The Los Angeles Dodgers are heading back to the NLCS.
In a pitching duel between Japanese countrymen Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Yu Darvish, it was two swings that made the difference in the Dodgers completing a series comeback against their NL West rival, with a 2-0 win over the San Diego Padres.
First, it was Enrique Hernandez launching a solo shot off of Darvish in the second inning to give the home fans in L.A. something to cheer about. Then, after five scoreless frames, Teoscar Hernandez ripped a solo shot of his own against Darvish, moving the Dodgers closer to a return to the Championship Series.
Yamamoto worked five effective innings after San Diego tagged him for five runs in Game 1.
On Friday, he allowed just two hits and one walk while striking out two against the stacked Padres offence.
After being shut out in Game 4, San Diego didn’t score in 24 consecutive innings to end its season. It had taken a 2-1 series lead behind 21 combined runs in the first three games.
The Dodgers last played in the NLCS in 2021 when they lost to the eventual World Series Champion Atlanta Braves in six games. This time around, they will be tasked with taking down the New York Mets, who beat the Philadelphia Phillies in their NLDS matchup.
More to come.
