Steve Webb
CHAVEZ RAVINE, CA — Whew! Are we SURE this is the regular season? In one of the most exciting games of the year, the Dodgers won a see-saw affair against the San Diego Padres by a score of 4-3, riding the clutch hitting of Shohei Ohtani to within one win of yet another NL West crown.
Jack Flaherty got the start in this one against perhaps the Padres best pitcher, Dylan Cease. Though neither pitcher was at his best, each battle through the first half of the ballgame. The Dodgers got an early lead (a rarity these days) in the first inning, when Teoscar Hernandez came through with a clutch two-out RBI single to score Shohei Ohtani, who had walked to lead off the game.
Unfortuately, Flaherty couldn’t contatin the Padres in the second. They got a pair of runs as Flaherty labored through a 38-pitch inning, which essentially ended any hope of his going deep into the game. However, he limited the damage in the inning to just two, so the Dodgers tried to regain the lead when they returned to the bat rack.
After a scoreless third for both teams, the Dodgers got goind again in the bottom of the fourth. And, the damage all came with two outs. Tommy Edman ripped a double into right field. Gavin Lux, who has struggled mightily of late, came up to back and delivered a game-tying single, scoring Edman from second. Then, after a Miguel Rojas walk, it was Sho-Time. Ohtani absolutely demolished a slider from Cease banging it off the right field fence at 117 miles an hour. Lux scored easily, but the ball was hit so hard that Rojas had to hold at third. Later, Miggy Ro would have to exit the game with some groin tightness, so we’ll need to keep an eye on that. Unfortunately, the rally would end right there, as Mookie Betts popped out to end the inning. Betts is still looking for his first hit of the series. No bueno.
Ohtani wasn’t done, though. In the sixth, Ohtani came up to bat again with two outs and runners on first and third. The game was tied at 3-3 after Fernando Tatis Jr. launched a solo home run off Flaherty in the top of the fifth. Ohtani stepped up and ripped a ground ball single up the middle, bringing home Will Smith for the go-ahead run and giving the Dodgers a 4-3 lead.
He added to his contribution by stealing second base, his 56th of the year, further showcasing his dynamic two-way ability, though he was left stranded. The emotion that he showed after that hit is something I wish the Dodgers could mainline for the rest of the season. It was palpable. Ohtani’s timely hits extended his RBI tally to 125 on the season and solidified his role as the Dodgers’ most indispensable player down the stretch.
While Ohtani provided the offensive firepower, the Dodger bullpen was the unsung hero in this hard-fought win. After Jack Flaherty’s five innings of work, the relief corps took over, locking down a dangerous Padres lineup.
Alex Vesia took the mound in the sixth inning with the score tied at 3-3. Though he issued a walk to Xander Bogaerts, Vesia remained unshaken, forcing a caught stealing and preventing any further damage. His 1.79 ERA this season speaks to his ability to navigate tough situations.
After Vesia started the seventh with a four pitch walk to Jake Cronenworth, Evan Phillips took over, continuing the bullpen’s excellent work. Phillips quickly regained control of the inning, striking out Donovan Solano and inducing a force out from pinch-hitter David Peralta. He ended the inning by getting Luis Arraez to pop out on one pitch, keeping the Dodgers’ slim 4-3 lead intact.
Blake Treinen entered the game in the eighth inning and was nothing short of dominant. Facing the top of the Padres’ lineup, Treinen needed only seven pitches to dispatch Fernando Tatis Jr., Jurickson Profar, and Manny Machado. His 15th hold of the season underscored his importance to the Dodgers’ bullpen, which has been a cornerstone of the team’s success in 2024.
The ninth inning belonged to Michael Kopech, who was tasked with protecting the one-run lead. Kopech’s blazing fastball and nasty breaking pitches proved too much for the Padres. He began the inning throwing absolute cheese at the Padres, retiring the first two hitters with ground balls in the infield. He allowed a walk to Jake Cronenworth and pinch-runner Zack Lockridge stole second to make things a little too close for comfort, but Kopech was an absolute beast, striking out Donovan Solano on a 101-mph fastball to end the game.
The magic number for the Dodgers now stands at just two, meaning a win in Thursday’s series finale would clinch the division for the team. After that, each team heads east, the Friars to Phoenix and the Dodgers to Denver, for the final three games of the regular season. There is much still at stake in this final matchup, and the Dodgers could really use a great start out of Walker Buehler. With a competitor like him, he’s bound to have the will to rise to the occasion. The only question is whether or not his ability to land quality pitches will match that competive spirit. The Padres will counter with local hero Joe Musgrove (6-5, 3.95 ERA, 95 SO), whose season has gotten much better since his return from the IL on August 12. First pitch is 7:10 PDT. Should be fireworks for all involved. Okay kids, final home game of the season. Chance to clinch. Let’s do this!
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