The MLB playoffs don’t at all times reward the workforce that had one of the best common season. The results of a single recreation could be considerably random, and even a best-of-five or best-of-seven collection can produce some surprising outcomes. Nevertheless, regardless of some protestations, even one of the best groups nonetheless need to run the October gauntlet, and typically come up brief.
Now you can add the 2022 Dodgers to the checklist of dominant common season groups that fell sufferer of the playoffs.
Within the common season, the Dodgers have been dominant, profitable 111 video games, which is probably the most of any workforce because the MLB record-tying 116 by the 2001 Mariners, who by the way additionally didn’t win the World Collection. Their offense led all of baseball in runs scored, and their pitching allowed the fewest of any workforce in MLB. But, none of that mattered within the 4 video games they performed towards the Padres within the Nationwide League Division Collection.
Coming into Saturday’s recreation trailing their collection 2-1, the Dodgers bought off to a reasonably respectable begin, scoring two runs within the third and including an insurance coverage run within the seventh. They bought a strong effort from beginning pitcher Tyler Anderson and appeared on the verge of sending the collection again to LA for a decisive recreation 5. Then the underside of the seventh occurred.
The Padres struck with 5 runs to storm in entrance for the primary time within the recreation. Earlier than the Dodgers even bought an out within the inning, San Diego had recorded 4 hits and a stroll, tying the sport. Reliever Yency Almonte then bought two outs to get the Dodgers on the verge of at the very least escaping with the sport even. Nevertheless, Jake Cronenworth, right down to his last strike within the depend, delivered a success to place the Padres on the verge of a visit to the NLCS.
His two-run single ended up being the ultimate distinction within the recreation because the Padres superior to the NLCS for the primary time since 1998.
In the meantime, the Dodgers, who completed a ridiculous 22 video games forward of San Diego within the NL West standings, now have an early exit to indicate for all their good work within the common season. The MLB Playoffs could be merciless.