Overview

• San Diego opened the three-game set with a 2-1 victory over Los Angeles at Petco Park, framing the weekend as a response to last week’s sweep.
• Fernando Tatis Jr. said, “We’re aiming for the last two,” positioning the club’s focus on closing out the series after securing the first game.
• Before the series, Tatis used an expletive in a candid exchange about manager Mike Shildt’s fiery approach and agreed that players and managers operate at different speeds.
• Shildt’s recent ejection against the Giants for arguing an overturned Xander Bogaerts home run remained part of the backdrop as he publicly criticized the replay decision.
• The rivalry context includes San Diego briefly holding first in the NL West before falling two games back and a June benches-clearing incident after Tatis was hit by a pitch, with Tatis also navigating a prolonged power drought and severe online harassment.