The Los Angeles Dodgers’ four-game series with the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium over the weekend certainly did not lack in excitement, drama and intensity.
In what felt like another postseason matchup, it was the Padres who turned the tables on the Dodgers, taking three of four and responding nicely from a series loss at Petco Park just over a week ago.
L.A.’s pitching staff simply had no answers for Fernando Tatis Jr., who went 8-for-18 with five home runs, six RBI and five stolen bases in the four-game set.
The 22-year-old noted he is finding extra motivation from the Padres’ matchups with the Dodgers and believes all of his teammates are benefitting. “It’s the biggest rivalry in baseball. Everybody can feel it. Everybody can see it,” Tatis said during the weekend.
“Just the games that we’re playing, it’s a blessing to be part of it. What these games are doing for us, it’s national. Everybody has got to focus.”
While Tatis sees a significance in winning games against a heated rival, several Dodgers have taken an opposite stance. “I think it’s just another division series. All division series are important. You’re trying to go out there and win a series, win tonight, and that’s kind of where it ends,” Corey Seager said during the series in San Diego.
Seager also downplayed the notion that playing well against the Padres in one particular series could have an impact on future matchups. “I don’t really know. We try and play good every series, try and play good every night,” he said. “Where you’re at in the year doesn’t matter.
“You’re trying to go out and win a series and just play good baseball.”
Bauer accuses Tatis of peeking at Dodgers’ signs
Of the five home runs Tatis hit over the weekend at Dodger Stadium, two came against Trevor Bauer. The right-hander later accused the young shortstop of peeking at Will Smith’s signs before his second homer, which he took exception to in a vlog on his YouTube channel.
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