Dodgers blast their way back into World Series
CHICAGO — Enrique Hernandez put a Hollywood ending on an LA story three decades in the making.
Fueled by Hernandez’s home run trilogy, Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers are finally going back to the World Series.
Hernandez’ three homers drove in seven runs, Kershaw breezed through six crisp innings and the Dodgers ended the Cubs’ title defense with an 11-1 victory in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series on Thursday night at Wrigley Field.
“It feels good to hear ‘World Series,’ ” Kershaw said. “It’s been a long time coming for this team.”
After years of playoff heartache, there was just no stopping this group of Dodgers.
With Kershaw firing away at the top of a deep pitching staff and NLCS co-MVP Justin Turner anchoring a tough lineup, one of baseball’s most storied franchises captured its first pennant since Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda managed the Dodgers to their last title in 1988.
The Dodgers will host either the Yankees or Astros in Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday night. The Yankees have a 3-2 lead in the American League Championship Series heading into Game 6 in Houston on Friday night.
The Dodgers made the playoffs eight times in the previous 13 seasons and came up short each time, often with Kershaw shouldering much of the blame. The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner took the loss when they were eliminated by the Cubs in Game 6 of last year’s NLCS at Wrigley Field.
He was just OK in his first two starts in this year’s postseason, but the Dodgers’ loaded lineup picked him up each time. Backed by Hernandez’s powerful show in Chicago, Kershaw turned in an efficient three-hit performance with five strikeouts in his sixth career playoff win — matching Burt Hooton for the franchise record.
When Kenley Jansen retired Willson Contreras on a liner to shortstop for the final out, the party was on.
The Dodgers poured out of the dugout and mobbed their dominant closer near the mound while a small but vocal group of Dodgers fans celebrated behind the visitors’ dugout.