The Los Angeles Dodgers faced the possibility of another early postseason exit after a 6-5 loss to the San Diego Padres in Game 3 of the National League Division Series.
The Dodgers fell into an early hole that they were unable to climb out of after giving up six runs in the bottom of the second. The inning was filled with defensive miscues and punctuated by a two-run homer from Fernando Tatis Jr.
They answered back with four runs in the third but fell just short of completing the comeback. The Dodgers found themselves in the same position as each of the last two postseasons.
A primary focus in the NLDS this year has been the intensity and energy on both sides. While the Padres appear to be the clear winner in those regards, the Dodgers believe they’ve matched San Diego.
“Yeah, I would say so,” Mookie Betts said. “Obviously, the one game they blew us out, but I feel like we’re coming back. We’re going back and forth. Had a couple good games. The series is fun. It’s fun. Emotions are high and whatnot, but I feel like we are.”
Shohei Ohtani also believes the Dodgers have matched the Padres’ intensity. “Overall, I really do feel that this team really wants to win,” he said through translator Will Ireton.
“That’s the feeling that I get, is a really good atmosphere. So I do feel like we’re matching it.”
With the intensity where it needs to be, Betts didn’t believe the team shouldn’t worry about trailing in the NLDS, but rather take things one step at a time.
“It doesn’t matter. It honestly doesn’t matter. Every time we go up to bat, we’ve got to make something happen,” he began. “Up, down, it doesn’t matter. You can’t look at the mountain. You have to look at the task at hand, and that’s one pitch at a time.”
Betts added that the Dodgers need to approach each at-bat with a heightened focus. “There’s obviously going to be a lot more pressure, each at-bat is going to matter exponentially more. So figure out a way to get it done,” he said.
Shohei Ohtani confident Dodgers can avoid NLDS elimination
The Dodgers have shown a tendency to overcome adversity this season, and Ohtani is hopeful the team can do it again. “As a team I think we did a really good job fighting back and climbing back into the game,” he said.
“I think it’s really important to have momentum on our side going into the next game.”
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