Defense has its day in SD-LA classic Game 2

LOS ANGELES -- The Padres’ 5-3 win over the Dodgers in Game 2 of the National League Division Series on Wednesday night will be remembered as a slugfest, but in the middle rounds -- or innings -- it was the defense that took center stage for both clubs in a highly entertaining postseason contest at Dodger Stadium.

It started in the fifth inning, when Mookie Betts drew a leadoff walk against Yu Darvish and attempted to steal second base with the red-hot Trea Turner at the plate in a tie game. Darvish was laboring and Robert Suarez was getting loose in the bullpen, but Betts took his chances, as opposing base stealers were successful in 14 out of 16 tries with Darvish on the mound in the regular season.

Catcher Austin Nola, however, made a perfect throw to second baseman Jake Cronenworth to get Betts, with the call standing after a replay review.

"It was big,” Nola said. “Yu did a great job. He gave me a quick time to the plate to give me a chance. It was excellent. And Crony put a good tag on it. Just a good all-around defensive play from everybody."

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It was the Dodgers’ turn to create their own defensive highlight reel in the sixth, but it was a pivotal error from Turner at shortstop that led to the Padres scoring the go-ahead and eventual winning run.

After Brandon Drury greeted reliever Brusdar Graterol with a leadoff single to center to open the frame, Cronenworth followed with a hard-hit grounder to Freddie Freeman at first base but the Dodgers couldn't quite turn two. Graterol got Wil Myers to ground into what looked like a tailor-made double play to short to end the inning, only for Turner to boot the ball.

"I thought he might have been a little too quick," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. "Just to get the lead runner was really important, and I just think that the exchange wasn't good."

Jurickson Profar, who struck out in his previous at-bat on a curveball that bounced several feet in front of the plate in the fourth, got his redemption with an RBI single to right to give the Padres the lead.

But that lead could've grown even larger if it weren't for a pair of exceptional defensive plays to end the inning and keep it a one-run game.

The Padres tried to catch the Dodgers by surprise with a safety squeeze from Trent Grisham, but Graterol made an incredible play, getting off the mound to field the bunt on the third-base side before making a perfect throw home to get Myers at the plate.

Graterol then gave up a deep drive to center to Nola but he was saved by center fielder Cody Bellinger, who turned his body around twice before making the catch near the wall in center to prevent any further damage.

It was San Diego's chance to flash the leather again in the bottom of the sixth after Will Smith led off with a single off Darvish. Darvish remained in the game to face Max Muncy, who responded by ripping a liner over Juan Soto’s head in right field.

But Soto deked Smith, who had to wait in between first and second before he realized the ball was going over Soto's head. Smith was able to reach third but Muncy admitted he was deceived by Soto and didn’t get to second base.

“I thought Soto was going to catch it, and then when he didn't catch it, Will was right in front of me and I wasn't sure if he was going to go to third or not,” Muncy said. “By the time I saw him going to third it was too late for me to make my decision, and I don't want to make an out at second right there."

It turned out to be pivotal with Suarez coming in and being able to pull off a Houdini act to get out of the jam. Suarez struck out Justin Turner and got Gavin Lux to ground into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning. Shortstop Ha-Seong Kim pumped his fist as he came off the field.

“That was the play of the game,” said Padres manager Bob Melvin. “There are certain moments that get lost in the shuffle with the drama at the end of the game, but the strikeout and then the double play, you have to be perfect on it. Kimmy has to get to the bag and get rid of it with a runner coming down his throat. That is the play of the game at the time and got the momentum back in our dugout.”