch, Pollock lifted a hanging breaking ball that died at the track, coming up just short. While the Padres no-hitter continued, the score evened as the game went to the fifth. With the help of an impressive play by Turner, May struck-out a pair to complete a perfect frame. Richards whiffed Hernández prior to issuing a four-pitch walk to Taylor. Betts delivered the Dodgers’ first hit of the game with a ringing double down the line. Unfortunately, it was hit too hard, causing Taylor to halt at 3rd. San Diego’s manager Jayce Tinger was barking at the home plate umpire as he walked towards the mound, and he was ejected. Simultaneously, Matt Strahm jogged in from the bullpen. Seager lifted a fly-ball to the opposite field that enabled Taylor to utilize his speed in tagging, beating Profar’s throw home to give LA the edge, 2-1. Subsequently, Turner poked a single through the hole, doubling their lead. Muncy smashed an extra base hit into the gap, and Smith was intentionally walked to load the bases. Bellinger’s soft single up the middle added another, making it 4-1. Strahm departed at that point, and Craig Stammen entered in hopes of mitigating the damage. With Pollock at the plate, Stammen’s wild pitch allowed another to trot home before he got the third out, pulling the Dodgers ahead 5-1. Victor González and Stammen traded 1-2-3 halves in the seventh. Grisham led-off the eighth with a double off of González, and Blake Treinen was called upon. In a quick three batters, Treinen had bookend strike-outs of Tatís Jr. and Hosmer to strand Grisham. In LA’s turn, Seager ripped a line-drive right at the shifted Machado, and Muncy absolutely crushed a ball that was caught a few feet in front of the warning track in very deep center. Treinen commenced the ninth with a fly-out of Pham, and Kenley Jansen, in a non-save situation, was tasked with the final two outs. He struck-out Myers prior to Cronenworth’s ground-out, ending the ballgame.

The boys in blue, navigating an NLDS record nine pitchers used by the Padres, take game one of the series. They battled and remained poised offensively, walking ten times, and the pitching staff, aside from Buehler’s walks, was on point collectively. Tomorrow, Clayton Kershaw will be on the mound looking to lead his team to another victory. Kershaw, building off of a tremendous regular season, pitched eighth scoreless innings in his game two outing against the Brewers last week. With a beat up and worn out ‘pen, and now down two starters in Clevinger and Dinelson Lamet, the Pads haven’t announced their starter. It’s likely to be either Chris Paddack or Zach Davies, both righties, who each respectively struggled in games one and two of the Wild Card Series. It won’t be until tomorrow morning that the information is released. 6pm start. Go Dodgers!