The San Diego Padres are one win away from an NLDS series victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers, who entered the MLB postseason as World Series title favorites.
The Padres held off the Dodgers 2-1 in Game 3 of the NLDS in front of an electric crowd at Petco Park. Along with winning the game 2-1, the Padres took a 2-1 series lead in the best-of-five NLDS.
It was the first postseason baseball game in San Diego with fans in the stadium since 2006.
And for the first time since 2006, fans are back in Petco Park for @Padres #Postseason Baseball!
NTT #BallparkCam | #CaptureTheMoment pic.twitter.com/9WJ9YQLOau — MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 15, 2022
The Padres took a 1-0 lead on a Jake Cronenworth RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the first inning.
Jake Cronenworth with an RBI single to give the Padres an early 1-0 lead over the Dodgers in Game 3!
Petco Park is rockin'.
pic.twitter.com/AsVhxBZP3n — The Comeback (@thecomeback) October 15, 2022
Trent Grisham continued his hot stretch by crushing a home run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Grisham has an MLB-best three home runs already this postseason.
Trent Grisham crushes his 3rd homer of the postseason!
pic.twitter.com/YOO3B2hJaP — The Comeback (@thecomeback) October 15, 2022
San Diego starting pitcher Blake Snell allowed one earned run over 5 1/3 innings pitched, and the Padres’ relievers followed with 3 2/3 scoreless innings.
It’s been a rollercoaster ride for Josh Hader after San Diego acquired the closer at the trade deadline in a deal with the Milwaukee Brewers, but he was nasty in Game 3, consistently firing 99-100 mph fastballs. He blew a 99 mph fastball past Trayce Thompson to close out the San Diego victory.
The Padres take down the Dodgers in Game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead in the NLDS!
pic.twitter.com/DvX3fUsmEo — The Comeback (@thecomeback) October 15, 2022
Game 4 is on Saturday night at Petco Park, with Joe Musgrove starting for San Diego and Tyler Anderson starting for Los Angeles. The Padres want to do everything in their power to end the series in Game 4 instead of needing to win a Game 5 on Sunday in Los Angeles.
If the Padres win the series, they will advance to the NLCS for the first time since 1998.
In the regular season, the Dodgers (111 wins) won the NL West by 22 games over the Padres (89 wins).
Here’s a look at how the baseball world is reacting to the Padres’ Game 3 win over the Dodgers:
This is the loudest this place has ever been my goodness #Padres
— Jim Russell (@JimRussellSD) October 15, 2022