The Los Angeles Dodgers hit three home runs off Yu Darvish but misplays on defense and failing to capitalize with runners in scoring position resulted in a 5-3 loss to the San Diego Padres in Game 2 of the National League Division Series.
The combination of success and missed opportunities amounted to the Dodgers lineup making MLB history. Per STATS LLC, they became the first team with three home runs, at least 15 baserunners, all nine starters to get on safely, minimum of eight players in the lineup to collect a hit, and have a man reach in every inning.
No other team in MLB history had previously accomplished each of those while only scoring three runs in a regular season or playoff game.
“Every game, obviously, is big, but I thought we had a great approach versus Yu. We stressed him, I thought we had a good plan,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the loss.
“You just look at the game, and there were a couple of opportunities, two innings back-to-back, that we had an opportunity situationally to push a run across to tie the game, let alone to potentially take the lead, and we couldn’t do that. Defensively, it just wasn’t clean either.”
Freddie Freeman took an optimistic view of what the Dodgers lineup did manage to accomplish, noting they had four consecutive innings with scoring chances.
“If we keep creating those opportunities on Friday and get those big hits, we’ll be just fine,” he said. “That’s a good ballclub over there. Great pitching, good bullpen, Robert Suarez is throwing 100 (mph).
“Sometimes you have to give them credit. You can’t just always put it on us not getting the job done. They’ve got good pitchers over there. But we created opportunities for four straight innings, so if we can do that on Friday, hopefully we can just cash them in.”
Dodgers vs. Padres NLDS start times & schedule
Game 3: Friday, October 14, 5:37 p.m. PT
Game 4: Saturday, October 15, 6:37 p.m.
Game 5*: Sunday, October 16, 6:07 p.m.
*if necessary
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