The San Diego Padres have a date with the Los Angeles Dodgers within the Nationwide League Division Collection.
On Wednesday, the Padres accomplished a two-game sweep of the Atlanta Braves within the NL Wild Card Collection, successful Recreation 2, 5-4. Listed here are three takeaways from the motion.
Padres quick-strike offense could possibly be harmful shifting ahead
In Recreation 1, the Padres started working early in opposition to starter AJ Smith-Shawver, who allowed three runs after going through solely 9 batters. The identical could possibly be stated about San Diego’s offense in Recreation 2.
Trailing the Braves 1-0, the Padres put collectively a five-run second inning, recording six straight hits to push 5 runs throughout the plate whereas chasing starter Max Fried from the sport.
Kyle Higashioka began the rally, homering for the second straight sport, adopted by a two-run double by Manny Machado and a two-run triple by rookie Jackson Merrill to blow the sport extensive open, 5-1. According to OptaStats, the Padres are the primary workforce in MLB historical past to file six consecutive hits and hit for the cycle in the identical inning of a playoff sport.