Bellinger struck a tie-breaking, three-run homer, and Mookie Betts hit an RBI double in the Dodgers eighth-inning rally. The Dodgers beat Atlanta 6-5 Tuesday, cutting the Braves’ lead to 2-1.
Manager of the Dodgers Dave Roberts stated that it was difficult to recall a more significant hit with the stakes. “I feel exhausted right now.”
Many of the 51,307 Dodgers fans had left by the time the Dodgers reached their final five outs. They were facing the daunting prospect that they would lose the series 3-0. Bellinger hit two strikes down the middle, missing one pitch. He was then forced to kneel in the dirt.
Bellinger stated, “Ball’s coming into hard, some shadows are you dealing with, so it was clear to me and I tried to barrel it up.” Just keep barreling up the ball, and pass the baton.
Bellinger drove a 95.6-mph fastball from Luke Jackson to his shoulder height into the right-field pavilion. This ignited the blue towel-waving crowd, and revived the hopes of the World Series champions.
Jackson stated, “The sad thing is that I would do it again.” I was trying to throw a fastball high and away. It was actually easier than I thought. It was a big ball. It was not too high. It was a great player who put a lot of effort into it.
Chris Taylor singled, stole second, and moved to third thanks to pinch-hitter Matt Beaty’s groundout. Betts then followed Jesse Chavez’s lead with a double to Betts’ right-center.
Betts stated, “One of our strengths is not worrying about yesterday, but focusing on the present.”
Game 4 will be played Wednesday at Dodger Stadium.
Brian Snitker, Braves manager, stated that “We can do this. We’re confident.” “There will be no residual effects following this game.”
Los Angeles Dodgers lost all previous postseason games, in Brooklyn and Los Angeles. They had been trailed by at least three runs in the eighth.
But that’s all history. Bellinger’s struggles in recent times are also history.
Bellinger, the 2019 NL MVP batted a terrible.165 with a pitiful.240 on base percentage and 94 strikeouts over 315 at-bats. Bellinger saved himself last week by scoring a tiebreaking run in the ninth inning against San Francisco’s Giants in Game 5.
Bellinger described the postseason as a “fresh start”. It’s at least a new beginning for me this season. It was a difficult regular season. However, I felt positive towards the end of it, and will try to keep that feeling going all the way.
He said, “Just like you know, keeping simple.” “Crazy events are occurring.”
Bellinger has done it before. His tiebreaking home run in seventh inning secured Game 7 after the Dodgers overcome a 3-1 Atlanta deficit in the NLCS.
The crowd chanted and cheered in the ninth as Kenley Jansen struck out to earn the save. He was the ninth Dodgers pitcher. They combined to run through 15 games in the first two.
After suffering back-to-back Atlanta walk-off losses, the Dodgers returned home to dominate the Braves and were an MLB-best of 58-23 in the regular season.
Since June 8, 2018, the Braves have not won at Dodger Stadium. Since June 8, 2018, the Braves have lost at Dodger Stadium 20 times in their last 23 games in Los Angeles. They’ve also lost 10 consecutive games in Los Angeles since the 2013 NLDS.
After leading 5-2 in fifth, it looked as if they would end their skid.
After Corey Seager’s 2-run shot gave them an early lead. The Dodgers offense was stymied from the second to eighth innings with just five hits.
Bellinger stated, “It’s not going to be easy and given to us.” “We have to fight for it.”
The wild-card winner made an unlikely comeback late on, just as the Dodgers did so many times this postseason.
They beat St. Louis in NL wild-card, and then beat 107-win San Francisco (NLDS).
The Dodgers are gaining momentum despite trailing in the best-of-7 series. They will be at home for the next two games after overcoming the 3-1 deficit they suffered against the Braves last year in the NLCS at a neutral location in Arlington, Texas.
The Braves built their lead by hitting a lot of singles. They pounded out 12 hits and Gavin Lux dropped a flyball.
Freddie Freeman broke his slump and went 3 for 4, with a walk, and a run. He struck out seven times in eight at bats in the first two games.
Adam Duvall was 2 for 5 and drove in two runs, while scoring another run for the Braves. At least one Atlanta batter reached base.
Tony Gonsolin won the victory and recorded one in relief.
After being hammered in eighth, Jackson suffered the loss.
Freeman and Eddie Rosario launched the Braves by hitting back-to-back singles from Walker Buehler in order to open the game.
While the Braves shook off 51,307 people and knocked around Buehler, the Braves took a 4-2 lead at the fourth.
Atlanta received RBI singles from Joc PEDerson, Duvall, and Dansby Swanson. Buehler walked Rosario four pitches with the bases loaded in order to force in an additional run.
Swanson’s hit to his Vanderbilt former teammate was caught by shortstop Seager. It rolled into left and allowed Pederson to score the winning run.
The fourth inning was not without its missteps. Lux chased Austin Riley’s double to right-center, only for the ball to slip off his glove and end the inning.
After Rosario had been walked, Buehler was yanked. Buehler was able to allow seven runs and four hits over three innings of rest. On 76 pitches, the right-hander struck out 3 and walked 3.
In Game 4 of the NLDS, Buehler pitched while on short rest for his first pitch in his entire career. Although he didn’t win the game, the Dodgers tied it and forced a fifth.
Atlanta’s lead was extended to 5-2 in fifth on Duvall’s RBI single that earned Ozzie Albies, who stole second and walked it.
Charlie Morton was on the mound for the Dodgers in the first. He tied a postseason mark with four walks and 34 pitches. For a 2-0 lead, the right-hander walked Betts and Seager.
Morton loaded the bases with consecutive two-out walks by Justin Turner, Lux, and Bellinger. Taylor then lined out to short to end his inning.
Morton gave up two runs and three hits over five innings. The right-hander struck five out and walked six.
SOUND FROM SCULLY
Vin Scully, a Hall of Fame broadcaster, gave the pregame call of “It’s time for Dodger Baseball!” via video from his Los Angeles home. The crowd cheered as he tapped his fist onto his heart and raised his hand. Scully, who will turn 94 next month and has been calling games in Brooklyn and Los Angeles for 67 years, decided to retire in 2016.
UP NEXT
LHP Julio Urias will start for the Dodgers in Game 4, on Wednesday. Braves planned a bullpen match.
