Tuesday, September 28, 2021

Series Thread (Games 157-159): Sept 28-30 vs. Padres

This is Audrey Hepburn's first appearance on Sons of Steve Garvey.

Tue 28: Buehler vs. Darvish
Wed 29: Scherzer vs. TBD
Thu 30: Gonsolin vs. TBD

San Diego is officially eliminated from the 2021 MLB Postseason, on the heels of the Cardinals' impressive 16-game win streak. But not all the drama has evaporated: the Padres could play a huge role in shaping how the NL West race ends up, starting with three against the Dodgers before traveling to San Francisco for three against the Giants.

The Padres, however, don't like the Dodgers much, as evidenced from last year's NLDS meeting. So despite the two TBDs in starting pitchers this series, I expect them to bring their A-game against us. Meanwhile, the Giants will be feasting on the woeful Diamondbacks as they savor their two-game lead over us (with six to go).

I think winning the NL West is an impossibility. But hey, I've been wrong before. I'm just hoping for a good showing from Walker Buehler (who has been shaky of late), Max Scherzer (who was hittable in his last appearance), and Tony Gonsolin (enough said).

UPDATE 9/29: Buehler was indeed great. 7 IP, 5 Ks, 2 BB, 3 H, 0 ER. Way to go, Walker!

UPDATE 9/30: WHAT! A! VICTORY! 1+4 indeed. Wow.

53 comments:

Steve Sax said...

GAME ONE

1 Mookie Betts RF
2 Corey Seager SS
3 Trea Turner 2B
4 Max Muncy 1B
5 Will Smith C
6 Justin Turner 3B
7 AJ Pollock LF
8 Gavin Lux CF
9 Walker Buehler P

karen said...

Belli playing catch with "Pops" before the game.

Steve Sax said...

Game is on ESPN tonight, I guess.

Steve Sax said...

Mookie is standing on second, but Seager whiffs and Turner is down 0-2

Steve Sax said...

Trea strokes a double! 1-0 LA

Steve Sax said...

what the hell just happened there! Trea Turner was picked off second, but a missed tag on Turner allows him to steal third. Wow.

Steve Sax said...

Havoc ensuing here. Muncy grounds to first, Trea is hung up heading home, but he keeps it long enough so Machado throws to second and it sails into right field. Muncy takes third. Now two out.

Steve Sax said...

Will Smith "one of the best catchers in all of baseball", says the ESPN commentator.

Hmm.

Steve Sax said...

Smith flies to center.

1-0 LA through 1.

Steve Sax said...

Buehler works a 1-2-3 top of the second. 1-0 LA

karen said...

Buehler is looking much better than the last couple of his starts.

Steve Sax said...

Whew. Treinen barely closes this out.

Steve Sax said...

2-1 LA

WIN

Steve Sax said...

Jeepers. That was close

Steve Sax said...

Two back. Five to play.

Steve Sax said...

GAME TWO

1 Mookie Betts RF
2 Corey Seager SS
3 Trea Turner 2B
4 Will Smith C
5 Max Muncy 1B
6 AJ Pollock LF
7 Chris Taylor 3B
8 Gavin Lux CF
9 Max Scherzer P

QuadSevens said...

Attababy Seager! First inning double!

Steve Sax said...

Wait, Albert Pujols JUST got his second COVID-19 vaccine dose?!

QuadSevens said...

POLLOCK POWER!! 4-0!

QuadSevens said...

I’m sure there’s probably still players or coaches who haven’t had their first shot.

Steve Sax said...

5-3 LA. Come on, Blue!

QuadSevens said...

Machado hit a 2 run bomb and the fans threw it back. Love to see it.

QuadSevens said...

Scherzer doesn’t look good tonight. 5-4 now.

QuadSevens said...

Seager boots an easy grounder and the game is tied. Second error of the inning for the Dodgers.

Steve Sax said...

Lux pulls a Bryce Harper and looks like he might have either strained his neck, or broken his collarbone. Oh no.

Steve Sax said...

5-6 SD. Scherzer out.

QuadSevens said...

Lux ran into the wall and had to leave the game. It’s 9-9 now in the bottom of the eighth.

QuadSevens said...

SEAGER! 4th Dodgers HR in the inning! 11-9!

QuadSevens said...

Muncy, Pollock, and Bellinger were the other bombs in the eighth.

Steve Sax said...

This is the craziest game I have seen this year.

This is why we keep watching.

Steve Sax said...

Tatis Ks on three straight from Kenley

QuadSevens said...

@Sax Didn’t see you’d mentioned Lux already. My bad.

QuadSevens said...

Kenley looking sharp!

Steve Sax said...

Grisham Ks on four pitches

Steve Sax said...

K

WIN

WOW

QuadSevens said...

Dominate save for Kenley! Big W for the Dodgers!

Steve Sax said...

Gotta watch these highlights.

Nomar: “there was 4+1? Now we have 1+4.”

Steve Sax said...

Gotta watch this postgame show

Steve Sax said...

Also love Tim Neverett mis-calling Seaver’s go-ahead HR by forgetting what inning it was. “The Dodgers win it!”

Steve Sax said...

(Except it was only the eighth inning)

QuadSevens said...

I love that Cody hit a high fastball out. He’s finding it!

Steve Sax said...

We’re gonna need him, esp if GLux is out

karen said...

GAME 3

Mookie Betts RF
Corey Seager SS
Trea Turner 2B
Max Muncy 1B
Will Smith C
Justin Turner 3B
Chris Taylor LF
Cody Bellinger CF
Tony Gonsolin

Steve Sax said...

Boomshakalaka! Thanks karen for posting the lineup

I assume Gonsolin is pitching? :)

karen said...

OMG Sax...I totally missed that. It took me a few minutes to figure out what you were talking about! So yes, I'm going on the assumption that he is pitching!

Also did you see what Lux's teammates did where he ran face first into the wall last night? Somebody took masking tape and outlined the figure of a body where he hit it. Very funny, look it up if you get a chance.



QuadSevens said...

Pollock, Bellinger, and Betts all went and paid their respects at the wall. Lux laughed from the dugout.

QuadSevens said...

The HR parade has continued! Betts and Seager open the game with blasts!

QuadSevens said...

8 HR from both teams last night. 6 HR so far tonight. 4-3 Dodgers after 5.

QuadSevens said...

Seager goes deep again! 8-3 Dodgers!

QuadSevens said...

SWEEP!

QuadSevens said...

DBacks and Gnats tied. Gnats have the winning run on base in the bottom of the ninth.

QuadSevens said...

Gnats walk it off. Of course.

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