Michael King didn't have the outing he wanted in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Dodgers, but the Padres registered a thrilling 6-5 victory. Fernando Tatis Jr. continued his exceptional postseason performance in the game, while Jackson Merrill, Manny Machado, and others also had notable offensive contributions.
King, who had an outstanding game in his previous outing, pitched five innings, giving up five hits and five runs while striking out only two. Luis Arraez, the 2024 NL batting champion, had an off night, going hitless in four at-bats.
Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the second inning off Walker Buehler, while Jackson Merrill had a modest game, scoring a run in two at-bats.
Joe Musgrove was not on the roster as he is set to undergo Tommy John surgery. Musgrove's absence is a big blow for the Padres, but they still have elite ace pitchers in their roster.
Nonetheless, Musrove's girlfriend, Arica Christensen, was at the game. So were Jackson Merrill's girlfriend Sammie Quinn, Luis Arraez's wife Gladys Penalver, Michael King's wife Sheila, and other partners of Padres stars.
Most of the wives and girlfriends donned cowgirl hats and T-shirts featuring their partners' jersey numbers and pictures, especially, Arica, Sammie and Gladys. They shared snaps of it on their Instagram stories.
With Game 4 to be held at Petco Park, the Padres hold the upper hand. Dylan Cease will be the starting pitcher for the Friars for the pivotal game. On the other hand, the Dodgers have not yet announced their starting pitcher.
Michael King's wife shares Padres star reuniting with Boston College Eagles teammates
Many considered Padres trading Juan Soto to the Yankees a mistake, but they got Michael King and others in return, and King has become a cornerstone of their pitching rotation.
The Padres ace played college baseball for the Boston College Eagles, where he was teammates with Kevin Connor, Johnny Adams and Justin Dunn. The trio linked up with King, evidenced by the snap shared by Sheila King.
Connor, Adams, and Dunn couldn't reach the baseball heights of Michael King. The Seattle Mariners signed Adams to a minor league contract in 2023 but he couldn't make it to the big leagues.
Connor appeared to have not had any success after his collegiate baseball career. Dunn is the most successful of the trio. He is now a free agent but has played for the Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds.