Dodgers on the brink of another NLDS exit as Tatis Jr. homers again

SAN DIEGO -- The Padres took care of business at home by scoring six runs in the second inning. Fernando Tatis Jr. smashed a two-run home run, giving the Padres a 2-1 lead in the NLDS after defeating the Dodgers 6-5 on Tuesday night at Petco Park.

The Dodgers are one game away from facing elimination in the first round for the third consecutive year. Roberts discussed the expectations for Shohei Ohtani in the postseason, comparing his performance to the regular season.

“The moments is certainly not getting too big for him,” Roberts said. “They're making some good pitches, obviously had a good Game 1 and was kept somewhat at bay, still had a knock tonight.”

Despite Ohtani's lack of production in the postseason, where he went 3 for 13 with six strikeouts in three games, the Dodgers didn't receive the necessary support from their starter in Game 3.

"Overall, I'm grateful that i'm even here in the postseason and healthy being able to play," Ohtani said. "Tomorrow, I'm gonna go out and do my best." 

Right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler had an opportunity to cement his legacy with the Dodgers after enduring the most challenging season of his career. Buehler only managed one win in 16 starts, posting a 5.38 ERA.

Buehler had a smooth 1-2-3 inning in the first, but then struggled, giving up six runs in the second inning. These six runs were the only ones scored against Buehler. The Padres' offense answered Mookie Betts' solo home run in the first inning when Fernando Tatis Jr. ended the second inning with a powerful two-run homer to left field, giving them a 6-1 lead.

The rally began with a leadoff single by Manny Machado. Jackson Merrill then hit a grounder to Freddie Freeman. However, the inning took a turn for the worse when Freeman attempted to get Machado out at second but ended up throwing the ball away, allowing Machado to advance to third with no outs.

Padres' shortstop Xander Bogaerts then followed with an infield hit, scoring Machado from third. The Padres had four infield hits in the inning. David Peralta, who hit a two-run home run in Game 2, added to the score with a two-run double down the right field line. Peralta has a total of four RBIs in the two starts he's had in the NLDS.

“I thought Walker did a nice job of keeping his composure and still giving us some length and throwing some zeros after that,” Roberts said. “But again, when you give a good team extra outs it’s hard to throw up zeros.”

Mookie Betts, who had been hitless in his last 22 postseason at-bats, finally hit a solo home run in the first inning, narrowly avoiding a robbery attempt by Jurickson Profar. This time, Profar couldn't make the catch over the left field wall. This was Betts' first hit since the 2022 NLDS against the Padres.

Petco Park was electric after the six-run inning. It seemed like the Dodgers' season was falling apart right in front of our eyes. However, the Dodgers didn't back down. They started the third inning with three straight singles. After Freeman lined out for the first out, Teoscar Hernandez made history by hitting the sixth grand slam in Dodgers postseason franchise history to straight center field off right-hander Michael King, silencing all the fans in San Diego.

This is Hernandez's first home game as a member of the Dodgers in the postseason. The Dodgers went a combined 1-for-21 after the grand slam and are now 1-52 when trailing by five runs or more.

The Dodgers were still behind 6-5 after Hernandez hit a grand slam. King pitched five innings, allowing five hits and five earned runs. He couldn't hold off the Dodgers' offense and struggled in the third inning. King had three strikeouts and two walks on 77 pitches.

Buehler threw 77 pitches through five innings. Both bullpens were outstanding after the fifth inning. The Dodgers’ bullpen, including left-hander Anthony Banda and right-handers Daniel Hudson and Michael Kopech, allowed no hits or runs.

The Padres’ bullpen allowed only one hit through four innings of work. The hit came from Freeman in the eighth off left-hander Tanner Scott.

No runs were scored after Hernandez hit a grand slam in the third inning. The Padres went with right-hander Robert Suarez for a four-out save in Game 3, striking out Gavin Lux swinging to end the game.

The Dodgers have been hit with more injuries. Miguel Rojas had to leave the game in the top of the third inning after aggravating his groin injury. Freeman returned to the lineup but couldn't finish the game as he also re-aggravated his ankle injury after landing awkwardly on it. 

"I came out of the game because I couldn't go anymore," Rojas said. "Everytime this happens, I'm probably going to feel something tomorrow."

Muncy replaced Freeman at first base, marking the first time Muncy played first base in two seasons. Chris Taylor came in to pinch-run for Freeman in the eighth inning after getting a two-out single.

There have been no updates regarding the players' statuses for Game 4. Dave Roberts mentioned that it will be a bullpen game for the team, while the Padres announced that right-hander Dylan Cease will start on short rest on Wednesday. The offense will face Cease again after allowing five runs in 3 1/3 innings in Game 1.