The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the 2023 National League Division Series hoping it would not be a repeat of 2022, when the heavily favored Dodgers fell to the San Diego Padres in four games. There was no repeat of that this year.
Los Angeles lost in only three games, this time to another National League West foe, the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Dodgers spent nearly the entire series behind. Arizona scored six innings in the top of the first inning in Game 1 and three in the top of the first in Game 2. In both cases, the lead was never relinquished. In Game 3, it took the Diamondbacks a few innings to get going.
But once they did, it was impressive. Geraldo Perdomo, Ketel Marte, Christian Walker and Gabriel Moreno each homered in the fourth inning. That not only staked Arizona to a 4-0 lead but also set a postseason record for most home runs in an inning.
The Dodgers did score two in the seventh and even brought the potential go-ahead run to the plate in Austin Barnes. But Barnes grounded out on the first pitch he saw from Arizona reliever, Andrew Saalfrank, ending the threat.
Los Angeles got a runner on base in both the eighth and ninth innings but could do no more. Paul Sewald pitched the ninth inning for the Diamondbacks and got Kiké Hernández to fly out to left field, ending the game and series.
Arizona’s story is not done. They are heading to the NLCS and will face either the Atlanta Braves or Philadelphia Phillies. For the Dodgers, though, the 2023 story is done. And it’s a lot like past years. Los Angeles has made the playoffs in 11 straight seasons. In that time, the Dodgers have won a World Series and three National League pennants.
But Los Angeles has also been sent home in the Division Series five times. Three of those NLDS losses came after winning at least 100 games in the regular season. That includes both of the last two years and in both cases, the team who defeated the Dodgers didn’t win even 90 games.
What went wrong this time? Game 1 starter Clayton Kershaw had a disastrous first inning which set the tone for not only the team’s top pitchers, but also its top hitters.
A postseason to forget for the Dodgers stars pic.twitter.com/xpK07r9hYi
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 12, 2023
Naturally, people were quick to pounce on the Dodgers after another postseason letdown.
[Photo Credit: TBS]
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