The rivalry between the two Californian teams (Dodgers and Padres) resumed yesterday in San Diego and it was Fernando Tatis Jr. who distinguished himself by hitting the ball twice on the other side of the fence.
The Padres won 5-2 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Tatis Jr. had two hits and drove in three runs against southpaw Clayton Kershaw, who gave the hosts four of five runs before bowing out in the fifth inning. He saw the loss added to his record, which is now 5-2 in 2023.
The Padres batters walked 11 times in the game, unheard of in a duel between the two clubs.
Padres starter Yu Darvish had a strong game and earned a second decision this season. The Japanese worked for six and two-thirds innings giving up only two runs, only one earned, in addition to striking out six Dodgers batters.
With this win, the Padres come within a game of the Dodgers who, as usual, occupy the first place in the West of the National. The surprising Arizona Diamondbacks are sandwiched between the two rivals, trailing Los Angeles by half a game.
Josh Hader saved an 11th game this season, a major league-high.
In 2022, the Padres surprised many fans by taking the measure of the Dodgers in the playoffs, they who had won an impressive total of 111 games in the regular season. This season, with the presence of Fernando Tatis Jr. in the roster and the addition of star players like Juan Soto and Xander Bogaerts, they can no longer play the role of underdogs.
Several experts have chosen them as favorites to win honors within their division.
Interestingly, Clayton Kershaw allowed two home runs to a player in a game for the ninth time in his career and Tatis Jr. is the only one to achieve the feat twice.
The Padres outfielder has now hit four long balls since returning from a suspension, that is to say in 60 at bats.
San Diego has now won the last four meetings between the two teams considering the last three games of their 2022 postseason playoff duel.
The two teams will face off again today as redhead Dustin May (Dodgers) faces Blake Snell (Padres).
- Chris Bassitt was excellent in a Blue Jays win.
- Things are bad in Saint-Louis.
- Bryce Harper amazes people.
