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Facing elimination in the National League Division Series on Thursday, the Los Angeles Dodgers walloped the San Diego Padres 8-0 to keep their season alive.
It was the Dodgers’ best performance so far this postseason and enough to force a Game 5 after posting the best record in baseball this year. The game also marked Los Angeles’ largest shutout win in franchise history.
Mookie Betts set the tone early with a solo homer in the top of the first inning, and Los Angeles never looked back. Shohei Ohtani had a two-run RBI single in the second followed by an RBI single from Betts. The Dodgers went yard again in the third thanks to a solo shot from Will Smith to make it 5-0.
From there, Tommy Edman had a sac bunt to score Max Muncy in the seventh, and Gavin Lux added two more runs with another home run.
On the mound, it was a bullpen game for Los Angeles as it used eight different pitchers for the shutout, allowing just seven hits.
After the dominant win, fans praised Los Angeles for bouncing back after losing back-to-back games to keep its season alive.
Noah Camras @noahcamras
The Dodgers lead the Padres 5-0 through three innings.
And the offense is feeling it.
This is the emotion you love to see in a postseason game. pic.twitter.com/JfMbS33RmJ
With Wednesday’s win, the Dodgers are just a game away from advancing to the NLCS for the first time since winning the World Series in 2020.
The series between the two division rivals has been nothing short of exciting so far, so it only makes sense that it will be decided in a winner-takes-all game on Friday.
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