The National League Division Series matchup between the Southern California division rivals from the previous year did not have the same energy and excitement at Chavez Ravine. The San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers are comparable to two ships passing in the night this season. The Dodgers have a double-digit lead in the NL West division, and winning their 10th division crown in 11 years isn’t a question of if, but when. The Padres, the Cinderella team from the previous postseason, are just days away from being completely eliminated from playoff contention.
The intensity on the field persisted despite their disparity in the standings.
On Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium, the Padres defeated the Dodgers 6-1 thanks to home runs from Juan Soto and Luis Campusano.
Blake Snell, the current NL Cy Young Award front-runner, crushed the Dodgers over the course of six scoreless innings to earn his 14th victory of the year. Snell’s season ERA, which is the best in the league, dropped to 2.43 thanks to eight strikeouts and just one walk.
The Dodgers’ rookie pitcher Ryan Pepiot came into the game on a roll, going 5-0 in his previous five starts while giving up just two runs overall. Pepiot has never faced an offensive with as much depth as San Diego’s, though.
In the opening inning, Soto drove a 95 mph fastball over the fence for a solitary shot. Three innings later, Campusano followed with a three-run home run into the Dodgers’ bullpen, giving the Padres a 4-0 lead. Pepiot pitched six innings, giving up four runs on six hits while striking out five batters and walking none.
Snell would only require the four runs of assistance, coasting the rest of the way.Before the game, Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly was brought off the injured list, but he struggled in his first outing since returning to the mound. Kelly, who the Dodgers acquired from the Chicago White Sox at the trade deadline, allowed two runs on two hits, two walks, and two strikeouts in one inning of relief.
With a solo blast to the short porch in right field to start the bottom of the ninth inning, Kolten Wong made sure the Dodgers wouldn’t be shut out.
Los Angeles won the season series nine games to four despite the Padres taking two of the three games from the Dodgers.
The Dodgers struggled to start September, going 5-7 over their last 12 games after tying a franchise record for victories in August with 24.