The San Diego Padres did a lot of talking before and during their National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. They’ll probably keep talking as they watch the Dodgers play the New York Mets in the National League Championship Series (NLCS).
The Padres got full of themselves after taking a 2-1 series lead in the NLDS. They started chirping. They chirped some more when the Dodgers tied the series in San Diego to win Game 4. They ran their mouths some more before the deciding Game 5 took place.
The Padres could do that. It was their prerogative. After all, San Diego became the hottest baseball team in the second half of the season and nearly wrestled the National League West Division title away from the Dodgers.

But like what happened in the NLDS, the Padres are close, but not quite there yet. The Dodgers are and that’s why they’re one series away from playing in the World Series and the Padres are going home to watch the rest of the postseason.
The Dodgers beat the Padres in Game 5 with a 2-0 victory to advance to play the Mets in the NLDS. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts sounded relieved that his ballclub could move past the Padres.
“I’m elated. I’m tired. I’m happy. So, yeah, I’m just excited. I’m proud of our guys,” Roberts said in his postgame press conference. “This was — we talked about this series. It was going to test us, and we fought. We didn’t relent, not one time, and I just couldn’t be more excited for this ballclub.”
The one thing that was a major concern for Roberts and the Dodgers going into the postseason was the team’s pitching. It was pitching that saved the Dodgers’ season. At least for one more series.
With a piecemeal pitching staff, the Dodgers shut out the Padres in the series last two games, which is almost unthinkable considering San Diego scored 21 runs in the first three games.

“I think “stunning” is appropriate,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “Yeah. I’ve got to tip your hat, and while we’re doing it, congratulations to the Dodgers. Hard fought, a lot of things going on in the season. Had them down. They were able to come back. So congratulations to them.”
Yoshinobu Yamamoto came up with the game of his life, giving up the only two hits in five innings that the Padres would generate. The Dodgers bullpen held San Diego hitless the rest of the way. Yamamoto outdueled Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish, who pitched six and two third innings and surrendered three hits.
It was also a turnaround from Game 1 for Yamamoto. The Padres jumped Yamamoto with five hits and five runs in the first game. Yamamoto said he took a different approach to Game 5 in his preparation.
“In terms of getting ready for today’s game, I was just trying to focus on getting myself ready, preparation more meticulously,” Yamamoto said. “And then in terms of velo today, I think my mechanics was locked in today.”

Dennis has covered and written about politics, crime, race, sports, and entertainment. Dennis currently covers the NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAA, and Olympic sports. Dennis is the editor of News4usonline.com and serves as the publisher of the Compton Bulletin newspaper. He earned a journalism degree from Howard University. Email Dennis at dfreeman@news4usonline.com
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