The Los Angeles Dodgers overcame a 3-0 deficit in the first inning to complete a 7-5 comeback victory against the San Diego Padres in Game 1 of the National League Division Series.
The Dodgers were unable to get a lot from Yoshinobu Yamamoto as the rookie only lasted three innings while giving up five runs in his first career postseason start.
Fortunately for Yamamoto, the Dodgers lineup erased two deficits to pick him up.
After the Padres took an early three-run lead and the Dodgers left two men on in the first inning, Shohei Ohtani quickly acquainted himself with October baseball as he hit a three-run home run off of Dylan Cease for his first career postseason hit.
The starting pitching wasn’t much better for the Padres as Cease lasted only slightly longer than Yamamoto and struggled nearly as much.
The October of Shohei has begun.
(🎥: @MLB) pic.twitter.com/EKfM72tKxk— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) October 6, 2024
BUILT FOR THE MOMENT.
(🎥: @MLB) pic.twitter.com/pldEcLrnhn— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) October 6, 2024
Blake Treinen, lockdown reliever.
(🎥: @MLB) pic.twitter.com/UczO47zRFG— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) October 6, 2024
The Padres CHASED a win in Game 1, but couldn't reach it.
(🎥: @MLB) pic.twitter.com/yFrEtGzdSZ— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) October 6, 2024
Cease was chased from the game after 3.1 innings and had five earned runs charged to him after the Padres bullpen was unable to escape the jam in the fourth thanks to yet another clutch hit from Teoscar Hernández that gave the Dodgers a 6-5 lead.
The Dodgers added another run in the fifth shortly after a throwing error by Manny Machado left Will Smith in scoring position with nobody out. Smith scored when Tommy Edman hit into a double play.
Ryan Brasier, Alex Vesia and Evan Phillips passed the baton to the final two innings, where the Padres made things a bit more interesting thanks to four combined walks from Michael Kopech and Blake Treinen.
Treinen came through in a big way as he navigated five outs for his first multi-inning save since 2021 as the Dodgers won 7-5.
Dodgers bullpen will be tested
The Dodgers elected to carry an extra pitcher on their postseason roster instead of another bat on the bench, and that decision could pay dividends the rest of the way as the NLDS is looking like it will be a battle of the bullpens.
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