Dodgers back in Series
Bellinger HR in 7th gets them there for 3rd time in 4 years
ARLINGTON, Texas — Cody Bellinger hit a tiebreaking home run in the seventh inning, and the Dodgers advanced to the World Series for the third time in the last four years by edging the Braves 4-3 in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday.
Bellinger connected an inning after the Dodgers’ Kike Hernandez became the first pinch hitter to hit a tying or go-ahead homer in a winner-take-all-game. His homer tied the score at 3 and, like Bellinger’s blast, came on the eighth pitch of the at-bat.
The Dodgers, who matched an LCS record with 16 homers, overcame a 3-1 series deficit by winning three consecutive games when facing elimination for only the second time in their storied history.
After winning their NL Division Series and the NLCS in the new Globe Life Field, the Dodgers get to stay in place for the World Series. Game 1 against the American League champion Rays is set for Tuesday.
The Dodgers again will try to win their first World Series title since 1998. They lost Game 7 at home in 2017 to the Astros, then lost in five games to the Red Sox in 2018. Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts was the AL most valuable player that season and played against the Dodgers in the World Series.
The Rays’ victory in Game 7 of the ALCS on Saturday wiped out the chance for an October rematch between the Dodgers and Astros. The Astros’ victory has been heavily tarnished by the revelations that they stole signs that season.
Betts made another incredible defensive play, robbing NL MVP candidate Freddie Freeman of a solo homer in the fifth.
Julio Urias, the fifth Dodgers
pitcher, retired the last nine batters for his fourth victory in four appearances this postseason. The 24-year- old left-hander, already in his fourth postseason, has a 0.57 ERA in these playoffs.
The massive shot to right by Bellinger came on a 94 mph sinker against Chris Martin, the fifth Braves pitcher, who had started the seventh with strikeouts of Max Muncy and Will Smith.
Hernandez led off the sixth with a 424-foot drive to left- center against A.J. Minter to tie the score.
Dansby Swanson homered for the Braves, who haven’t been to the World Series since 1999.