Dodgers win game 5 decider, advance to NLCS

LOS ANGELES: The Los Angeles Dodgers confirmed their place in the National League Championship Series of Major League Baseball after defeating the San Diego Padres, two runs to none, in the final game of the series.

EARLY INNINGS

Yoshinobu Yamamoto set the tone early, getting the first three batters he faced out in order. Luis Arraez would be the first out, after a poor connection sent the ball towards first base. Freddy Freeman would come In to pick up the ball while Yamamoto covered the bag.  Tatis would be up next and would be struck out after chasing a slider that dipped below the zone.

Jurickson Profar would try to start the offense for the Padres, with a vicious swing. However, the ball would end up with Gavin Lux who would send it to first, to end the top of the first innings.

Yu Darvish would be on his way to doing the same, getting the first two Dodgers’ batters out. Shohei Ohtani would chased a slider that curved down and in for strike three, while Mookie Betts would hit a ground ball to short, making for an easy throw to first.

However, Freeman wouldn’t let Darvish leave the mound unscathed, getting a base hit after jumping on the first pitch, smashing the ball down the line. The Dodgers wouldn’t be able to capitalise, with Teoscar Hernandez hitting a foul ball high into the air that Arraez caught comfortably.

Padres would remain scoreless in the top of the second, putting the pressure on Darvish to do the same to the dodgers. San Diego would convert a double play after Will Smith hit Darvish’s splitter straight to the man at third, who sent it to the man at second, getting Max Muncy out before sending it to first to dismiss Smith.

Darvish wouldn’t be able to keep the Dodgers at zero, as their outfielder Enrique Hernandez would hit the very first pitch he saw, sending the ball to deep left field for a home run.

Yamamoto would keep the Padres scoreless, after Fernando Tatis Jr. hit an inning ending double play in the third.

LATE INNINGS

The Japanese pitcher would keep the shutout going through the fifth inning, but Evan Phillips would replace him in the sixth and get the first three batters out.

Ohtani struck out for the second time in the bottom of the sixth chasing a curveball that was well outside the zone. Betts would end the inning for the Dodgers by hitting the ball straight to short, who sent it quickly to first.

Evan Phillips would throw the pitch of the night in the top of the seventh, painting the inside corner with a fastball for the first out. Phillips would strike out Machado next with a beautiful sweeper with a lot of movement on it, baiting the Padres hitter into chasing.

He would be replaced by Alex Vesia who would get the final out of the inning by blowing a fastball right by Jackson Merill.

Teoscar Hernandez would double the dodgers lead in the bottom of the seventh, smashing the slider from Darvish to deep left field for the second homer of the game.

Michael Kopech would come into pitch for the dodgers after Vesia left the game with an injury, ending the top of the eight with 102 mph fastball. Blake Treinen would come in the ninth for the save, getting the first three batters out.

The Los Angeles Dodgers will face the New York Mets in the NLCS, set to kick off on October 14.