Dodgers' Freeman Homers Again, Leads in Game 4
The Los Angeles Dodgers continued their dominant run in the National League Division Series, taking a commanding 3-1 lead over the San Diego Padres thanks to another powerful performance by Freddie Freeman. The veteran first baseman, who has been a force at the plate throughout the series, hit his second home run of the series in Game 4, driving in two runs and setting the tone for a 5-3 Dodgers victory.
Freeman's Blast Ignites Dodgers Offense
With the score tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the 4th inning, Freeman launched a towering two-run homer to right field off Padres starter Blake Snell. The blast gave the Dodgers a 3-1 lead and energized the home crowd at Dodger Stadium.
"It was a big moment," Freeman said after the game. "I was just trying to get a good pitch to hit and put a good swing on it. Luckily, I was able to get a pitch up and I put a good swing on it."
The homer was Freeman's 10th of the postseason, a testament to his consistent performance in October. He finished the game with 3 hits, extending his hitting streak to 7 games.
Dodgers Pitching Staff Holds Strong
The Dodgers pitching staff, led by Clayton Kershaw in Game 4, held the Padres offense in check. Kershaw, making his first start since Game 1, pitched 5 innings, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits.
"It was good to get back out there," Kershaw said. "I didn't have my best stuff, but I was able to get through 5 innings and give our team a chance to win."
The bullpen, led by Brusdar Graterol and Craig Kimbrel, closed out the game in strong fashion. Graterol recorded a key strikeout with the bases loaded in the 8th inning, while Kimbrel pitched a scoreless 9th to earn his second save of the series.
Padres Face Elimination
The Padres now face elimination in Game 5, needing a win to force a Game 6 back in San Diego. They will need to find a way to slow down the Dodgers offense, especially Freeman, who has been a thorn in their side throughout the series.
With Freeman leading the way, the Dodgers are one win away from advancing to the National League Championship Series. Will they be able to close out the series in Game 5?