Dodgers: Good news and bad news from 4-3 win over the Padres
The Los Angeles Dodgers failed to strike first after dropping the first contest of their three-game series opener against the San Diego Padres 4-2 on Tuesday but made sure to even the score on Wednesday night by defeating their division rivals 4-3.
The Dodgers (94-64) ignited the spark that could lead to a major rally down the stretch of the last four games of the 2024 MLB season as they look to not only clinch the National League West division crown in their series finale over the Padres (91-67), who are three games back in the standings but also claim the top spot in the entire NL with the Philadelphia Phillies (94-65) breathing down their neck at only 0.5 games back.
There were several positives to take away from Los Angeles’ win over San Diego and some causes for them to pause and address as the playoffs loom.
Dodgers’ bullpen took care of business in the final four innings
The Dodgers’ relievers inherited a 3-3 tie entering the sixth inning. Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia only allowed one batter in Xander Bogaerts — who he walked — to get on base in the sixth. Vesia also cught Bogaerts stealing second later in the inning, but overall, allowed sluggers to connect on his pitches and line out to center and left field (Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill) and to walk more often then he may have liked, but he kept the Padres from getting on the board nonetheless.
