2022 MLB Playoffs: Trea Turner, Gavin Lux deliver for Dodgers in Game 1

By Rowan Kavner
FOX Sports MLB Writer

LOS ANGELES — By the time second baseman Gavin Lux doubled down the right-field line in the third inning Tuesday, knocking Padres starter Mike Clevinger out of Game 1 of the National League Division Series, it felt all but over.

And when the Padres battled back, demonstrating the resilience of a team that already overcame the odds once this postseason, the Dodgers’ middle infielders were there to answer the call again.

Shortstop Trea Turner homered and doubled in his first two at-bats, Lux provided the knockout punch at the plate, and the duo combined forces to end the Padres’ best chance to tie or take the lead when they turned a nifty, inning-ending double-play to strand the tying runs on base in the sixth inning of a 5-3 Dodgers win.

The defensive gem on a scorching grounder lined 100.1 mph off Wil Myers‘ bat was stabbed by Lux, who turned to Turner to finish the double-play. On the mound, the typically cool-headed Evan Phillips pumped his fist and let out a yell. From the dugout, starter Julio Urías did the same before smacking his hands against the dugout railing.

It was a monumental play as the Padres mounted a sudden, surprise comeback after Urías had cruised through four scoreless innings.

Trea Turner reflects on the Dodgers’ Game 1 win

Trea Turner reflects on the Dodgers’ victory over the Padres in Game 1 of the NLDS in a postgame interview with Tom Verducci.

It all looked like more of the same for the Dodgers, who have long had the Padres’ number. In 2020, the Padres made their first playoff appearance in 14 years before the Dodgers disposed of them in a three-game sweep in the NLDS. Last year, the Dodgers were 12-7 against San Diego, which missed the postseason. This year, the Dodgers outscored the Padres by 62 runs over 19 games, compiling a 14-5 record against them in the process.

In the first inning Tuesday, Turner immediately continued to do to Clevinger what the Dodgers have done all year. Clevinger was 0-2 with a 9.69 ERA in three starts against the Dodgers entering the playoff start.

After Mookie Betts grounded out, Turner smoked a 419-foot home run to the Left Field Pavilion. The Dodgers shortstop hadn’t felt right at the plate late in the year, taking extra batting practice in an effort to find his feel again. Then something seemed to click in the final game of the regular season, when Turner mashed a three-run homer against the Rockies.

Despite a five-day layoff for the division-winning Dodgers, Turner seemed to carry that momentum into Game 1. After registering just two extra-base hits in 12 postseason games last season for the Dodgers, he mashed an extra-base hit in each of his first two at-bats against the Padres.

The Dodgers led 5-0 after three innings, with two extra-base hits apiece from Turner and Will Smith. Lux’s hit did the final damage against Clevinger.

Trea Turner’s solo home run puts Dodgers up 1-0

Dodgers shortstop Trea Turner launches a solo home run off Mike Clevinger to give L.A. a 1-0 lead over the San Diego Padres.

The five runs would hold, despite the Padres’ late attack against Urías. San Diego’s first three batters reached base to start the fifth inning, and all three scored. An inning later, manager Dave Roberts deployed his best high-leverage weapon in Phillips to face the heart of the Padres’ order.

Juan Soto walked to start the inning. Manny Machado followed with a dribbler single. Phillips got a vital strikeout of pinch-hitter Josh Bell before inducing the Myers double-play.

That was the last real threat posed to the Dodgers, whose middle infielders’ work both offensively and defensively played a vital role in a 1-0 start to the playoffs.

Rowan Kavner covers the Dodgers and NL West for FOX Sports. He previously was the Dodgers’ editor of digital and print publications. Follow him on Twitter at @RowanKavner.