World Series Bound
Wednesday October 21, 2020
Vol. 61 Issue 6
Dodgers complete 3-1 NLCS comeback, advance to their third World Series in the last four years.
Enrique Medina Sports Editor
enrique.medina4922@my.riohondo.edu
T
he Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their third National League Pennant in the last four years, defeating the Atlanta Braves in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series by a final score of 4-3 Sunday night. The win completed the Dodgers comeback from being down 3-1 in the series to win the final three games and clinch the pennant. After losing three of their first four games in the series, the Dodgers looked to climb a steep, uphill battle to make a comeback. The Dodgers were able to get a huge 7-3 Game 5 victory and 3-1 Game 6 victory propelling them to get to a Game 7. Dodger catcher Will Smith’s three-run home run in the sixth inning against same name opponent and Braves reliever Will Smith gave the Dodgers the lead in Game 5 would put them ahead for good. Game 6 would see the Dodgers plate three in the first, backed by six strong innings from Dodgers starter Walker Buehler to help the Dodgers advance to Game 7.
As for the series-deciding Game 7, the ball would go to Dodgers’ rookie Dustin May. With the Braves already having rookie Ian Anderson set to take the mound on their side, the matchup against May created the first-ever winner take all Game 7 matchup with two rookies starting for both teams. May would only pitch for about an inning or two with the game plan the Dodgers were going for in Game 7. May had started two days before in Game 5 and would seemingly be used in the “opener” role (Opener- Pitcher who starts a game with the intention of being replaced very quickly by another pitcher after an inning or two). The game plan would stick, but that would come at the expense of May giving up the first run of the night in the top of the first. After back to back walks to Ronald Acuna Jr and Freddie Freeman, the Braves Marcell Ozuna would drive in the first run of the ball game with an RBI single. The Braves would cash in again in the top of the second, off of newly entered Dodgers pitcher Tony Gonsolin. Braves
Mimi Castellanos for El Paisano Media
Former Boston Red Sox player and current LA Dodger player Mookie Betts (50) has a .302 career batting average along with 1,000 hits in his seven seasons with the MLB. The 28-year-old Nashville native is a three-time Silver Slugger, four-time AllStar, and four-time Golden Glove Winner.
Photo CourtesyMimi Castellanos for El Paisano Media
(L-R) Justin Turner (10) Cody Bellinger (35) and Max Muncy (13) celebrate Enrique Hernandez 5th career home run against the Braves. All three stars have participated in their last 2018 NL Championship Series win. shortstop Dansby Swanson greeted Gonsolin with a leadoff home run, putting the Braves up 2-0. Through the first two innings, the Dodgers were able to get runners in scoring position but failed to cash in both times. It was in the bottom half of the third that would see the Dodgers put runners in scoring position again, this time on second and third. Will Smith, after a pivotal go-ahead home run in Game 5 of the series, had the opportunity to bring the Dodgers right back into the game. Smith proceeded the beat the Braves again, hitting right through the shift and lining a grounder into right-center field, plating in Justin Turner and Max Muncy on the play to tie the ball game at 2. The game would not stay tied for long as Austin Riley would drive in the Braves go-ahead run in the top of the fourth with a single, scoring Ozzie Albies. Riley, even after capitalizing with a go-ahead hit, made a crucial baserunning error that followed. With runners at second and third with no outs, Braves veteran outfielder Nick Markakis grounded a ball to Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner who threw to home and proceeded to tag out Dansby Swanson on a run down. On the same play, as Turner tagged out Swanson, Turner would proceed to throw out Riley at third for a crucial double play. Another game-changing defensive gem would come in
the top of the fifth, one by a familiar Dodger: Mookie Betts. It was Betts defensive plays in Game 5 and Game 6 that many of his teammates accredited to help keep the Dodgers in the series and Game 7 would bring about the same story. Betts robbed what would have been a solo home run from Braves veteran and perennial MVP Freddie Freeman. Both bullpens kept things in check until the bottom half of the sixth. Kiké Hernandez would pinch-hit for Joc Pederson at DH to start the Dodgers half of the sixth, with Braves lefty reliever A.J Minter on the mind. Hernandez would battle seven pitches into the at-bat fouling everything in sight. The eighth pitch would prove the charm, as Hernandez deposited a game-tying home run deep into the Texas night. It was until the seventh inning that things would change with Cody Bellinger at the plate. Bellinger, the 2019 NL MVP, had his fair share of moments throughout the series, but none came bigger than this one. After another seven-pitch battle against a Braves reliever, this time Chris Martin, Bellinger launched a go-ahead solo home run on the eight-pitch of the atbat, giving the Dodgers the lead for good. The go-ahead home run would be everything needed for the Dodgers’ Julio Urias. Urias would pitch the final three innings of the ballgame, getting the final out of the ballgame on
a Riley fly out to Cody Bellinger. With raw emotion, the Dodgers celebrated the victory after the final out, with all the players and staff hugging each other right near the pitcher’s mound. After the game, the Dodgers were presented with the Warren C. Giles National League Championship trophy and it was Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager who won NLCS series MVP. Seager hit 5 home runs and drove in 11 runs in the series, both NLCS records. Seager’s pivotal home runs in game 5 gave the Dodgers much need insurance to their lead and his first inning home run off of Max Fried jump-started a three-run first inning in Game 6. “Defensively, pitching, game-calling, planning, everything. We grinded all the way through this series,” Seager said after the game. An emotional Dodgers manager, Dave Roberts, also said, “Our fans have stuck together, these guys [the organization] has stuck together, we have more work to do, but for the Dodgers fans… we’re thinking about you. And this year is our year, this is our year!” The Dodgers comeback series victory sets up a date with the American League Champion Tampa Bay Rays in the World Series. Games 1 and 2 are set for Tuesday and Wednesday night respectively, with Game 1 set for 5:09 PT and Game 2 set for 5:08 PT, with all games being televised on Fox.