Fernando Tatis Jr., bullpen dynamic put the Padres up 2-1 in series

SAN DIEGO -- Fernando Tatis Jr. was white hot coming into Tuesday's matchup after hitting two home runs in Los Angeles on Sunday. It continued during their 6-5 victory over the Dodgers, which put them ahead 2-1 in the series.

He has a hitting average of .556, four home runs, seven RBIs, and a 1.969 OPS, and has not struck out once.

In the bottom of the second inning, Tatis stepped up to the plate with his team up 4-1 and the stadium chanting his name. On the third pitch, he hammered one to left-center field, threw his bat and yelled toward his dugout to get his guys fired up.

"Man, when I hit it, I just blacked out," Tatis said. "Started screaming at my dugout. The energy (was) through the roof."

The crowd fed off Tatis, and he fed off of them.

"He likes it," manager Mike Shildt said. "He's one of the many guys on our team that appreciates and enjoys bright lights and embraces it. He just wants to go play and perform."

Offensively, this game came down to two innings for both teams. Then it turned into whether the Padres' bullpen could hold it down and finish the game off to take command of the series.

The answer was yes because Padres general manager A.J. Preller made two big trades that have shaped his bullpen in left-handed relief pitcher Tanner Scott and right-handed reliever Jason Adam at the deadline.

 "I'm glad I got traded over here," Scott said. "We got a great bullpen."

There was a lot of tension coming into Tuesday night's game three between the San Diego Padres and L.A. Dodgers, with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and Padres third baseman Manny Machado at the forefront.

Roberts was booed by the Friar faithful when he was announced after making some questionable comments about Machado after a "throwing of a ball" incident.

Starting pitcher Michael King got things going immediately, striking out Shohei Ohtani, but then found himself in trouble. Dodgers star Mookie Betts came into the game 0-for-22 in postseason baseball dating back to 2022.

On the first pitch, Betts hit one to left field and saw a leaping Jurickson Profar come down, similar to the play he made in Los Angeles, robbing him of a home run. Except this time, it didn't happen. Betts was trotting toward the dugout when the umpire signaled to him it was a home run.

"Very close," Profar said.

Machado got things going with a single at the bottom of the second inning in what would turn out to be an offensive game-deciding inning. Rookie center fielder Jackson Merrill hit it toward a sliding Freddie Freeman, who, on his throw to second base, hit Machado on the back and was diverted. He proceeded to run to third, and Merrill was safe at first. 

The rules state: "You cannot review interference or obstruction. Once it wasn't called, they couldn't do it."

"That was a great base running play by Manny," Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth said.

Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts came in and hit one to 11, who tried to beat Merrill to second but didn't get there in time. Bogaerts was safe at first, and Machado came home to tie things up at 1-1.

Veteran David Peralta came up next and hit a two-run RBI double to give San Diego a 3-1 lead. He squeezed the ball between an outstretched Freeman, and Merrill/Bogaerts were off on a race home.

Peralta joined the Padres in mid-May and said that he knew this team was special when he walked into the clubhouse in Cincinnati (Padres started a three-game series with the Reds).

"We're good, man, we're good," Padres outfielder David Peralta said.

Cronenworth got out of his 0-for-13 slump when he hit a single to get Peralta to third with no outs. Kyle Higashioka hit a sacrifice fly to center, bringing Peralta home to increase the lead to 4-1.

They gave Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler a rough outing, going 5.0 IP, 7 hits, 6 E.R., and no strikeouts.

Things got interesting after they took a 6-1 lead with Tatis' home run.

Next inning, King got in trouble in the third inning when Miguel Rojas, Ohtani, and Betts singled off of him to load the bases. Rojas was injured, and outfielder Andy Pages took his place. 

Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández quieted a roaring Petco Park that was chanting "Beat L.A." when he hit a ball deep to center. Even a leaping Merrill couldn't make the catch. It was a grand slam to get the Dodgers to within one run.

Shildt and the Padres didn't panic and let King continue. He retired the next eight batters, including Ohtani, Betts, and Freeman. 

King won his second consecutive playoff game going 5.0 IP, five hits, 5 E.R. and striking out three batters.

They then went to their bullpen in the top of the sixth inning. Jeremiah Estrada struck out Hernández, Max Muncy, and Will Smith grounded out. 

Adam delivered at the top of the seventh, forcing a ground out by Gavin Lux and Tommy Edman, then striking out Pages.

Scott came in at the top of the eighth inning, striking out Ohtani and Betts, who flew out to center. Freeman singled off of Scott, and Shildt made the call. The lights dimmed, and Don Omar's "Bandoleros" played, bringing out closer Robert Suarez.

He caused Hernández to pop out to close the eighth. In the 9th, Suarez struck out Muncy, Smith grounded out, and Lux struck out to secure the victory.

After giving up four runs in the top of the third inning, the Padres settled down. They relied on King and the bullpen to retire 16 consecutive batters and hold a one-run lead for six innings.

"Him holding that line to the fifth inning, and then we went straight to our bullpen," Tatis said. "People have been talking about our bullpen how lights out they are, and they definitely show up today. They show why they're one of the best in baseball right now."

The Padres take a 2-1 series lead against their N.L. West rivals.

"Definitely no fear," Tatis said. "We are showing up and playing ball."

The Dodgers, on the other hand, are on the brink of elimination, and Roberts announced Wednesday will be a bullpen day. The Padres will start Dylan Cease, who will be looking to rectify his last two outings against the Dodgers.

The Padres are one win away from a trip to the NLCS.

"Amen, God willing," Padres first baseman Luis Arraez said in Spanish.