Betts and Ohtani power the Dodgers to an 8-0 victory over the Padres, keeping their NLDS hopes alive

Mookie Betts recorded his second consecutive home run, while Shohei Ohtani contributed with an RBI single, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to an 8-0 victory over Dylan Cease and the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night. This win has set the stage for a decisive Game 5 in their closely contested NL Division Series.

Will Smith and Gavin Lux each added a two-run homer for the Dodgers, who ended a two-game losing streak and will now head back home for the next encounter against their NL West rivals on Friday night.

“We have a group of determined players, a group of fighters,” Betts remarked following the Dodgers' largest shutout victory in franchise postseason history. “We understood that the challenge would not be simple.”

The Padres had previously triumphed 10-2 at Dodger Stadium in Game 2 on Sunday night, a match that saw heightened emotions both on the field and among the spectators.

The victor of this series will secure home-field advantage in the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets, who have advanced by defeating the Philadelphia Phillies in their NLDS.

“I take pride in our team. … Your determination must exceed that of your opponent,” stated Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “Witnessing our players navigate their challenges and respond in this manner fills me with anticipation for Game 5.”

The Dodgers showcased an outstanding performance from opener Ryan Brasier and seven relievers in a bullpen game, limiting the Padres to seven hits and extending their scoreless innings streak to 15. Evan Phillips, credited with the victory, efficiently retired Jurickson Profar, Manny Machado, and Jackson Merrill in just five pitches during the sixth inning.

“Overall, the players were efficient, recognizing that they might need to extend their outings,” Roberts stated. “The effectiveness in the strike zone was crucial, providing us with options for Game 5.”

The Dodgers silenced the Petco Park crowd of 47,773, who were eager to witness San Diego eliminate Los Angeles in the NLDS for the second time in three years.

With All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman out due to a troublesome right ankle sprain, Betts and Ohtani—who excelled in his inaugural season with the Dodgers—were essential in keeping LA’s postseason hopes alive. They delivered, with Betts contributing two runs on two hits and Ohtani driving in one run while reaching base three times.

Leading 5-0, Ohtani was thrown out attempting to score from second base on Teoscar Hernández’s single, which deflected off third baseman Machado’s glove and struck umpire Mark Ripperger. Machado quickly retrieved the ball, throwing it to catcher Kyle Higashioka, who tagged Ohtani for the final out.

The Padres’ decision to start Cease on short rest proved detrimental. He managed to get Ohtani to ground out to begin the game, but Betts followed with a home run on a full-count pitch. Cease allowed two runners with one out in the second inning, and after securing the second out, he was removed following Ohtani’s RBI single to right on his 38th pitch.

“I felt good about how the ball was coming out of my hand and didn’t think I made too many mistakes, which has been a concern for me,” Cease remarked. Regarding his early exit, he added, “It was based on results, and unfortunately, the results weren’t in my favor today.”

Tatis remarked, "The team performed exceptionally well together this evening, and they deserve recognition for that. Our offense was functioning effectively; however, there were a few innings that did not yield favorable outcomes for us. It is essential that we adopt a more effective strategy at the plate and improve our collective at-bats."

Next Game
Padres right-handed pitcher Yu Darvish is set to take the mound for Game 5, while the Dodgers have yet to announce their starting pitcher.