Dodgers counting on Machado
ATLANTA (AP) >> Even with all their star power and deep pockets, all their booming hitters and ace pitchers, the Los Angeles Dodgers are approaching three decades since their last World Series championship.
They’re making another run at that elusive title.
Only this time, Manny Machado is along for the ride.
The slugging shortstop hit a three-run homer that wrapped up a 6-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Monday, sending Los Angeles to the NL Championship Series for the third year in a row and fourth time in six seasons.
This is what the Dodgers had in mind when they acquired the free agent-to-be from the lowly Baltimore Orioles back in July.
They’re hoping Machado is the one who turns Tinseltown into Titletown for the first time since 1988.
“Can’t say enough about him,” Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said. “A player of his caliber, there are so many expectations put on him.”
Machado had only three hits in a 3-1 division series victory over the Braves, but two of them were homers. He finished with six RBIs.
“We prepared ourselves to get here,” Machado said. “We’re not going to stop till we get what we want.”
Clearly, nothing less than a World Series title will do.
While the Dodgers went through the customary celebration that follows any postseason victory — they doled out T-shirts and caps, posed for pictures in the middle of SunTrust Park, then doused themselves with beer in the clubhouse — the focus turned quickly to the next round.
The Dodgers will face the Brewers in the NLCS. Game 1 is Friday night in Milwaukee.
“We all know that there’s a lot more work to be done,” Roberts said. “We have eight more wins to go.”
Los Angeles spent much of the season locked in a tight race with division rivals Colorado and Arizona, and required a one-game playoff with the Rockies to clinch its sixth straight NL West title.
“We took a hard path to get to this point, but I do think it made us stronger and kind of galvanized our team,” Roberts said.
It certainly helps to have a player of Machado’s caliber bolstering an already potent lineup. The Dodgers hit a franchise-record 235 homers during the regular season, and added eight more in the NLDS.
“They’re a very powerful team,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. “It’s what they’ve done all year is hit home runs. We’re not built like that yet.”
Indeed, the Baby Braves were thoroughly overmatched in their first postseason appearance since 2013, hitting .154 overall and scoring just eight runs. “So there’s a lot of value to it from where we are right now in terms of that quarterback room.”
Allen welcomed the idea of the Bills signing Anderson when the possibility was first broached following a 13-12 win over Tennessee on Sunday.
“I’m not going to turn any help away, for sure,” the rookie first-round pick said. “I know there’s a lot of things for me to improve and grow on, and that comes with repetition and that comes with an extra set of eyes maybe sometimes, too.”
The move comes with the Bills off to a 2-3 start and preparing for a game at Houston (2-3) on Sunday.
Buffalo has lacked veteran depth at quarterback since trading fifth-year player AJ McCarron to Oakland on Sept. 1. That left the Bills opening the season by starting secondyear player Nathan Peterman, and Allen serving as the backup.
Allen’s time on the sideline didn’t last long.
The Bills had no choice but to speed up Allen’s developmental timetable by naming him the starter after Peterman faltered miserably in a season-opening 47-3 loss at Baltimore.
Allen has a 2-2 record, and enjoyed his first gamewinning drive by setting up Stephen Hauschka’s 46yard field goal as time expired against Tennessee. The 22-year-old, however, is far from a finished product, and overseeing a sputtering offense that has yet to top 300 yards this season.
Allen had 82 yards passing against Tennessee, which were the fewest in a win by a Bills quarterback who played the entire game since Drew Bledsoe had 81 yards in a 38-14 victory over Arizona on Oct. 31, 2004.