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NLDS Game 3: No Home Runs? No Problem! Dodgers Advance To NLCS

Pollock Slide

The Dodgers didn’t hit a home run in game 3 of the NLDS against the Padres, but they still sprayed the ball all over the field to score twelve runs on fourteen hits en route to a 12-3 win. The Dodgers bats were 8 for 24 with runners in scoring position. Dodger catcher Will Smith collected five hits setting an all-time Dodger postseason record for a backstop. The Dodgers scored five of their eight runs in the third inning, and four in the top of the ninth.

Bellinger and Smith drove in six of the Dodger’s 12 runs. The Dodgers plated six runs in the first three frames and never stopped hitting. Four singles from Corey Seager, Justin Turner, AJ Pollock and Joc Pederson in the third. A Smith RBI single in the fourth. A Sacrifice fly from Mookie Betts in the top of the fifth. A two-run double from Smith in the ninth, preceded a two-run triple from Bellinger, and it went on and on and on and on. The Dodgers pounded the San Diego pitching staff and there was nothing the baby Padres could do about it.

NLDS Game 3 Dodgers win 3-0

Dodgers 12 14 1

Padres    3 6 2

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Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

Julio Urias was the pitching star of the night tossing five innings, allowing one run, one hit, and striking out six. The questionable pitching decision early in the game when Dustin May was hooked after pitching one inning and Adam Kolarek allowed two runs (The Dodgers were actually losing 2-1 at that point) was quickly forgotten once the onslaught of Dodger hits began. The boys in blue never looked back.

We have to give a special hat tip to Will Smith, who went 5 for 6 with three singles, two doubles and three runs driven in. Smith batted .451 in the three game series becoming the first Dodger to tally five hits in a postseason game. Smith doubled in the second, singled in the fourth, singled again in the sixth, singled in the eighth and doubled in the ninth.

The Dodgers will advance to their fourth NLCS in the last five years, and the fourteenth overall in franchise history. They’ll face the Braves on Monday night. Until then it’s time to celebrate. The Dodgers have earned it. Bring it home boys.

Scott Andes

Scott Andes: Longtime writer and Dodger fanatic

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Scott Andes
Scott Andes: Longtime writer and Dodger fanatic
https://ladodgerreport.com

2 thoughts on “NLDS Game 3: No Home Runs? No Problem! Dodgers Advance To NLCS

  1. No filthy, classless antics required. Dodgers tamed the Padres with great pitching and timely hitting. The best way to stop the disrespectful taunting and posturing is to speak with their bats and silence theirs, and that is exactly what the Dodgers did. Although “Bazooka Boy’s” celebration was a bit over the top, it was just payback for Machado’s disrespect to Kershaw and the Dodgers. Graderol was just backing up Clayton and his teammates without the need to go head hunting, and he actually ended up firing up the Dodger dugout in the process.

    “Code Red” set the tempo of the game with a dominating 1st inning performance. Just a slight hiccup in the second inning, but Urias came to the rescue and regained control of the ship…. 5 superb innings of relief. I do not especially like the idea of bullpen games, but it seems to be working. Seems to keep the opposing offense on their heels, especially with the Dodgers’ deep bullpen. DR, again comes out looking like a genius.

    The offense was so dominating and fluid, that I did not even realize that Will Smith had an incredible, record setting 5-6 night… No doubt a very stealthy offensive performance. “Fresh Prince“ had actually been hitting the ball well though his slump, but finally he finally got the breaks as the ball found the gaps. No HR’s required…. just square it up and put the ball in play in that cavernous ballpark. The Dodger offense seems to have adapted to playing in Arlington, and this may work out to be an advantage, playing the rest of their games in their temporary home field.

    The game was so out of hand that MLB Network started the “Boo-Boo Face Cam” early in the 6th or 7th inning… capturing the “Deer in Headlights” and pouting faces of the defeated Padre players. So pathetic, I actually felt a little sorry for them…. NOT!

    No childish, disrespectful victory celebration required. No silly dancing or smirking…. just a lot of hugs and handshakes amongst teammates and a classy photo finish to the NLDS. No need to rub salt in the Padres‘ wounds.

    Nice to see the Player’s families at the game, to share in the celebration. I’m sure that makes the “bubble” easier to deal with.

    Go Blue! Pedal to the Metal.

  2. It was a wonderful game to watch as a Dodgers fan. It was also very nice to see the player’s children rush to their daddy’s arms after the game. They. very young men with their whole lives ahead of them and they. are making memories in bunches right now. SO SO SO looking forward to a challenging NLCS series where their tenacity will be tested for certain. GO DODGERS!

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