Padres shut out Mets in Game 3, advance to face Dodgers in NLDS

Joe Musgrove spun a historic gem as the San Diego Padres beat the New York Mets 6-0 to win their best-of-three National League wild-card series at Citi Field on Sunday.

San Diego will face the 111-win Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS beginning Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.

Musgrove, who grew up a few miles away from Petco Park in El Cajon, California, was virtually untouchable all night. The right-hander allowed just one hit and two baserunners in his seven shutout innings while striking out five. The 29-year-old is the first pitcher in postseason history to pitch at least seven innings while allowing two or fewer hits in a winner-take-all game, according to Sarah Langs of MLB.com.

"Hats off to Musgrove. He flat-out beat us," Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor said, according to Tim Britton of The Athletic.

Offensively, the bottom of San Diego's order propelled the team to victory. Catcher Austin Nola's two-RBI single off Mets starter Chris Bassitt in the second inning provided all the run support Musgrove would need. Nola finished with two hits and two RBIs, as did star outfielder Juan Soto, while Trent Grisham and Manny Machado each contributed two hits of their own.

The only moment when New York appeared to be threatening came on Mark Canha's fifth-inning fly ball with Pete Alonso on first base. Canha's fly looked as though it might drop for extra bases until Grisham hauled it in with a fine running catch. Only one more Mets runner reached base in the rest of the game.

The Padres and Dodgers will now square off in the NLDS for the second time in three seasons. Los Angeles swept their 2020 series, which was played entirely at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, due to the pandemic. The Dodgers won 14 of 19 versus their NL West rival during the regular season.

San Diego will send right-hander Mike Clevinger to the mound in Game 1 of the NLDS, according to Dennis Lin of The Athletic. The Dodgers have yet to name their Game 1 starter.