Three-Inning Save: A Los Angeles Dodgers Podcast · Three-Inning Save

Dodgers salvage a game in San Diego, return home in first-place tie

·24 min·2 clips

Dalton Rushing hits a game-changing three-run homer off one of baseball's best relievers to give the Dodgers the lead.

This solo episode by host Eric Stephen analyzes the Dodgers' pivotal series against the San Diego Padres, which left the teams tied for first place. Stephen, a veteran Dodgers analyst, provides a detailed recap and roster outlook. The Dodgers lost the series' first two games, combining for only two runs and five hits, risking a sweep and a two-game division deficit. They avoided that with a comeback 8-2 victory in Sunday's finale, highlighted by key home runs. Freddie Freeman tied the game with a solo homer in the sixth inning after the team had a .082 batting average in the series to that point. Dalton Rushing then hit a decisive three-run homer in the seventh off reliever Jeremiah Estrada, who has allowed 13 runs in 6.1 innings against the Dodgers this year. Freeman followed with his second homer of the game, and Shohei Ohtani added his 45th home run of the season in the ninth inning. A memorable moment occurred when Ohtani, after his ninth-inning homer, high-fived a vocal Padres fan who had been heckling the Dodgers' dugout all game. The episode notes the Dodgers' critical bullpen reinforcements, with pitchers Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates returning from injury and both pitching scoreless innings in Sunday's win. Stephen speculates on upcoming roster moves, predicting Kiké Hernández will be activated soon, likely resulting in Buddy Kennedy being designated for assignment. He outlines a potential optimal postseason outfield configuration featuring Tommy Edman in center field, moving Andy Pages to right and Teoscar Hernández to left. The host also tracks the "three-inning save" statistic, noting Bubba Chandler recorded a rare four-inning save in his MLB debut, bringing the 2024 season total to 37 such saves. The tone is analytical and conversational, blending immediate game reaction with forward-looking roster speculation. This episode is ideal for dedicated Dodgers fans seeking a deep dive into a crucial series and the team's playoff roster construction. Listeners with only a casual interest in baseball or who prefer co-hosted banter might find the solo, detail-oriented format less engaging.

As heard by us

A tense Dodgers win that doubles as a standings check and a roster stress test.

Eric Stephen spends this solo episode on the Dodgers' rough week in San Diego, and the best part is how one comeback win becomes a live read on the division race.

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Why you'd press play

When a sweep scare ends in a first-place tie.

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