The Padres and Dodgers served up yet another thrilling showdown in Game 3 of the National League Division Series! With the crowd at Petco Park buzzing and the stakes higher than ever, the Padres pulled off a 6-5 victory, pushing them one step closer to a second trip to the NL Championship Series in just three seasons. 

Tatis Jr. stole the spotlight with a dazzling two-run homer that had everyone buzzing! His signature stutter step near third base was the cherry on top of a historic six-run second inning—the highest-scoring postseason inning in Padres franchise history! MLB legends David Ortiz, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and Kevin Burkhardt reacted to the San Diego Padres’ Game 3 win on MLB on Fox. 

Alex Rodriguez interprets sibling-type rivalry 

San Diego’s explosive offense rode that momentum throughout the game. The bullpen stepped up big time, delivering four lockdown innings that kept the Dodgers at bay. They also kept the Petco Park crowd in a frenzy all night long. Rodriguez took a real-life example of a sibling relationship and compared it to that of the Dodgers and the Padres. He said on the postgame show on Fox Sports, “It’s like the Dodgers have been the big brother for a long time; go back many, many years, decades, but it looks now for the first time the little brother’s saying, ‘You know what I caught up.'” Rodriguez emphasized that that feeling is what got the Padres feeling confident, which is a good thing.

Tuesday’s Game 3 at Petco Park had one controversial moment! Padres captain Manny Machado appeared to alter his running path to obstruct Freddie Freeman’s throw from first base during the second inning. Alex Rodriguez weighed in on Machado’s baserunning, suggesting he cleverly exploited a “blind spot” in Freeman’s throw. Manny Machado’s play became the hot topic of conversation, especially after the Padres erupted for six runs in that pivotal second inning, flipping a 1-0 deficit on its head! But the Dodgers weren’t done yet; they retaliated with a fierce five-run surge in the third inning. In the end, the Padres managed to hold on for a thrilling 6-5 victory, taking a 2-1 lead in the series. But the question remains…

Will history repeat itself for the Dodgers?

If you think you’ve seen this somewhere, you’re probably right. For the second time in three postseasons, the Dodgers rolled into San Diego’s Petco Park on a cool October night, all set for a shot at revenge. But once again, it seems the tables have turned.While this defeat isn’t as crushing as the stunning loss of two Octobers ago, the urgency is palpable.

One more loss, and the Dodgers will see their incredible season end in disappointment. It’s a tough pill to swallow, especially knowing they could once again fall victim to the worst fate against the Padres—those pesky rivals who seem to thrive on being the obnoxious little brother. The Padres currently lead the best-of-five series 2-1, and all eyes are on Game 4, which could seal the Dodgers’ fate.

With ace Dylan Cease taking the mound for San Diego and a patchwork of Dodger relievers ready to step in, the odds don’t look great. After falling to the Padres 6-5 in Game 3 of the National League Division Series, the Dodgers find themselves teetering on the edge of an all-too-familiar fate. Can LA rally and turn the tide, or will the Padres continue to capitalize on this momentum?