Dodgers struggle in Game 2 loss to Padres.
The Dodgers struggled in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Padres, tying the series at 1-1 (three-game series) after falling 5-3 Wednesday as the series moves to San Diego for the next two games.
This was the first postseason win the Padres have won over the Dodgers in their history of matchups in the postseason.
The Padres' Manny Machado started Game 2 with a solo shot to left field off Clayton Kershaw at the top of the 1st to give the Padres an early 1–0 lead.
Freddie Freeman responded with a solo shot of his own to center field, which was followed by a Max Muncy home run in the 2nd inning to give the Dodgers a 2–1 lead.
The Padres climbed back to take the lead, scoring two runs in the top of the 3rd from an RBI double from Machado and an RBI groundout from Cronenworth to take a 3–2 lead.
With the Dodgers doing all they could to create any spark on offense, hope was injected into every Dodger fan's veins by a solo blast from Trea Turner (his 2nd of the series) to bring the game knotted up at 3 apiece.
Three innings go by without any productivity from either side's offense until the Padres gain momentum with a single from Jurickson Profar to bring in a run to give San Diego a 4–3 lead.
The Padres added an insurance run in the top of the 8th with a towering solo home run from Cronenworth to give them a two-run lead at 5–3.
The Dodgers were never able to get within one run, and the only close chance they had was a warning track double from Freddie Freeman in the 9th inning that was inches from going over the wall.
Kershaw finished with an ERA of 5.40 (just like Urías in Game 1) with 6 strikeouts, allowing 6 hits, 3 runs, and a home run before being pulled out in the 5th inning.
Game 3's pitcher matchup will be between all-star Tony Gonsolin and Blake Snell.
“We extended him in the live sim games that we had this past week,” Roberts said. “We feel good about the length and how he’s throwing the baseball.”
In his postseason career, Gonsolin has a record of 1–2 with a total ERA of 1.70, totaling 17 strikeouts in 7 appearances in the postseason.
Blake Snell has a playoff record of 2–3 with an ERA of 3.05, totaling 49 strikeouts and 1 save in 10 postseason appearances.
The Dodgers travel to Petco Park for Friday's Game 3 matchup against the Padres at 5:37 on ESPN or local stations.
