Padres came out on top with a nail-biting 6-5 victory in Game 3 of the NLDS between the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers. This victory gives the a 2-1 lead in the series and puts Dodgers on the brink of elimination.
The Padres jumped out to a 6-1 lead by the second inning, highlighted by a big inning featuring a two-out rally. Manny Machado sparked the surge with a leadoff single, while other key players like Xander Bogaerts contributed to the offense.
The Dodgers responded in the third inning when Teoscar Hernández hit a grand slam off Padres pitcher Michael King, cutting the deficit to one run. However, despite this momentum shift, the Dodgers struggled to generate offense in the later innings. Padres closer Robert Suárez managed to hold off the Dodgers’ bats, securing the win despite some tense moments late in the game. Walker Buehler, who started for the Dodgers, had a rough outing but was able to settle down after the second inning.
This victory puts the Padres in a strong position heading into Game 4.
Game 1 of the 2024 NLDS, saw the Los Angeles Dodgers defeat the San Diego Padres 7-5 on October 5. Shohei Ohtani was the standout player, hitting his first postseason home run and leading the Dodgers to an early series lead. The Padres rallied late but couldn’t overcome a deficit built by the Dodgers’ powerful offense.
Game 2 saw a reversal, as the Padres dominated with a 10-2 win on October 6. Fernando Tatis Jr. led the charge with an early home run, as San Diego’s bats came alive to even the series.
What’s at stake in Game 4
If the Padres win Game 4 of the 2024 NLDS, they will clinch the series and advance to the National League Championship Series (NLCS). This would eliminate the Dodgers from the postseason and give San Diego a shot at competing for the National League title and, potentially, a World Series berth. Given that this is a best-of-five series, winning Game 4 would give the Padres the necessary third victory to progress.
However, a Dodgers win in Game 4 will force a decisive Game 5 in the NLDS. The series is a best-of-five, so a win for the Dodgers would tie the series at 2-2, pushing the teams into a winner-takes-all matchup for a spot in the National League Championship Series (NLCS). Game 5 would take place at Dodger Stadium, giving the Dodgers home-field advantage for the final game.
