Mookie Betts once again provided an early spark for the Los Angeles Dodgers, but Wednesday night was different as they built on that momentum en route to an 8-0 win over the San Diego Padres in Game 4 of the National League Division Series.
Betts later hit an RBI single that came after the Dodgers chased Dylan Cease with two outs in the second inning. Cease’s start was his first time ever pitching on short rest.
Will Smith’s two-run homer in the fifth inning created more separation as the Dodgers staved off elimination and a repeat of the 2022 NLDS.
The early lead and adding onto it helped alleviate pressure on the stable of Dodgers relief pitchers manager Dave Roberts masterfully cycled through.
Heading into the night, Roberts said the team planned a traditional bullpen game and would not use Landon Knack as a bulk pitcher unless they staked a comfortable lead.
Ryan Brasier retired all four batters faced in his opener role and Anthony Banda worked around a two-out walk and base hit to finish off the second inning.
Michael Kopech stranded a Fernando Tatis Jr. ground-rule double and Alex Vesia breezed through the fourth inning before running into some trouble in the fifth.
The Padres put the first two batters on base, but Vesia recorded two outs and Evan Phillips retired Tatis to get the Dodgers out of the inning with their 5-0 lead intact. That dropped Tatis to a career 0-for-6 against Phillips, including the postseason.
Gavin Lux broke the game open in the seventh inning with a two-run home run.
Dodgers NLDS schedule
Next for the Padres and Dodgers is a winner-take-all Game 5 at Dodger Stadium on Friday. First pitch of the NLDS finale is set for 5:08 p.m. PT and will air live on Fox.
The winner advances to the NL Championship Series for a matchup with the red-hot New York Mets, who have already upset the Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies this postseason.
Dodgers injuries
Freddie Freeman and Miguel Rojas both did not play Wednesday, and their availability for Game 5 is currently unclear. Freeman was in the initial Dodgers lineup before being scratched because of continued trouble with his sprained right ankle.
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