Manny Machado, Juan Soto and Fernando Tatis Jr. homered, Yu Darvish struck out nine over six brilliant innings, and the San Diego Padres beat the Philadelphia Phillies 8-3 on Friday.
Another Dominican, Gary Sánchez, also homered for San Diego, which has won six of its last seven games. The match against Philadelphia is a replay of the last National League Championship Series.
JT Realmuto homered for the Phillies.
It was the first meeting between the teams since the fifth of the ALCS in October, when Bryce Harper’s dramatic two-run home run in the eighth inning helped the Phillies win the game-winner at home. Philadelphia thus advanced to the World Series.
Although both clubs appear to have the weapons to make significant progress again in the playoffs, neither started the new season well. However, both have improved recently.
Darvish (6-6) held off the Phillies, allowing five hits, walking two and allowing one run.
The loss went to Christopher Sanchez (0-3), who allowed three runs in five acts.
For the Padres, the Dominicans Tatis 5-1 with one run and two RBIs, Soto 4-1 with one run and two RBIs, Machado 4-1 with one run and an RBI Sánchez 3-1 with one run and one pushed. The Venezuelan Rougned Odor 1-0.
For the Phillies, no Latin Americans hit.