MLB
Dodgers Beat Braves To Advance To NLCS
Yesterday, the Dodgers beat the Braves 6-2 to advance to the National League Championship Series. This is the Dodger’s third straight NLCS appearance and fourth in the last six years, with the other two years L.A. sill getting to the NLDS. They will be heading to Milwaukee for a Friday night game against the Brewers. First, let’s take a look at how they got past the Braves.
Recap
Yesterday’s game was definitely full of clutch hits. The game started off going back and forth. First, Manny Machado got a two-out hit down the left field line. That hit drove in a hustling Max Muncy all the way from first base, to put the Dodgers up 1-0. Then, the Braves struck next with another two-out hit by Kurt Suzuki. Suzuki’s hit drove in two runs, putting the Braves up 2-1. The Braves then had another chance in the fifth when they had bases loaded and 1 out. However, Dave Roberts pulled Rich Hill and brought Ryan Madson into the game, who was able to get out of the jam scoreless.
Next, in the sixth inning, again with two outs, 2011 World Series MVP David Freese delivered a double to bring in Bellinger and Puig to score, making it 3-2 Dodgers. However, the nail in the coffin really got sealed in the seventh inning when Manny Machado crushed a three-run bomb to left field. Machado’s dinger put the Dodgers up 6-2, which is where the score would stay until the end of the game. Kenley Jansen came in to close out the ninth with another scoreless appearance and looking more like the Kenley of old.
Prior to the game, Machado had been only 1-14 in the postseason. When asked about his postseason slump he said that he was going to “Keep doing me” and that they (the Braves) would make mistakes and that he was going to hit them. Well, that’s exactly what happened in yesterday’s game and he delivered big!
Up Next: NLCS
Up next for the Dodgers is the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers will have home field advantage. The Brewers coasted by the Rockies in the NLDS, sweeping them in three games and will have four days of rest. While after playing a game four in the NLDS the Dodgers will have three days of rest. The Dodgers and Brewers have never met in the postseason. On the year the Dodgers have a slight advantage going 4-3 against the Brewers, with their last four-game series splitting with them and taking the last two.
Going into the postseason, both teams fought to win their divisions and each did so with forcing and winning a game 163. Currently, Milwaukee is on an 11-game winning streak, while Los Angeles has won 7-8. The Brewers have yet to announce their pitcher for Friday’s NLCS opener, however, the Dodgers have announced that their longtime ace Clayton Kershaw will be taking the mound. Kershaw’s performance against the Braves on Friday night was simply dominating! Kershaw pitched 8 complete shutout innings giving up only two hits, no walks, with 3 strikeouts. It was the kind of postseason performance Kershaw needed after previously struggling with a 7-7 record and 4.35 ERA, before Friday night’s game.
Hopefully, Kershaw can deliver again and help get the Dodgers a game 1 victory on Friday night!
Photo Credit: Ian D’Andrea via Wikimedia
