LOS ANGELES — The San Diego Padres lost 7-5 in the first game of the National League Division Series against the Dodgers. The teams will meet again on Sunday for Game 2 in the best-of-five series starting at 5:03 p.m.
Shohei Ohtani hit a game-tying, three-run homer with two outs in the second inning of his highly anticipated playoff debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday night.
After flying out in the first, the Japanese superstar sent a 2-1 pitch from Dylan Cease into right field, a 372-foot shot that had the sellout crowd of 53,028 on its feet. The Dodgers went on to a 7-5 victory over the team they had battled down to the wire before winning their 11th NL West title in 12 years.
Ohtani finished 2 for 5, with three RBIs, two runs scored and two strikeouts as 88-year-old Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax looked on from behind home plate.
The Padres had taken a 3-0 lead in the first off Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Ohtani's countryman who is also making his postseason debut in the National League Division Series.
Ohtani, who hit .310 in the regular season, scored Will Smith, who walked, and Gavin Lux, who singled, to make it 3-3.
San Diego went ahead 5-3 before the Dodgers rallied with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Ohtani had a broken-bat single and later scored, along with Mookie Betts, on Teoscar Hernández's single that gave the Dodgers their first lead, 6-5.
After the two games in Los Angeles, both teams will face off again at Petco Park in San Diego for Game 3 on Tuesday.
NLDS schedule
- Saturday, Oct. 5 at 5:38 p.m. NLDS A, Game 1 Padres @ Dodgers
- Sunday, Oct. 6 at 5:03 p.m. NLDS A, Game 2 Padres @ Dodgers
- Tuesday, Oct. 8 at TBD NLDS A, Game 3 Dodgers @ Padres
- *Wednesday, Oct. 9 at TBD NLDS A, Game 4 (if necessary) Dodgers @ Padres
- *Friday, Oct. 11 at TBD NLDS A, Game 5 (if necessary) Padres @ Dodgers
Musgrove out
On Friday, the team announced Joe Musgrove would require Tommy John surgery and wouldn't pitch for the San Diego Padres in the NL Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The right-hander has a UCL injury, A.J. Preller, the Padres president of baseball operations, said Friday.
Musgrove left Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series with elbow tightness.
He had been pitching through discomfort for a couple of weeks. The 31-year-old right-hander been on the injured list from late May through mid-August with various elbow issues. He had a 2.17 ERA over 54 innings since Aug. 12.
Losing Musgrove is a blow. The native of El Cajon is revered by Padres fans for throwing the first no-hitter in franchise history in 2021.
"He's a special individual, but I can tell you we'll be just fine and compete," manager Mike Shildt said. "He'll be in our hearts but won't be with us on the mound."
The Padres will start right-hander Dylan Cease in Game 1, followed by righty Yu Darvish in Game 2.
"He's a great leader, great teammate," Cease said of Musgrove. "He'll be with us in other ways."
Padres watch party
- On Saturday, Sunday and if needed, Friday, October 11, fans can watch the game on a 75-foot wide video board on Sycuan Stage.
- Gates will open an hour before the first pitch which is at 5:38 pm Saturday and 5:08 pm on Sunday.
- This is a family event as well so bring the kids and enjoy the new playground and other events.
- Paid concessions will be open for some of the best-known food in MLB stadiums.
- The Padres team store will also be open where fans can get their post season swag.
- You can buy tickets exclusively on the Padres watch party website.