In a thrilling Game 2 between division rivals, the Padres stormed back with a 10-2 win over the Dodgers to tie the series, and according to Derek Jeter, the hero of the night was none other than Yu Darvish. Chatting on the Fox Sports podcast with fellow legends David Ortiz and Alex Rodriguez, Jeter applauded Darvish’s incredible performance, calling him “the real story.” The veteran pitcher held the Dodgers to just one run over five innings, stifling the same lineup that had erupted for seven home runs in Game 1.
Darvish’s success, with three strikeouts and sharp command, kept Dodgers hitters guessing all night. “He kept the hitters off balance,” Jeter commented, emphasizing how crucial Darvish’s poise was in shutting down a powerful Dodgers offense. The Padres’ defense, which Jeter highlighted as “impressive,” backed up Darvish’s stellar outing with smart, tight fielding and an inning-stopping line drive double play.
While Shohei Ohtani launched a three-run homer in Game 1, he met his match against Darvish, whose arsenal of splitters and fastballs kept even the superstar off-balance. Darvish noted that he didn’t have a specific plan just for Ohtani but was laser-focused on every hitter in the Dodgers lineup.
Reflecting on his journey, Darvish—who once wore Dodgers colors and played in the 2017 World Series—admitted that facing his former team added a layer of motivation. Having found fresh momentum with the Padres, he’s proving to be a pivotal asset as they aim for a series win.
