2022 NLDS Recap
Another exciting round of MLB Postseason baseball is in the books, which means it is time to look back to see how each NLDS series went.
Phillies Dominate Braves in Four
The Phillies’ bats were hot from the start, taking Game 1 7-6. Nick Castellanos went 3-for-3 with three RBIs, and had a huge diving play in the 9th inning to help protect the lead.
Matt Olson’s late three-run homerun put the Braves within one, but the Phillies held on in the end.
Game 2 was certainly a different story. Braves pitcher Kyle Wright silenced the Phillies’ bats and a costly error by Rhys Hoskins allowed the Braves to score three runs in the 6th inning. They didn’t look back and won 3-0 to tie the series up.
Game 3 saw the series move to Philadelphia where an electric crowd packed Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies pounced on Spencer Strider early, scoring six runs in the 3rd inning. A Rhys Hoskins three-run blast and bat slam caused Strider to be yanked earlier than expected, only pitching 2.1 innings.
The Phillies only added on from there and won 9-1 to take a 2-1 series lead.
In a do-or-die elimination game four, the Braves sent out Charlie Morton, who is known to perform well in the postseason. Long story short: he did not perform well.
Brandon Marsh got the party started early with a three-run homerun in the 2nd inning, and an inside-the-park homerun by JT Realmuto made it 4-0. With some timely hits and solid pitching, the Phillies won the game 8-3 and took the series 3-1, knocking off the defending World Series champions.
Padres Exorcize Demons, Take Down Dodgers in Four
The Padres came into Los Angeles losing the season series to the Dodgers, 5-14. How would the San Diego Padres perform against the 111 win Dodgers?
Trea Turner got the party started in Game 1, smacking a solo home run to set the tone for the Dodgers in the 1st inning. Later in the inning, a Max Muncy single scored Will Smith for a 2-0 lead.
The Dodgers held a 5-0 lead until the 5th inning until a rally put the Padres within two. Unfortunately for San Diego, that’s all it would get as the Padres fell short 5-3.
Game 2 saw the tables turn with Manny Machado leading the way for the Friars. Machado tallied two RBIs, Jurickson Profar tallied one, and Jake Cronenworth also had two RBIs along with a solo homerun that put the game out of reach for the Dodgers.
Trea Turner stayed hot going yard again in game two, but the Dodger couldn’t recover and fell 5-3.
Game 3 was a nail biting low scoring affair, seeing a bit of offense early, but none late. Cronenworth continued his strong NLDS run putting the Padres up 1-0 in the 1st, and Trent Grisham continued his turnaround postseason hitting a solo shot in the 4th for his third home run in seven games.
The Dodgers got a run back to make it 2-1 in the 5th, but Josh Hader slammed the door shut with the San Diego crowd roaring behind him. Game 3 ended with the Padres one win away from clinching a berth in the NLCS.
Game 4 saw the Dodgers take a 3-0 lead with their backs against the wall, and it wasn’t until the 7th inning when the Padres came back and scored five runs in the bottom frame.
Tyler Anderson kept San Diego’s bats at bay going five strong innings, striking out six batters and only allowing two hits. Maybe he could’ve stayed in a little longer because as soon as he was taken out, the Padres scored fast.
That five-run bottom of the 7th inning was all the Padres needed to beat the Dodgers team that has dominated them all year long. The Padres took game four 5-3, leaving the city of Los Angeles stunned.
It’s down to only two teams in the NL, the Phillies and the Padres, with both teams seen as unlikely to go far in the postseason. Which unlikely contender will win the pennant and move on to the World Series?
Anthony Desher is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email acd5698@psu.edu.
