Blake Treinen threw his hands skyward, a gesture that signaled triumph, relief, and a sense of redemption. His teammates rushed from the dugout, swarming him in an eruption of joy near the pitcher's mound. The scene was one of pure jubilation, a moment of euphoria that had eluded them for so long. Surrounding them, a sea of 53,000 ecstatic fans, long accustomed to the painful sting of October failures, cheered in delirious harmony. The roar was deafening, a collective release of frustration and heartbreak, a symphony of triumph that shook Dodger Stadium to its core.
This wasn't just another win. It was more than advancing to the National League Championship Series (NLCS) after a 2-0 shutout of their Southern California rivals, the San Diego Padres, in Game 5 of the National League Division Series (NLDS). For the Dodgers, this was a moment of reckoning—a chance to rewrite the script that had plagued them for the last few seasons. Staring down the possibility of a third consecutive NLDS exit, the Dodgers banded together, shutting down the Padres’ powerhouse lineup, and in the process, exorcised their postseason demons.
Relief and Redemption: The Dodgers’ Journey to Break the Curse
"It’s relief," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts admitted, with a cigar in hand, during his postgame press conference. His face, usually a mask of intensity during games, was now filled with a sense of calm and satisfaction. "It’s redemption."
Dodgers infielder Gavin Lux echoed the sentiment, adding, "I think we’re all sick of it. We want to change the narrative."
And change the narrative they did. For the Dodgers, this victory was not just another check in the win column. It was a statement—a declaration that they were no longer the team that crumbled under the pressure of October baseball. In recent years, the Dodgers had developed a reputation for faltering when it mattered most, crashing out of the playoffs in 2019, 2022, and 2023 despite boasting 100-win seasons. Even in 2020, when they finally won the World Series, it came in the unusual setting of a neutral-site ballpark in front of empty seats, robbed of the atmosphere that makes postseason baseball so magical.
But this year felt different. The Dodgers were different.
A Moment of Catharsis: Facing Elimination and Winning Big
Friday’s win was pure catharsis, coming on the heels of back-to-back elimination games. The Dodgers had fallen behind two games to one in the best-of-five series, but instead of folding under the pressure, they responded with grit, determination, and a belief in each other that had been missing in previous years.
"I won’t lie to you, it’s a little bit of a relief," admitted third baseman Max Muncy. "But this is a different group this year. There’s a lot of fight … We were going to win this game, no doubt about it."
That belief was evident from the first pitch. In front of a packed house at Dodger Stadium, the team fed off the energy of the crowd, fueled by the desire to clinch a postseason series in front of their home fans for the first time since 2013. It was the kind of atmosphere players dream about—a pressure-cooker environment that brings out the best in those who can handle the moment.
The Pitching Heroics: Yamamoto Sets the Tone
The Dodgers entrusted their season to 26-year-old right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a $325-million offseason signing. Despite struggling in Game 1, where he tipped his pitches and gave up five runs in three innings, the team had faith in him. Yamamoto rewarded that trust with a stellar performance, setting the tone for the game by retiring the side in the first inning and escaping a jam in the third by inducing a double-play from Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr.
"He was outstanding tonight," Roberts said with pride. "I knew he wasn’t going to run from this spot."
Yamamoto’s five scoreless innings were exactly what the Dodgers needed. His fastball command was pinpoint, and he mixed in sliders, curveballs, and splitters to keep the Padres' dangerous lineup off balance. The rest of the pitching staff followed suit, completing back-to-back shutouts and extending their streak to 24 consecutive scoreless innings to close out the series.
Postseason Heroes: Kiké and Teoscar Hernández Deliver the Big Blows
While the Dodgers’ pitching staff was flawless, it was Kiké Hernández who provided the offensive spark. In the bottom of the second inning, just after a Will Smith double play had sucked some energy from the crowd, Hernández stepped to the plate and delivered. Hunting for a first-pitch fastball from Padres starter Yu Darvish, he crushed a solo home run deep into the left-field stands, sending Dodger Stadium into a frenzy.
"I kept telling myself, ‘They brought you here for a reason,’" Hernández said after the game. And deliver he did. Since returning to the Dodgers, Hernández has batted .340 in his last 35 playoff games—a testament to his ability to perform when the lights are brightest.
Darvish settled in after that, retiring 14 consecutive batters, but the Dodgers weren’t done. In the seventh inning, Teoscar Hernández joined the party, launching a solo home run of his own to give the Dodgers some breathing room. His bat flip and the ensuing pandemonium in the stands were the stuff of postseason legend.
"I got a guy right here that likes the moment, too," Kiké said of Teoscar during the postgame press conference, a grin on his face. "I told him before Game 4, it had never been done before—two Hernándezes going deep in the same game in the playoffs."
The Bullpen Shines: Dodgers’ Relievers Lock Down the Padres
The Dodgers’ bullpen, long seen as a weakness in past postseasons, was lights out. Evan Phillips, Alex Vesia, and Michael Kopech combined to shut the door on the Padres. Phillips, in particular, was electric, striking out Manny Machado—who had been the Padres’ most dangerous hitter earlier in the series—with a critical pitch that sent the stadium into a frenzy.
Vesia, known for his fiery demeanor, had veins bulging from his neck after striking out Jackson Merrill to end the seventh inning. "We know that the postseason runs through the bullpen," Phillips said, emphasizing the importance of their role. "Through all the ups and downs throughout the year, we know we’re building toward this moment."
The only hiccup came when Vesia called for a trainer before the eighth inning, forcing Roberts to turn to Kopech earlier than planned. But Kopech didn’t flinch, blowing a 102-mph fastball past Jake Cronenworth to retire the side in order.
The Road Ahead: Dodgers Eye Elusive Full-Season World Series
With the Padres dispatched, the Dodgers now turn their attention to the NLCS and a showdown with the New York Mets. Eight more wins stand between them and an elusive full-season World Series title, something they haven’t achieved since 1988.
But after Friday night, the Dodgers have reason to believe. "We have a lot of ‘F-U’ in us," Kiké Hernández said. "We’ve overcome a lot of adversity, not only during the season but in this series. But we were able to come out on top, and that’s the only thing that matters."
This team is hungry. This team is ready. And after years of postseason heartbreak, the Dodgers are poised to change their narrative once and for all.
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