Koufax, Dodgers top SD in MLB Dream Bracket
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LOS ANGELES -- After dropping Game 1 on a blown save by Eric Gagne, the Dodgers swept the next four games against the Padres to take their opening series of the MLB Dream Bracket presented by DraftKings and advance to the second round, where they'll face the Marlins.
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Duke Snider was a standout offensively for the Dodgers, going 9-for-21 (.429). He had two homers and seven RBIs, all in the Dodgers’ 11-3 win in Game 3. Steve Garvey and Roy Campanella drove in five runs each.
Sandy Koufax started Games 1 and 5 with a pair of no-decisions, but his 1.42 ERA led the series.
The MLB Dream Bracket is a 32-team best-of-seven simulation featuring all-time teams for each of the 30 current Major League franchises, as well as teams consisting of Negro Leagues Stars and 25 & Under Stars. The 26-man rosters for each of the teams, compiled by the MLB.com beat reporters, consist of 15 hitters and 11 pitchers. For the simulation, players are rated using the average of their three best seasons on a single team. Rosters were constructed with balanced depth to specifically compete in a simulated regulation game.
Game 1: Padres 6, Dodgers 5
Nate Colbert slugged a grand slam off Gagne in the eighth inning as the Dodgers wasted Koufax’s six-inning start, Cody Bellinger’s two-run homer and Garvey’s two RBIs.
The Dodgers chased starter Jake Peavy in the third, but San Diego loaded the bases off Phil Regan in his second inning of relief. Gagne entered and was greeted by Colbert’s slam. Trevor Hoffman got five outs for the save, while Ed Whitson was the winner with 4 2/3 shutout innings of relief.
Game 2: Dodgers 6, Padres 2
Campanella homered, doubled and drove in four runs, starter Clayton Kershaw fired seven innings and the Dodgers roughed up San Diego starter Randy Jones for five runs in 6 1/3 innings.
The Dodgers' bullpen, which let Game 1 get away, rebounded as Kenley Jansen struck out four in 1 2/3 innings and Gagne, who blew the save in that first game, struck out Steve Finley to close this one out.
Game 3: Dodgers 11, Padres 3
Snider slugged a pair of home runs (including a grand slam), drove in a DBK-record seven runs and went 4-for-5, while Jackie Robinson set a DBK record with five hits as the Dodgers chased Andy Ashby in the second inning.
L.A. starter Don Drysdale pitched into the eighth inning and Don Newcombe got the last four outs. Dave Winfield homered off Drysdale for San Diego.
Game 4: Dodgers 4, Padres 2 (10)
Garvey slugged a two-run homer off Hoffman in the top of the 10th inning to overcome San Diego’s hitting machine, Tony Gwynn, who went 4-for-4 with an RBI.
Dodgers starter Orel Hershiser allowed two runs in eight innings, and Gagne earned the win with three strikeouts in two scoreless innings.
Game 5: Dodgers 3, Padres 1
Koufax struck out 10 in 6 2/3 innings, and Ron Cey and Pee Wee Reese slugged back-to-back homers in a three-run eighth inning as the Dodgers rallied late to clinch the series.
Mike Marshall was credited with the win for his 1 1/3 scoreless innings, while Jansen nailed down the save. Peavy took a shutout into the eighth inning and was relieved by Heath Bell, who allowed the home runs.