LOS ANGELES —- The Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 2-0 in a Game 5 pitcher's duel, which means the LA squad will head on to play the New York Mets in the NLCS series.
The Dodgers shut out the Padres in the final 24 innings of the series to head to the NLCS! pic.twitter.com/Qv6puG3fBi
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 12, 2024
The Dodgers pithing staff continued their shutout innings streak, making it 24 scoreless innings in a row (with 16 different pitchers) vs. the Padres, who had their last 20 hitters retired.
That is, the last time the Padres scored a run was in the third inning of Game 3.
The @Dodgers bullpen was a key factor in Games 4 and 5:
Game 4: 7.2 IP, 0 R, 7 K
Game 5: 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 5 K pic.twitter.com/O3MInXiruM— MLB (@MLB) October 12, 2024
As a result of the Hernandez duo, Kiké and Teoscar, each contributing a homer, it was enough to claim victory.
KIKE HERNANDEZ HOMERUN 💥
DODGERS TAKE THE LEAD 🤩
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) October 12, 2024
TEOSCAR HERNANDEZ HAS DODGER STADIUM ON THEIR FEET WITH THIS SOLO BLAST. 🙌
(🎥: @MLB)pic.twitter.com/BVnbZAtWCh
— theScore (@theScore) October 12, 2024
Kiké Hernandez (left); Teoscar Hernandez (right)
After the game MLB reporter Ken Rosenthal was heard asking Kiké what makes this Dodgers team so resilient. Kiké looked around before answering the question with a question, "Are we live?" he asked.
Rosenthal responded, "We're live."
Kiké said, without warning all the parents to cover their kids' ears, "The fact that we don't give a f***."
Kiké on what's different about this Dodgers team:
"The fact that we don't give a f---." pic.twitter.com/5JZ4ZgmORD
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 12, 2024
Ultimately, the Dodgers commemorated winning this NLDS matchup vs. their NL West southern California rivals by popping bottles.
YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO PITCHED 5 SCORELESS INNINGS AND HE’S GETTING DROWNED IN CHAMPAGNE RIGHT NOW!!
THAT’S OUR ACE!!
pic.twitter.com/MpTvVBjqiw— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) October 12, 2024
In particular, the fifth rookie pitcher in Dodgers history to start a winner-takes-all postseason game, Yoshinobu Yamamoto (5 innings, 0 ER, two hits, 1 BB allowed), received a champagne shower after securing his first-career playoff win.
Live look at Shohei and Yamamoto in the Dodgers clubhouse: pic.twitter.com/26t20K799q
— MLB (@MLB) October 12, 2024
Manager Dave Roberts spoke to the team after the game, and gave his players high praise.
"I've never believed in a group of men more than I've believed in you guys"
Dave Roberts kicks off the celebration in the @Dodgers clubhouse! 🍾 pic.twitter.com/2EQ2kjUMp0
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 12, 2024
"I've never believed in a group of men more than I've believed in you guys," Roberts said. "And more importantly each one of you guys believed in each other."
Then, just like his player Kiké, he may have said a couple bad words, as the end of his speech was bleeped out, before the mic caught Roberts saying, "and win eight more ball games."
With this in mind, if the Dodgers win the next two upcoming seven-games series, they will secure their eighth title in franchise history (1955, 1959, 1963, 1965, 1981, 1988, 2020).
Game 1 of the upcoming NL championship series vs. the Mets will take place on Sunday, October 13 at 8:15 pm ET.
It'll be Mets-Dodgers with a trip to the World Series on the line in the NLCS 🍿 @BRWalkoff pic.twitter.com/i9JpZVShAv
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 12, 2024
As many might remember this will be a rematch of the 1988 NLCS series, in which the Dodgers won 4-3.
