NLCS Game 3 Recap
It looked like they were down and out. But remarkably, the Dodgers are still alive, thanks to 4 run 8th inning against the Atlanta bullpen that turned a 5-2 Braves lead, into 6-5 Dodgers victory, their first in this NLCS.
It certainly looked like things were going to go the Dodgers way at the start. Braves starter Charlie Morton was not at his best, and Game 3 started much like Game 2. Mookie Betts got on to lead off the Dodger inning, and Corey Seager followed with a 2 run bomb, this one to deep center, to give the Dodgers a 2-0 lead.
It stayed that way until the top of the 4th when things seemingly unraveled for Los Angeles. Hits from Freddie Freeman and Austin Riley put the tying runs in scoring position with one out. Then, just a few pitches after what looked like strike three was called a ball by Home Plate Umpire Jerry Meals, Joc Pederson singled in Freeman to make it 2-1. Riley was driven by the next batter Adam Duvall to tie the game at 2. Then after loading the bases, Dansby Swanson drove in another run to give the Braves the lead. Walker Buheler was eventually pulled after walking in a runner a few batters later.
We went to the bottom of the 8th with the Braves holding on to a 5-2 lead. 6 outs away from a commanding 3-0 lead in the series. Dodger fans were beginning to lose hope. But then came the comeback. It started with a leadoff single by Will Smith. Then with one out, AJ Pollock singled to bring the tying run to the plate. Enter the former MVP Cody Bellinger. On a 1-2 pitch, Cody hammered one to right center field. Boom. Tie game.
But the Dodgers weren’t done yet. Chris Taylor followed with a single to put the go-ahead run on base, he then stole second and advanced to third on a groundout by Matt Beaty. Up comes the other former MVP, Mookie Betts. On the first pitch, Mookie hit one to deep center, an RBI double that scored Chris Taylor and gave the Dodgers a remarkable 6-5 lead.
Kenley Jansen came in for the ninth and retired the Braves 1-2-3 to seal a crucial win for the Dodgers. Game 4 is scheduled for tomorrow at 8:00 EST on TBS.