A goose was the life of the party at Padres-Dodgers Game 2

October 14th, 2022

We've seen all kinds of animals on baseball fields during MLB games in the past. Squirrels, cats, dogs, possums, pigeons, seagulls, you name it. During the eighth inning of Game 2 of the National League Division Series between the Dodgers and Padres on Wednesday night, we saw the latest example of wildlife at the ballpark when a goose landed in the outfield.

This isn't the first time a goose has found its way onto a big league field. Back in 2018, a goose invited itself to an Angels-Tigers contest at Comerica Park and even crashed into the scoreboard. And we can't forget about "the Goose," who was not only familiar with a ball field in his day, he's even in the Hall of Fame.

Rich "Goose" Gossage was a nine-time All-Star reliever who pitched for several teams, most notably the Yankees and -- you guessed it -- one of the clubs participating at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday night, the Padres.

Perhaps that's why the Dodgers weren't able to rally after the goose showed up -- did the goose's loyalties lie with San Diego thanks to "the Goose"? Things briefly looked promising for Los Angeles, with Gavin Lux singling off Nick Martinez. Padres closer Josh Hader replaced Martinez and walked Trayce Thompson, putting the tying run on base with two outs. Hader got out of the jam by getting pinch-hitter Austin Barnes to fly out to center field.

Postseason ticket information: Padres | Dodgers

The goose was removed from the field during the pitching change.

"He didn't want to go anywhere," said Padres third baseman Manny Machado.

Unlike the "Rally Squirrel" at Busch Stadium back in 2011, when the Cardinals went all the way to the World Series and, in improbable fashion, won it all, there was no "Rally Goose" in Los Angeles on this night, as the Padres went on to even the series at one game apiece with a 5-3 victory.