Dodgers rout Padres, force Game 5 in Los Angeles

After the New York Mets punched their ticket to the NLCS, dispatching the favored Philadelphia Phillies , the Los Angeles Dodgers averted, for now, an early October exit at the hands of the San Diego Padres . With a combination of solid pitching and hot bats, the Dodgers forced a Game 5 in Los Angeles on Friday.

Jumping on the Padres early, Los Angeles scored in each of the first three innings. Mookie Betts stayed hot, blasting a solo home run in the top of the first inning. Then, Will Smith followed suit in the third, scorching a no-doubter over the center field wall. The Fox Sports crew announced that Smith's home run was the longest of the entire 2024 postseason.

The Boys in Blue put it out of reach in the top of the seventh inning, scoring three runs, capped by a line-drive two-run home run by Gavin Lux.

In the end, the Dodgers prevailed 8-0.

Well before the first pitch was thrown, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced this contest with the Padres would be a bullpen game . Roberts proved true to his word. The Dodgers ran eight different pitchers to the mound.

In addition, L.A. played without former MVP Freddie Freeman and team leader Miguel Rojas , both of whom were sidelined with injuries. Freeman, battling a sprained right ankle, is likely to be available for Game 5. Rojas' status is questionable.

Game 5 in Los Angeles is slated to begin at 8:08 p.m. EST on Friday. Likely starting pitchers are Yu Darvish for the Padres and Yoshinobu Yamamoto for the Dodgers. Yamamoto had a shaky start in Game 1, while Darvish was dominant in his start in Game 2.

Although Game 4 was a blowout, this series has intensified the burgeoning " I-5 rivalry " between the two Southern California teams. A decisive, win-or-go-home Game 5 seems a fitting conclusion.