MLB Notebook: Dodgers walk off against Cardinals
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Chris Taylor (3) celebrates as he rounds the bases after hittting a walk-off two run home run in the 9th inning of the MLB National League Wild Card game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Los Angeles Dodgers. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire)
October 7th, 2021
The Major League Baseball playoffs kicked off earlier this week with Wild Card action that included plenty of drama. Those two games, and the theater they carried with them, kick off this week’s MLB Notebook!
Chris Taylor crushes Cardinals
Chris Taylor was the hero Wednesday night in Chavez Ravine, as his two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth propelled the reigning World Series champs to a 3-1 victory over the visiting Cardinals.
Chris Taylor is the 1st player in @Dodgers history to hit a walk-off HR in a winner-take-all #postseason game. pic.twitter.com/Pik5JTdGEq
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) October 7, 2021
Up next for the Dodgers is a clash with the rival San Francisco Giants, who edged them in the race for the NL West title by just one game. The two squads combined for 213 victories during the regular season, and one of them will be going home in the next week or so.
Boston Chases Cole, Tops New York
Meanwhile, in the Junior Circuit, the Boston Red Sox vanquished the New York Yankees 6-2 Tuesday night and ended their rivals’ season in the process.
#RedSox fans were chanting "Gerrrrritttt" right as Xander Bogaerts took Gerrit Cole deep for a 2-run blast.
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 6, 2021
October 🔥🔥
(via @MLB) pic.twitter.com/ISXZxHe3zd
Gerrit Cole surrendered a pair of homers early on in the contest, and the Red Sox never trailed at any point from start to finish. With the victory, Boston advances to the ALDS, where the Sox will face the Tampa Bay Rays beginning Thursday night.
Chicago, Houston Prepare for ALDS
The other American League Division Series features the Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros. Chicago overcame some early-season tension and cruised to an AL Central title, while Houston fended off both the Oakland A’s and Seattle Mariners in their trip back to the postseason. A pair of Lances will square off in Game 1, as Chicago’s Lance Lynn will get the ball against Houston’s Lance McCullers.
Padres Fire Jayce Tingler
The San Diego Padres loaded up this past offseason in hopes of a deep run that never materialized. As a result, the club has parted ways with manager Jayce Tingler, and they did so following a puzzling September swoon.
Jayce Tingler is out as Padres manager after just two seasons.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 6, 2021
San Diego missed the playoffs and finished four games under .500. pic.twitter.com/YU8MUyythL
The Padres were in playoff contention for much of the season, but a late-season collapse that included a dugout dust-up between Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. meant that someone had to go.
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