With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
How Dodger fans reacted to beating the Padres: 'I wasn't worried about this'
Fans at a San Gabriel bar watching Game 5 between the Dodgers and the Padres.
(
Josie Huang
/
LAist
)
Dodger Stadium was at capacity on Friday night, as the boys in blue faced off against the rival San Diego Padres in a do-or-die game 5 at home.
The moment the Dodgers clinched the division title — off solo homers by the "Hernández" brothers Kiké and Teoscar and a merciless bullpen that pitched 24 straight scoreless innings against the Padres — Chavez Ravine erupted in deafening cheers.
It was not unlike the scene at the Al's Cocktails, where the faithful gathered in the city of San Gabriel to to watch their boys Friday evening.
Fan stories
Listen
• 2:18
Fans react to Dodgers beating the San Diego Padres
Support for LAist comes from
Wendy Hopkins is both a lifelong San Gabriel resident and a lifelong Dodger fan. She said she started going to games in the '70s, because her father, who worked for the county, got cheap $7 game tickets.
Ever since, she has never wavered.
Wendy Hopkins and her boyfriend Armando Arce at Al's Cocktails.
(
Fiona Ng
/
LAist
)
"I didn't have any doubts because they always pull it out in the end," she said about Game 5, which was a must-win for the team that had to put back-to-back wins together to advance. "I wasn't worried about this."
Hopkins went to a World Series game in 2020, when the Dodgers went all the way.
"It was amazing," she said.
But because of the pandemic, the vibe wasn't the same. She hopes this year, the Dodgers will get the full treatment — packed stadium, big crowds and another World Series ring.
Support for LAist comes from
Sitting next to Hopkins at the bar was Claudia Nuñez from Alhambra. She was all nerves going into the decisive Game 5.
Claudia Nuñez at Al's in San Gabriel, watching Game 5 of the National League Division Series between the Dodgers and the Padres.
(
Fiona Ng
/
LAist
)
“I love the Dodgers and that’s my favorite," Nuñez said.
She said the love was passed down from her father, who recently died.
"He always loved the Dodgers, that’s what reminds me of him," she said. "It was Fernando Valenzuela and [Rick] Monday and all these other stars and that’s what he taught me."
What's next
On Sunday, the Dodgers are going up against the New York Mets for the National League Championship Series. With the best record in baseball, they have home field advantage. That means Game 1 in the best of seven series in here in L.A.
Support for LAist comes from
While she'd love her team to keep going, Nuñez is zen.
“It doesn’t matter if they win or lose," she added. "It’s about the people that root for the Dodgers, that’s what it is."
And you might just find her this Sunday at around 5:15 p.m., watching the the first pitch of the game with her Dodger friends at Al’s in San Gabriel.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember. -
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain. -
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care. -
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases.
Best of LAist