The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres shifted locations to Petco Park for Games 3 and 4 of the 2024 National League Division Series after splitting the first two games.
This series between the two NL West powerhouses lived up to the billing in terms of emotion and the quality of baseball on the field so far through three games. After tensions were raised during Game 2 on Sunday at Dodger Stadium, the next two games at Petco Park were expected to be an emotional powder keg.
The Dodgers went into Game 3 expecting the opposing Padres crowd to bring the energy to the most important game of the series. Petco Park became the place to be in San Diego this season whenever the Dodgers came to town, with new attendance records for the stadium continuing to be made whenever the two divisional opponents faced off.
“I think this is a really good crowd,” Gavin Lux said. “They have great fans that are really passionate. I expect them to come out and it to be an emotional game. I think at the same time we’ve got to stay in our own shoes internally and in our clubhouse and lock it in and try not to let the outside noise affect us too much, which I think we do a good job at.
“But at the same time, I think we’re going to be emotional, too. And I think that’s probably a good thing for us.”
Max Muncy has grown to respect the increased presence of Padres fans at Petco Park and is looking forward to meeting the challenge head on. He also doesn’t expect any carryover from Monday’s unpleasantness due to the crowd at Dodger Stadium.
“It’s going to be a live atmosphere,” Muncy said. “There’s no doubt about that. The atmosphere here over the last several years, has been tops in baseball. I wouldn’t expect anything different.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts echoed the sentiment of his players and has come to respect the growth of the fanbase in San Diego.
“It’s one of the best places to play in all of baseball, which is fantastic,” he said.
The Padres went on to win Game 3 of the NLDS by a score of 6-5, putting the Dodgers on the brink of elimination with a chance to end the series in San Diego.
Dave Roberts feel Dodgers are in better position to handle the atmosphere at Petco
This 2024 rendition of the NLDS has so far followed the script from 2022 beat for beat with L.A. taking Game 1 before the Padres won the next two. For the Dodgers sake, they are hoping to flip the scrip this season.
Roberts admitted that the team was blindsided by the atmosphere brought to Petco Park two years ago, but believes his team is well equipped to handle it this year.
“No, not this year. I think that two years ago, I do think that coming in here in Game 3, I think it caught us by surprise, the energy here,” Roberts said. “I’m sure it’s going to be a lot of the same this year.
“But I think we’re much more equipped to handle it this time around. With that, I just don’t feel that there’s a reason for me to need to kind of rally the troops. I think that our guys are prepared.”
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