Dodgers take it to the limit
Seager’s record effort helps force Game 7
ARLINGTON, Texas — Corey Seager homered again, Walker Buehler worked out of several jams — including one with the bases loaded and nobody out in the second inning — to pitch six scoreless innings and the Dodgers pushed the National League Championship Series to Game 7 with a 3-1 victory Saturday against the Braves.
Seager, who homered twice in Game 4 on Friday, has NLCS records with five home runs and 11 RBI with still a game to play. His six homers in the 2020 playoffs are a Dodgers postseason record.
The Dodgers, who also got a leaping catch at the wall from right fielder Mookie Betts, avoided elimination for the second time in less than 24 hours and now have a winner-take-all game to try to get to their third World Series in the last four seasons. They haven’t won a championship since 1988.
‘‘I’m still sort of recovering from this one but already thinking about Game 7,’’ manager Dave Roberts said. ‘‘That’s what you live for.’’
Max Fried took his first loss all season for the Braves, who were trying to celebrate manager Brian Snitker’s 65th birthday by reaching their first World Series since 1999. Fried worked into the seventh without allowing another run after the Dodgers’ three-run first.
‘‘Shoot, we’ll go out there and let ’er fly,’’ Snitker said. ‘‘A Game 7 is another baseball game. It’s not fourth-and-one and let me get the first down; it’s a baseball game.’’
Game 7 is Sunday, with Roberts staying quiet about his starter and the Braves going with rookie righthander Ian Anderson, who has thrown 15‰ scoreless innings in his three postseason starts. The Dodgers could go with right-hander Tony Gonsolin or give the ball to left-hander Clayton Kershaw on short rest.
Justin Turner also homered for the Dodgers, and Kenley Jansen threw a six-pitch ninth for his 18th career postseason save. It was Jansen’s first save chance in five appearances since closing out the Dodgers’ first playoff victory this season in the wild-card round. He struck out the side on 12 pitches in their 7-3 victory Friday.
‘‘Two huge outings — not only for us, but him personally,’’ Turner said. ‘‘You can just see the confidence he has on the mound attacking guys. That’s the Kenley Jansen I and all of us in there know and love.’’