The 2024 MLB playoffs began with some high drama across the country, with the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, New York Mets and Cleveland Guardians all coming out on top in Game 1 of their Division Series.
Here’s how it all went down:
Dodgers 7, Padres 5
The Dodgers and Padres capped a chaotic day with another dramatic game, with the Dodgers coming out on top 7-5.
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It started with a three-run inning from the Padres against Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Shohei Ohtani responded with a three-run homer to introduce himself to the MLB postseason. Both teams had another rally in them from there, but the Dodgers were the team that held firm after both starting pitchers left the game.
The Dodgers bullpen combined to throw six scoreless innings, though they were adventurous, with four walks total in the eighth and ninth innings.
Yankees 6, Royals 5
In their first postseason matchup since 1980, the Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees traded the lead five times, which had never happened before in a postseason game, according to MLB.com’s Sarah Langs. The Yankees went on top 6–5 in the seventh inning on an Alex Verdugo RBI single off Michael Lorenzen and made the lead stick.
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Luke Weaver closed out the win with a four-out save, striking out three Kansas City batters while allowing no runs or hits. Gleyber Torres and Austin Wells each drove in two runs for the Yankees, and Verdugo and Anthony Volpe each had one RBI.
For the Royals, MJ Melendez and Garrett Hampson both had two RBI, with Tommy Pham driving in the other. Michael Lorenzen took the loss, allowing one run.
Mets 6, Phillies 2
The Phillies and Mets played two games on Saturday.
The first was a Zack Wheeler gem. The Phillies starter mowed down the Mets lineup for seven straight innings, striking out nine and allowing only one hit. After a Kyle Schwarber leadoff homer, it was looking like that was all the Phillies would need, thanks to their ace and their stacked bullpen.
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Then that bullpen took over in the eighth inning and got ground into a fine paste. Jeff Hoffman (2.17 regular-season ERA), Matt Strahm (1.87 ERA) and Orion Kerkering (2.29 ERA) allowed seven straight Mets to reach base and/or drive in a run. By the end of the frame, the Mets were up 5-1, and Citizen Banks Park had gone from raucous to silent.
Guardians 7, Tigers 0
The Guardians took Game 1 in commanding fashion with a 7-0 win over the Detroit Tigers.
Cleveland started the game strong, with a five-run first inning highlighted by Lane Thomas’ three-run homer. Thomas sent Reese Olson’s first relief pitch over the left-field wall. Olson calmed things down over the next several innings, but the Guardians got to reliever Sean Guenther in the bottom of the sixth, when David Fry’s two-run double extended their lead to 7-0.
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Guardians starter Tanner Bibee went 4 2/3 innings and allowed zero runs on four hits while striking out six batters.
Here’s a look at the four Game 1s: