Puig ignites clincher
3-run homer helps send Dodgers to Series vs. Red Sox
MILWAUKEE — Yasiel Puig and Cody Bellinger flexed their muscles, and the Dodgers got a lift from ace Clayton Kershaw out of the bullpen to finish off the Brewers and return to the World Series.
Puig broke open a tight game with a three-run homer in the sixth inning and the Dodgers took Game 7 of the NL Championship Series 5-1 on Saturday night.
It’s off to Fenway Park to face the Red Sox in Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday night.
“It’s pretty cool. It’s going to be a pretty special series,” said Bellinger, chosen as the NLCS MVP.
Kenley Jansen tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings before yielding to Kershaw in the ninth. The three-time Cy Young Award winner, pitching on two days’ rest after starting Game 5, tossed a perfect inning and finished it off by striking out Mike Moustakas.
“I'm so proud of our guys during this roller coaster of a season,” manager Dave Roberts said.
The Brewers had their chances against rookie starter Walker Buehler. The rookie allowed six hits in 4 2/3 innings, including a home run in the first by Yelich that made it 1-0. But Jhoulys Chacin gave up a two-run homer to Bellinger in the second for a 2-1 Dodgers lead.
“I was looking for a pitch up, two strikes, just trying to put a good swing on it,” said Bellinger, who raised his right arm and pointed to his biceps as he rounded third. “Luckily, it went out of there.”
Brewers manager Craig Counsell inserted Josh Hader in the third. Hader tossed three shutout innings, striking out four being pulled after 31 pitches.
After Puig hit his threerun shot off Jeremy Jeffress, he 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. Now it’s over for the Brewers, but, Counsell said: “They took us on an amazing journey. It was a magical run.”