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Dodgers Take NLDS Game 1 Behind Late Offensive Outburst
Mookie Betts' double in the sixth inning brought the Dodger offense roaring to life in Game 1. (Photo courtesy of Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Dodgers Take NLDS Game 1 Behind Late Offensive Outburst

The Los Angeles Dodgers were powered to a 5-1 win in Game 1 of their National League Divisional Series (NLDS) matchup against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night by a four-run offensive outburst in the sixth inning.

While both teams struggled to get going offensively early, they had taken different approaches to their pitching strategy for the game.

The Padres went for a true bullpen game as they called on nine pitchers over the course of the game. The Dodgers on the other hand called on a pair of their starters through the first six innings before they turned to their relievers.

Walker Buehler got the start for the Dodgers and pitched four innings and gave up one run in the fourth but made it out of the inning before Dustin May took over in the fifth.

May gave the Dodgers two scoreless innings and was then pulled to save him for a potential Game 4 appearance if needed, the Dodgers’ relievers took over from there.

The Padres bullpen approach had been working as well though, as the Dodgers also only managed to put together a single run on a bad throw to first in the sixth inning to tie the game 1-1.

Despite their league-best record, there is no home field advantage for the Dodgers this year as the 2020 playoffs are being held in bubbles in Texas and Southern California.

Unfortunately for the Dodgers the National League bubble is in Arlington, Texas and home runs seemed a bit harder to come by at Globe Life Field than their beloved Dodger Stadium.

However, the story changed in the bottom of the sixth however when the Dodgers adjusted, started putting ground balls in play and opened things up offensively.

After a walk to Chris Taylor and a Mookie Betts double off of Padres pitcher Garrett Richards, San Diego manager Jayce Tingler took the field and was ejected for his expletive laden argument with the home plate umpire. 

The Padres took the opportunity to replace Richards with Matt Strahm, but things only further unraveled for San Diego. Taylor scored on a sacrifice fly from Corey Seager, Mookie Betts scored on a Justin Turner single and the Dodgers quickly had a 3-1 lead.

A Max Muncy double and a walk to Will Smith brought Cody Bellinger to the plate with the bases loaded and he chipped in another run on an RBI single to make it 4-1.

Another pitching change from the Padres brought Craig Strammen to the mound and he threw a wild pitch against the first batter he faced to let Max Muncy score for a 5-1 Dodger lead before he was able to get out of the inning and stop the bleeding.

The Dodgers had done all the damage they needed and relievers Victor Gonzalez, Blake Trenien and Kenley Jansen came in to close things out through the last three innings.

With the win the Dodgers take a 1-0 in the NLDS and are two wins away from their fourth National League Championship Series in five years.

The Dodgers take on the Padres in Game 2 Wednesday night at 6:08 p.m. with Clayton Kershaw expected to start on the mound for L.A.

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Dodgers Take NLDS Game 1 Behind Late Offensive Outburst

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About Wyatt Smith

Wyatt was born and raised in Santa Clarita. After graduating from Hart High School in 2012, he continued his studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he earned a degree in applied statistics. After a year and a half working in the digital advertising industry, Wyatt left his previous field of work to pursue his interest in writing.