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Photos: Goose gets loose as Dodgers lose to Padres in Game 2 of NLDS series

 A goose flies on the field during the eighth inning.
A goose fies on the field during the eighth inning to the delight of the Dodgers players and fans.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
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A goose flew onto the field in the eighth inning of the Dodgers-Padres game Wednesday night — perhaps fitting as the Dodgers laid goose eggs after the third inning.

The Dodgers struggled to generate offense in a 5-3 loss to the San Diego Padres in Game 2 of the National League Division Series. The series is tied 1-1, with Game 3 in San Diego on Friday.

Fans, however, went wild for the bird, both at the stadium and online, with chants of “duck, duck, duck!” breaking out in the stands, and “Rally Goose” and “Rally Duck” trending on Twitter Wednesday night.

The goose landed in short centerfield in the bottom of the eighth, and when stadium staff attempted to approach it, the bird again took flight, landing behind home plate. As staff again moved toward the bird, the goose flew into the infield near third base, where crews were finally able to capture the bird, covering it with a towel and removing from the field in a trash can.

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According to the Los Angeles Audubon Society, the goose that graced the Dodgers’ field was a Greater White-Fronted Goose, which can easily get disoriented from bright lights as it migrates at night. The specie spends winters in more-mild California, after nesting in the Arctic tundra in the summer.

Here’s a look at some of the game’s more interesting moments, as captured by Los Angeles Times veteran photographers Gina Ferazzi, Wally Skalij and Robert Gauthier.

A goose is chased off the field during the eighth inning
A goose is chased off the field during the eighth inning.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
and lands on the infield.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
A goose is captured on the field during the eighth inning.
The goose is finally captured.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
 Dodgers' Mookie Betts sits alone on the bench after the game.
Dodgers’ Mookie Betts sits alone on the bench after the loss to the Padres.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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 Padres center fielder Trent Grisham dives for ball hit by Dodgers' Mookie Betts during the seventh inning.
Padres center fielder Trent Grisham dives for ball hit by the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts during the seventh inning.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
 Dodgers catcher Will Smith tags out  Padres' Wil Myers at home plate during the sixth inning.
Dodgers catcher Will Smith tags out Padres’ Wil Myers at home plate during the sixth inning.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman forces out Padres' Ha-Seong Kim at first base,
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman forces out San Diego Padres’ Ha-Seong Kim at first base during the first inning.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Dodgers' Max Muncy hits home run.
Dodgers’ Max Muncy looks up after hitting solo home run off of San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish during the second inning.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
A Dodgers fan wears an oversized hat.
A Dodgers fan wears an oversized hat in the stands before Game 2.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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