The Los Angeles Dodgers’ offense exploded for eight runs against the San Diego Padres in Game 4 of the National League Division Series to force a Game 5 at Dodger Stadium on Friday.
It was more than enough run support for the Dodgers’ bullpen as their best arms continued to get the better of the Padres’ lineup in this series. Eight Dodgers’ pitchers combined to shutout a Padres’ offense that had scored 21 runs in the first three games of this series.
Mookie Betts continued his renaissance at the plate on Wednesday night as he hit his second consecutive first inning home run to give the Dodgers an early 1-0 lead. The Dodgers added onto their lead with a two out rally in the second inning as Shohei Ohtani and Betts delivered back-to-back RBI singles that set the tone for the rest of the game.
The calendar has turned to Mooktober.
(🎥: @MLB) pic.twitter.com/wT7guetr7K— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) October 10, 2024
Shohei doubles the lead!
(🎥: @MLB) pic.twitter.com/B24blKTdUh— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) October 10, 2024
Playoff Mookie 🫡
(🎥: @MLB) pic.twitter.com/qD5680cmOc— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) October 10, 2024
Will Smith makes it 5 with the hopes of a Game 5!
(🎥: @MLBONFOX) pic.twitter.com/P6NoMn604W— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) October 10, 2024
Lux wants to play Friday.
(🎥: @MLB) pic.twitter.com/Fx6UXsMzOv— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) October 10, 2024
The Dodgers continued to pour it on with Will Smith’ two-run home run that put the Dodgers in the drivers’ seat with a 5-0 lead in the third inning. Dodgers’ pitching started off just as fast as they limited the Padres’ offense to only three hits through five innings.
It was about as good of start as the Dodgers could have hoped for with their backs against the wall. For the Padres, it was quite the opposite as their starter Dylan Cease was knocked out of the game after only 1.2 innings of work and the offense couldn’t string hits together.
The Dodgers put the final nail in the coffin with Tommy Edman’s sacrifice bunt and Gavin Lux’s two run homer in the seventh inning to make it an 8-0 ballgame. This allowed the team to send out Landon Knack in order to get the final three outs of the game and send the series back to Los Angeles for a winner-take-all Game 5.
Dodgers able to shut out the noise at Petco Park
The Dodgers were able to avoid a repeat of their performance in the 2022 NLDS against the Padres with their win on Wednesday at Petco Park in order to send the series back home to Dodger Stadium.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts admitted that the team was caught off guard by the playoff atmosphere at Petco Park two seasons ago, but was confident in his team’s ability to get the job done this year. He was correct in his estimation, but LA still needs one more win to advance to the next round.
