Photo credit: @dodgers on Instagram
POST-GAME BRIEFING
The Dodgers are sweeping their way through the postseason. After taking two from Milwaukee, they completed their sweep of San Diego tonight with a commanding 12-3 victory.
Dustin May grabbed the early attention by setting down the Padres in order in the first with double-digit pitches, but it was Julio Urías who really impressed, carrying the Dodgers through the middle five innings of the game while giving up only a single unearned run. Treinen, Baez, and Floro closed it out, and the Dodgers punched their ticket to the NLCS.
Offensively, the cavernous confines of Globe Life Field meant the Dodgers had to play small ball to score runs. That…was not a problem. The Boys in Blue scored five runs on five singles in the third to reclaim the lead over the Padres, which they never relinquished. San Diego used 11 pitchers to try and stop the Dodgers at the plate…but none were successful.
SCORING PLAYS
TOP 2nd: Cody Bellinger single/fielder’s choice (1-0 LAD)
BOT 2nd: Jake Cronenworth walk (1-1)
BOT 2nd: Trent Grisham single (2-1 SD)
TOP 3rd: Corey Seager single (2-2)
TOP 3rd: Justin Turner single (3-2 LAD)
TOP 3rd: AJ Pollock single (4-2 LAD)
TOP 3rd: Joc Pederson double (6-2 LAD)
TOP 4th: Will Smith single (7-2 LAD)
TOP 5th: Mookie Betts sacrifice fly (8-2 LAD)
BOT 6th: Tommy Pham balk (8-3 LAD)
TOP 9th: Will Smith double (10-3 LAD)
TOP 9th: Cody Bellinger triple (12-3 LAD)
DLD PLAY OF THE GAME
DLD’s play of the game is the one that closed out the game – and the series: Dylan Floro’s strikeout of Trent Grisham to propel the Dodgers into the next round.
For the 4th time in 5 years, LA is #NLCS bound. #CLINCHED pic.twitter.com/PNofNUF6Rg
— MLB (@MLB) October 9, 2020
DLD PLAYER OF THE GAME
This game was so good, we couldn’t choose just one player of the game. DLD’s co-players of the game are Will Smith and Julio Urías.
Smith had himself quite the night. He became the first player in Dodgers history and first catcher in MLB history to collect five hits (three singles and two doubles) in a postseason game. Smith also knocked in three runs on top of it.
Will Smith continues to hit the ball hard and it's paying off for him today. pic.twitter.com/GTmcz9OLzy
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) October 9, 2020
Julio Urias pitched five stellar innings of middle relief, striking out six batters, a Dodgers postseason record, and giving up just one unearned run (after an error by AJ Pollock and a balk).
Julio Urias strikes out six in his stellar outing. pic.twitter.com/sFOw72mI9y
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) October 9, 2020
UP NEXT
The Dodgers will get a few days off before facing the Atlanta Braves in Game 1 of the NLCS on Monday, October 12. Time and starting pitchers TBD.
Amanda Powers is an editor and writer for Dodgers-LowDown. She’s been a Kershaw stan since 2008. Follow her on Twitter @geekpowers.