The Atlanta baseball club and Los Angeles Dodgers faced off on Sunday night in Game 7 of the National League Championship series after the Dodgers won two consecutive games to tie the series at 3-3.
W: Julio UrÃas; L: Chris Martin
Dodgers win series 4-3
The Atlanta pitchers did a very good job holding the LA offense to just four runs but were let down by their team’s inability to cash in on scoring opportunities. Dustin May, the LA opener, got into trouble early, walking the first two Atlanta batters of the game. Marcell Ozuna singled to drive in the game’s first run, but Travis d’Arnaud hit into a double play, helping take May escape with little damage.
Dansby Swanson‘s solo shot in the 2nd inning increased the Atlanta lead to 2-0. Will Smith tied the game with a single in the 3rd inning.
Atlanta once again threatened to put up a crooked number in the 4th inning when the first two hitters reached and Austin Riley‘s RBI single gave them a 3-2 lead. After Blake Treinen entered the game to face Nick Markakis, Markakis hit a ground ball to third, catching Swanson, the runner at 3rd base, in a rundown. Swanson was out on a diving tag by Justin Turner, and Riley was also tagged out on Turner’s throw to 3rd. This play cutting down the runners in scoring position, Swanson and Riley, ultimately proved to be Atlanta’s biggest mistake costing them a ticket to the World Series.
Kiké Hernández, a clutch postseason performer, hit a game-tying home run in the 6th inning, and 2019 National League MVP Cody Bellinger put LA ahead with a monstrous blast in the 7th inning. UrÃas, who had entered the game in the 7th, did not allow a single baserunner, securing a one-run Dodgers victory.
Corey Seager, who had five home runs and 11 RBI in the series, was named the NLCS MVP.
The Dodgers will remain in Arlington, Texas to meet fellow #1 seed, the American League champion Tampa Bay Rays, in Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday, October 20 at 8:09 PM ET (Fox/Rogers SportsNet).
Featured Image: Closeup of the Dodgers logo at the Vin Scully Entrance to Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles, California by Steve Cukrov / Shutterstock.com.
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