Los Angeles Dodgers Defeat the San Diego Padres; Now Tied Atop NL West
The Los Angeles Dodgers, those lovable underachievers who somehow managed to blow a nine-game division lead faster than you can say “luxury tax,” actually won a game on Friday night. Against their biggest rivals, no less. The Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres 3-2 in what can only be described as a minor miracle, considering this team had been playing like they had never seen a baseball before during their recent four-game losing streak.
Clayton Kershaw Shows He’s Still Got Some Magic Left
Kershaw, that ageless wonder who’s been carrying this franchise on his surgically-repaired shoulders for over a decade, pitched like the Hall of Famer he is. Six innings, one run, and just 76 pitches. At 37 years old, after knee and foot surgeries, the man still knows how to get the job done when the Dodgers need him most.
The only blemish on Kershaw’s masterpiece was a solo homer by Ramon Laureano that barely stayed fair down the left-field line. Other than that? Vintage Kershaw. Sharp slider, pinpoint control, and that competitive fire that makes you forget he’s probably closer to retirement than his rookie season. “It’s just what you’re supposed to do,” Kershaw said afterward, because apparently being modest is also part of his Hall of Fame resume.
The Bullpen Didn’t Completely Implode
Here’s where things get interesting, and by interesting, I mean terrifying if you are a Dodgers fan. This team’s bullpen has been about as stable as a house of cards in a hurricane lately, blowing leads in three of their previous four losses. So naturally, when Alex Vesia loaded the bases in the eighth inning, every Dodgers fan expected the worst, but then something magical happened.
Blake Treinen came in and got Manny Machado out on his first pitch. The Dodgers bullpen actually came through in a clutch situation. Even more shocking? Alexis Diaz and Jack Dreyer managed to close out the ninth without giving up the game-winning run.
Teoscar Hernández Remembers He’s a Professional Baseball Player
Speaking of miracles, Teoscar Hernández decided to contribute something other than strikeouts and weak ground balls. The struggling outfielder, who’d been hitting like he was swinging a pool noodle since July, launched a crucial insurance run in the seventh inning.
The NL West Race Gets Spicier
This win puts the Dodgers right back in a tie for first place in the NL West. After watching a nine-game lead evaporate like morning dew in Death Valley, they are still in this thing. The baseball gods clearly have a sense of humor, or they just enjoy watching Dodgers fans suffer through the most stressful August in recent memory.
The Padres, who have been playing like world-beaters while the Dodgers forgot how baseball works, suddenly find themselves sharing the division lead with the team they were supposedly going to run out of town. Baseball is weird, folks.
What This Actually Means For the Dodgers
One win doesn’t erase a month of playing like a Little League team that just discovered what a curveball is. The Dodgers still have serious issues. Their bullpen is held together with duct tape and prayers, and they are missing key players like Max Muncy.
Sometimes, all it takes is one good game to remember what you’re capable of. Kershaw showed he can still dominate when it matters, the bullpen proved it can occasionally not blow leads, and the offense managed to score just enough runs to win a game.
The Road Ahead
The Dodgers and Padres have five more games against each other over the next nine days, which means we are in for some serious drama. Will Los Angeles continue this sudden outbreak of competence, or will they revert to their recent form of playing baseball like they’re allergic to winning?
Given what we’ve seen from this team lately, it could go either way. But at least for one night, the Dodgers reminded everyone why they’re supposed to be good at this whole baseball thing. Now they just need to do it consistently, which, based on recent evidence, might be asking for another miracle.
