There are a good many who believe that the 2024 National League West Division will come down to a hard-fought battle between the current 26-14 NL West first place Los Angeles Dodgers and the current 21-20 NL West second place San Diego Padres. Following Friday’s 2-1 Padres win over the Dodgers, there are probably a good many more.

“I don’t talk about playoff atmospher very often in the regular season, but today it felt like that,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, after his team’s disappointing loss to the Friars in Game-1 of a three-game set against San Diego in front of a sold out Petco Park crowd of 43,388, a good many of whom were wearing Dodger Blue. “You know, it was a packed house and I think (Padres starting right-hander Michael) King threw his best game, certainly of the year. I can’t imagine him throwing a better game, you know, ever. I mean, really, his velocity was up, he was on the corners all game, everything was working tonight.”

Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult to win when your team scores only one run and musters only four hits, and you go a combined 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position, and strand seven runners on base.

“We just really didn’t have an answer, really (against King), didn’t take many good swings, and he just dominated, and you gotta give him credit,” added Roberts.

Oh sure, you can argue that Dodgers starting right-hander Tyler Glasnow also pitched a gem, allowing only one run on one hit, while walking two and striking 10 in his strong seven innings of work. Unfortunately, that one hit was a solo home run by Padres catcher Luis Campusano on his very first pitch to the Friars backstop to lead off the bottom of the third inning to give San Diego a (then) 1-0 lead.

“That was a pretty good pitch, just middle up, 97 with, like, good carry. I kinda tip my cap, it was just a good swing,” Glasnow told SportsNet LA’s Kirsten Watson postgame.

The Dodgers lone run came on a sacrifice fly to left field by Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman in the top of the eighth inning to score shortstop Mookie Betts from third base. Unfortunately, the Dodgers were unable to score designated hitter Shohei Ohtani from second base after his team-leading 15th double of the season. Instead, with one out and first base open, Padres manager Mike Shildt elected to intentionally walked Dodgers catcher Will Smith (who leads the world in driving in runners in scoring position) and pitch to struggling Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy to set up a potential inning-ending double play, which is exactly what Muncy did, to keep the game knotted at 1-1.

The Padres then walked it off in the bottom of the ninth when Dodgers right-hander Michael Grove gave up a leadoff double to (wait for it…) Padres catcher Luis Campusano, followed by a one-out single to center by Padres designated hitter Luis Arráez, allowing pinch-runner Tyler Wade to score the winning run from second base.

But as they say, “You can’t win ’em all.”

Play Ball!

  *  *  *  *  *  *