The Los Angeles Dodgers triumphed over the San Diego Padres with a 2-0 victory on Friday, securing their spot in the National League Championship Series. The Padres, who had previously led the NL Division Series 2-1, faced a disheartening finish, failing to score in their last two games of the series and experiencing a remarkable 24-inning scoreless streak—marking the longest postseason drought since the Braves in 1991.
Team members expressed their disappointment after the game, with Jurickson Profar lamenting, “I’m sad for this team. We had everything to go all the way… they played better than we did the past two games. We’re going home.” The potential standout for the Padres, Yu Darvish, struggled after yielding two significant home runs, while his teammates fell silent at the plate.
The Dodgers’ runs came courtesy of Kike Hernández and Teoscar Hernández, whose home runs provided all the offense needed. The Padres managed only two hits and one walk against the Dodgers’ pitching staff, which continued to dominate throughout the series.
Padres manager Mike Shildt described the conclusion as “stunning,” acknowledging that despite having the series under control, the team failed to capitalize on their opportunities. Fernando Tatis Jr. credited the Dodgers’ pitching but emphasized his team’s effort.
After a promising regular season and a wild-card series sweep of the Braves, the Padres expected to advance further but instead faced early elimination against the Dodgers. Xander Bogaerts reflected on the nature of sports, stating, “One has to win, one has to lose.”
The Padres had achieved victories in the first three games of the series, including decisive wins, but their momentum faltered as they faced consecutive defeats. Following an 8-0 loss at home, they could not rally in Los Angeles, marking their second consecutive loss for only the second time in 69 games.
Darvish’s performance in Game 5 was commendable, but it was undermined by the Dodgers’ two crucial hits. The Padres’ frustration was heightened by their inability to score, particularly against a pitcher they previously had success against. The game had one moment of hope when Tatis, known for his offensive prowess, faced an opportunity to drive in runs but ended the inning with a double play.
As the season comes to an abrupt close for the Padres, players like Profar are left contemplating missed opportunities: “We didn’t come through in situations. We didn’t hit.”