Dodger fans react to victory

Top line:

The context: In a fast-paced pitchers' duel, the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres on Friday evening and advanced to the National League Championship.

What's next: The boys in blue now have home field advantage as they take on the New York Mets in a best-of-seven series this Sunday. The winner advances to the World Series.

Read on… Learn more about how some fans reacted to the Dodger win.

Dodger Stadium was packed Friday night as the Los Angeles home team took on the rival San Diego Padres in their fifth home game.

The moment the Dodgers clinched the division title — after solo home runs by Kiké and Teosar Hernández and a relentless bullpen that shut out the Padres — Chavez Ravine erupted in deafening cheers.

It was not unlike the scene at Al's Cocktails, where Dodger supporters gathered on a Friday night to watch their boys in the city of San Gabriel.

Wendy Hopkins is both a lifelong San Gabriel resident and Dodgers fan. She said she started going to games in the 1970s because her father, who worked for the county, could get cheap tickets for $7.

Since then, she has never hesitated.

Wendy Hopkins and her boyfriend Armando Arce at Al's Cocktails.

“I had no doubts because they always get it in the end,” she said of Game 5. “I wasn’t worried about it.”

Hopkins played in a World Series game in 2020 when the Dodgers made their breakthrough.

“It was incredible,” she said.

But due to the pandemic, the mood was not the same. She hopes the Dodgers get the full benefit this year — a full stadium, big crowds and another World Series ring.

Next to Hopkins at the bar was Claudia Nuñez of Alhambra. She was completely nervous going into the deciding game tonight.

Claudia Nuñez at Al's in San Gabriel, watching Game 5 of the National League Division Series between the Dodgers and the Padres.

“I love the Dodgers and this is my favorite. “The love was also passed on from her recently deceased father.

“He always loved the Dodgers, that reminds me of him. It was Fernando Valenzuela and (Rick) Monday and all these other stars and he taught me that,” she said. “On Sunday, the Dodgers take on the New York Mets for the National League Championship Series. It would be a home game.

While she would love for her team to move on, Nuñez is the Zen type.

“It doesn’t matter whether they win or lose,” she added. “It’s about the people who support the Dodgers, that’s what it’s all about.”

And you might find her on Sunday around 5:15 p.m. watching the game with her Dodger friends at Al's in San Gabriel.