Padres sweep Braves and prepare for NLDS showdown with Dodgers – Daily News

Author: BERNIE WILSON AP Sports Writer

SAN DIEGO — The NL West rematch that so many have been waiting for has officially begun.

Kyle Higashioka’s solo homer started a five-run rally off an ailing Max Fried with two outs in the second inning, and the San Diego Padres held on to win over the Atlanta Braves with a 5-4 victory in the second game of the National League Wild Card Series on Wednesday night.

Manny Machado added a double in two innings with the bases loaded, and Jackson Merrill, the leading contender for NL Rookie of the Year, belted a double triple as the sold-out crowd of 47,705 – the largest in Petco Park history – roared.

The Padres, who would love to win a World Series title in memory of late owner Peter Seidler, now head to the highway to face Shohei Ohtani and the NL West rival Dodgers in a best-of-seven NL Division series beginning Saturday at 5 p.m. 30:00 at Dodgers Stadium.

The Dodgers and Padres have faced each other twice in the NLDS in the last four years: The Dodgers beat them in 2020 on a neutral site in Arlington, Texas, and the Padres eliminated the 111-win Dodgers in four games in 2022.

The Padres have won eight of 13 regular-season games this year, but the Dodgers won just two of three at Dodger Stadium last week to clinch the NL West title.

On Wednesday night, the Padres’ Robert Suarez threw a perfect ninth. As soon as Higashioka caught Travis d’Arnaud’s foul on the final play – the catcher had to jump over first baseman Donovan Solano, who also agreed to it – the crowd started chanting “Beat LA!”

“This team has always shown resilience and never gave up,” Higashioka said. “It’s thanks to all the guys. I just connect good shots no matter what.

Fried and Padres starter Joe Musgrove left the game early with an injury. Fried left after the second round. He was hit in the left hip by a ball from batter Fernando Tatis Jr., who ran onto the field twice. Musgrove left with a strained right elbow and two outs in the fourth inning after throwing two slow curveballs to Matt Olson.

Padres manager Mike Shildt had no update on Musgrove other than to say it was the same area of ​​the elbow that sidelined the big righty early in the season.

“Luckily we had the lead,” Shildt said. “His departure with two outs in the fourth quarter was a challenge, but we found solutions and the bullpen was rested and played its part in getting home.”

After the Padres took a 5-1 lead in the second quarter, Jorge Soler hit a solo shot in the fifth quarter and Michael Harris II hit a two-run shot in the eighth quarter.

Fried, who took the loss, got out of a bases-loaded jam in the first. He then allowed five runs on six straight hits and two outs in the second.

“The longer he was on the field, the worse he felt,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said.

Dylan Lee took over for Atlanta to start the third.

Musgrove threw two slow innings to lose Olson 2-on-1 with two outs in the fourth and was visited by pitching coach Ruben Niebla. Shildt and the track coach joined them, and Musgrove left.

Musgrove, who grew up in suburban El Cajon, has been on the injured list twice this season with right elbow inflammation, costing him a total of 63 games. The second appearance sidelined him for 2.5 months.

“It would be irresponsible to delve too deeply into this,” Shildt said. “He said he would do everything in his power – and I’m not leaving out Joe Musgrove – to get back.

“There was just something wrong with his elbow. Structurally they think it’s OK, but as time goes on we will get more evaluations.”

Higashioka became the first Padres catcher to score in consecutive playoff games. On Tuesday night, he scored a solo goal in a 4-0 win. He also scored for the New York Yankees at Petco Park in the 2020 American League playoffs against Tampa Bay in the ALDS. He was acquired along with right-hander Michael King in the blockbuster trade that sent Juan Soto to the Yankees on December 7. Higashioka started the season as a reserve, but eventually became a starter.

Musgrove trailed 1-0 after just three batters. Marcell Ozuna’s sacrifice fly brought in Harris, who doubled to the right corner on Musgrove’s first toss and walked Ozzie Albies on the pitch.

After No. 9 hitter Higashioka’s homer, the bases loaded for NL champion Luis Arraez, Tatis and Jurickson Profar in singles. Machado doubled to left field and Merrill tripled to center.

Soler immediately singled to center, leading off the fifth pitch against reliever Bryan Hoeing, who won. Harris struck out Jason Adam, but the banged-up Braves couldn’t come back until the end.

“I’m as proud of the team as I’ve ever been,” Snitker said. “We won 89 games. It’s amazing what they did. We had a chance. We got into the tournament. Maybe if we get a hit here or there, we’ll play tomorrow. But we don’t.

Originally published: October 2, 2024 at 20:55