The reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers won 11-6 in 12 overs in their series openings against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Friday night.
This tipping point between the two NL West rivals and the hope for the World Series had levels of intensity and engagement that are usually hard to find, while the calendar still says April, and for much of the night it was a tense, back-and-forth affair. Given the rivalry, the possible outputs in the west this season and the compelling nature of the first Dodgers-Pads waste of 2021, it deserves a further explanation. Let’s do it now.
Ryan Weathers looked strong in his first career start
Weathers, the 21-year-old leftist and former no. 7 overall pick, looked good in his first rookie season in three relay performances. On Friday, however, he was planning to start his first career against the juggernaut Dodgers. Despite some previous problems getting on the same page with catcher Luis Campusano, Weathers said:
He may not have been quite as stretched out as a starter at the highest level, which explains the relatively modest workload, but there is also something to be said for not being able to tackle the mighty LA lineup a third time for the first time. not.
Luke Raley got his first career series
Luke Raley? Sure, Luke Raley:
The 26-year-old vegetable team is an unlikely presence in the Dodger series – he was called up after Cody Bellinger hit the IL with a leg injury, but he grew up on Friday. The Dodgers’ grid depth becomes more unfathomable by the hour.
Fernando Tatis Jr. returned from a shoulder injury in his first game
Friday’s game was Tatis’ first since April 5, when he dislocated his left shoulder on a swing and missed. Initially, it was feared that the young superstar (who recently signed an extension of $ 340 million) would need surgery, but this does not appear to be the case; he was activated Friday. Would an injury to his front shoulder to the plate affect his strength? Ask Walker Buehler’s fast ball:
Tatis later undone the good work with a throwing error that allowed the Dodgers to regain the lead temporarily, but it was a big lift for the Padres to see him go back in his first game. Also note that he is now holding his upper hand on the bat, possibly to protect the shoulder.
Jurickson Profar did it in the field and on the board
First admire this five-star snare from Profar in the third inning:
The one had a catch chance of 25 percent, but Profar did not panic for the long chance. Even more important for the Padres’ hopes was Profar’s doubles in the eighth, which was a few runs and tied the game:
Profar started strong in 2021.
Manny Machado did the basics in the ninth job of tying it up
This montage does a great job of walking Machado’s painful, grimace-filled ride quickly into the ninth round with the Padres at a run:
This is some enthusiasm in October in April. Machado is not known as a surfer, but he already has three stolen bases on the season.
The benches cleaned in extras
At the end of the 10th, Dodgers, Judge Dennis Santana, pick Jorge Mateo of San Diego, and it looks like the two words exchange as Mateo moves to first base. This resulted in the benches being cleaned and bullpens being emptied, although no blows were thrown:
These two teams play 18 more times during the regular season of 2021
The Pads had their chance in extras
In 10th place, Victor Caratini, the knertsie, hit with the automatic runner Wil Myers in third place (he had previously advanced on Profar’s deep fly) and one out. Then the Padres load the base thanks to a Trent Grisham walk, but Tatis strikes out in search of the third. In the 11th, Padres had runners on the corners and one out, but Eric Hosmer and Myers each hit. They will soon learn that you can not give as many chances as an offense.
The Dodgers blew it open in the 12th
First, Corey Seager put two on the board with one swing – no less than a left sidebar:
And from there, the Dodgers blew it open. Justin Turner sang, Will Smith jumped out, Max Muncy sang, Chris Taylor loaded the base when he made a Tatis foul, Zach McKinstry picked up another run, Raley did the same. Okay, let’s sum up the increasing absurdities with this sentence:
Victim David Price struck a pocket fly from jug Jake Cronenworth to left fielder Joe Musgrove.
Everything about it is true.
The Dodgers, who count the 2020 NLDS, have now won six in a row against the Padres
The Dodgers are also 12-2 on the season (!), And they lead the Padres and San Francisco Giants with 3½ games in the NL West. They will face the Pads again on Saturday, and it is rightly expected that there will be nothing but chaos.