Dodgers back in World Series
Puig’s home run breaks game open; historic clash with Red Sox awaits
The Associated Press
MILWAUKEE — Yasiel Puig and Cody Bellinger flexed their muscles. Chris Taylor flashed some leather.
Then the Los Angeles Dodgers got a lift from ace Clayton Kershaw out of the bullpen to finish off the Milwaukee Brewers and return to the World Series.
Puig broke open a tight game with a three-run homer in the sixth inning, Taylor robbed Christian Yelich with a super catch and the Dodgers took Game 7 of the National League Championship Series with a 5-1 win Saturday night at Miller Park.
It’s off to Fenway Park for a showdown against the Boston Red Sox in Game 1 Tuesday night of the World Series.
Los Angeles hasn’t won the World Series since 1988. The Dodgers and Red Sox have met once before in the World Series, in 1916, with Boston beating Brooklyn behind a big game from pitcher Babe Ruth.
Kenley Jansen tossed 1⅓ scoreless innings before yielding to Kershaw in the ninth. The three-time Cy Young Award winner, pitching on two days of rest after starting Game 5, tossed a perfect inning and finished off the Brewers by striking out Mike Moustakas.
The Brewers had their chances against rookie starter Walker Buehler, a 24-year-old right-hander who navigated through trouble over 4⅔ innings. He allowed six hits, including a home run in the first by Yelich that made it 1-0.
Yelich looked like he would get to the Dodgers again in the fifth with Lorenzo Cain on second with two outs. The MVP candidate hit a high, hard liner to left that seemed destined to fall in for a double.
Running at full speed to his left, Taylor extended his glove hand high in the air just as the ball settled into the mitt to end the inning.
Taylor reversed course and ran excitedly back to the dugout, screaming “Let’s go!”
The Dodgers then waited for lights-out left-hander Josh Hader to leave the game to get their bats going again.
Brewers manager Craig Counsell inserted Hader into the game in the third after starter Jhoulys Chacin gave up a two-run homer to Cody Bellinger in the second for a 2-1 lead for the Dodgers. Hader tossed three shutout innings, striking out four being pulled after 31 pitches.
Milwaukee’s vaunted bullpen faltered in the sixth.
Puig’s three-run shot off reliever Jeremy Jeffress quieted the breathless, screaming Brewers fans at Miller Park.
The excitable outfielder raised both arms as he rounded second, wiggling his fingers skyward to mimic the Brewers’ trademark celebration move. Manny Machado, the object of nonstop boos from Milwaukee fans, obliged with the same gesture as he watched from the dugout steps. Bellinger raised his right arm and pointing to his biceps as he rounded third after his homer.
Chris Sale resumed throwing and says he’s ready to pitch Game 1 of the World Series after missing an American League Championship Series start against the Houston Astros after being hospitalized with an illness.
The Boston Red Sox ace also had some fun with reporters while discussing what made him sick.
Sale threw a bullpen session Saturday and says he will go through his normal routine before taking the mound at Fenway Park for the opener of the World Series Tuesday night against either the Los Angeles Dodgers or the Milwaukee Brewers.
Sale initially was slated to pitch Game 5 of the ALCS against Houston but was ruled out after the illness left him weak.
He says the ailment was a “stomach thing” and he “just kind of got sick.” But he also joked it was caused