Photo Credit: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times
For the second time in two playoff appearances, Walker Buehler only lasted four innings. Game Two of the National League Division Series was Buehler’s most gutsy performance because he clearly wasn’t as sharp as we’re accustomed to seeing, but still kept the Dodgers in the ballgame and struck out eight.
The top of the second turned out to be the most important half-inning of the game and the final two outs Buehler recorded changed everything. By the time Padres’ left fielder Jurickson Profar came to the plate with the score knotted at zero and one out, Buehler had already loaded the bases by walking three batters. Because of his blister issues, Buehler’s fastball was the only pitch he had any kind of command over and promptly gave Profar a steady diet of those heaters to strike him out.
Next up was the most-recent Dodger villain, Trent Grisham. Buehler fell behind Grisham 3-0, throwing him a knuckle-curve and two fastballs. Buehler knowing how vital this final out was, reached back and threw Grisham three 98-mph fastballs, two of which Grisham looked at and the third was blown right by him as he swung and missed.
Sit down Grisham. The stare down slump is real.
pic.twitter.com/PcuIoZOWTg— Dodgers-LowDown (@DodgersLowDown) October 7, 2020
The big keys to the Dodgers winning this series are not letting Fernando Tatis Jr. or Manny Machado beat you and keeping this lineup from gaining any type of momentum. If either Profar or Grisham had reached base in that inning, Tatis Jr. was due up next followed by Machado. By retiring both Profar and Grisham in order meant the next time Buehler was to face Tatis Jr. and Machado was going to be the next inning without any runners on base. Plus, while it looked like Buehler was only going to pitch two innings, that momentum of striking out Grisham fired him up and ultimately propelled the Dodgers’ ace to go four.
Buehler did surrender one run in the fourth, but that was it for the Padres’ offense. The Dodgers’ far-superior bullpen handled its business and shut San Diego down the rest of the way en route to a 5-to-1 victory.
Globe Life Field, Where Home Runs Aren’t Welcome
It’s the Texas Rangers’ brand-new ballpark and while Arlington’s club wasn’t good enough to make it to the postseason, Globe Life Field will be in the spotlight for the rest of the NLDS, NLCS and World Series. If you were tuned in last night you realized that this is good news for pitchers and very bad news for hitters.
Despite the Dodgers leading the majors this season with 118 home runs, they quickly realized they’ll have to manufacture runs in order to score. This ballpark holds almost every fly ball, it seems. Kiké Hernandez hit a ball 388 feet (exit velocity: 99 mph), Corey Seager belted a ball 390 feet (EV: 102.1 mph), and Max Muncy crushed a pitch that went 400 feet (EV: 100.6 mph) – all of those were caught at the warning track for outs.
Instead, the Dodgers scored five runs via a throwing error, a sacrifice fly, a “barrels are overrated” single, an infield single and a wild pitch. Death by a thousand cuts, so-to-speak.
The important takeaway is that it doesn’t matter how you win, it only matters that you win. The Dodgers wore down the Padres’ beleaguered pitching staff by working the counts and drawing ten walks. If they aren’t able to hit the ball out of the park, that’s the approach they’ll need to take every single game and every single at-bat to win the series.
Final Thoughts
Dustin May, in relief of Buehler, pitched two perfect innings in the fifth and sixth. He mowed down the heart of the Padres’ order like they weren’t one of the best offenses in the majors, striking out Tatis Jr., Tommy Pham and Wil Myers in the process. Because manager Dave Roberts didn’t burn May out, he will still likely be available to start one of these games if needed.
It’s also worth noting that Roberts managed the bullpen to perfection and didn’t pull one wrong lever.
Mookie Betts continues to prove he’s worth every penny the Dodgers signed him for. He now has four postseason hits, all of them doubles. Last night’s two-bagger in the sixth not only turned out to be the Dodgers’ first base hit of the game, but set them up to eventually take the lead and score four runs in that inning.
Finally, can we please re-sign Justin Turner when the postseason ends? The Dodgers’ third baseman is set to be a free agent and it would be a travesty not to keep him. He’s been our most consistent bat every year in the playoffs and last night he came through with a clutch, two-out seeing-eye-single that extended the lead to 3-to-1. That hit was Turner’s 63rd-career postseason knock, tying him with the great Steve Garvey for most postseason hits in Dodger history.
Just call Justin Turner Mr. NLDS. He is clutch AF #Dodgers
pic.twitter.com/mP2HdFLbhR— Dodgers-LowDown (@DodgersLowDown) October 7, 2020
Jake Reiner is a writer and reporter for Dodgers-LowDown and co-host of The Incline Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @QualityJakes.Â