Dodgers NLCS: LA Forces Game 7 With a Huge Win Over Atlanta
Once again, the Dodgers found themselves fighting for their lives on Saturday afternoon. Facing off against the Braves in Game 6 of the NLCS, Los Angeles needed the win to stay alive and force a Game 7 against the Braves. To do that, they had to get past Atlanta’s ace in Max Fried.
Battle of the Aces
Walker Buehler going up against Max Fried might have been the best matchup of the series coming into this one. Both guys had pretty successful outings in Game 1, and there was a lot riding on this one. Buehler came in and absolutely shut things down, pitching 6 shutout innings and striking out 6 Braves batters. Buehler also got himself out of a few tough situations, stranding 17 runners total.
.@buehlersdayoff is fired up.
?: #NLCS Game 6 on FS1 pic.twitter.com/EzLFymjrV4
— MLB (@MLB) October 17, 2020
Max Fried had a rough start but finished up very well. After allowing 3 runs in the 1st, he bounced back to pitch 5 consecutive scoreless innings. The Dodgers saw him well but could not string together a few series of hits in order to knock him out of the game.
Corey Seager Does it Again for the Dodgers
Corey Seager is playing on a different planet right now. His 1st inning homerun put him in legendary company as the only player in franchise history with 6 homers and 15 RBI in the postseason. Although he wouldn’t do much for the rest of the game, that at-bat was clutch for the Dodgers.
COREY SEAGER, SO HOT RIGHT NOW. pic.twitter.com/v94a8F1sGi
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 17, 2020
Kenley Returns
With just a 2-run lead, Kenley Jansen came on in the 9th trying to lock down the save for the Dodgers. He induced 2 flyouts on just 2 pitches before getting Pablo Sandoval to fly out softly to left field to lock it down.
Dodgers Play of the Game
The biggest play of the game probably came in the top of the 5th inning. With 2 outs, Marcell Ozuna launched a ball all the way to the top of the wall in right field. While Dodgers fans held their collective breath, Mookie Betts literally took his game to new heights.
MOOKIE BETTS. pic.twitter.com/O4bjbvu1El
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 17, 2020
A game-changing play by a truly game-changing player. Mookie Betts might be the best Dodgers signing in the history of the franchise!
What’s Next for the Dodgers
After scratching and clawing their way back from being down 3 games to 1, it all rides on tomorrow. The Dodgers and Braves will play a huge Game 7 in Arlington with starting pitchers still to be determined. Los Angeles will almost certainly go with Tony Gonsolin and back him up with essentially the entire bullpen if needed. Your guess is as good as mine with Atlanta.
Dodgers: Corey Seager Hit Another Homerun and Broke Two More Records
It’s gotta be Ian Anderson for the Braves tomorrow, right? I’m sure he’ll be on a short leash, like all pitchers on both teams tomorrow, but it’s gotta be him at the start.
Is the score mentioned in the story?
For me………….the turning point in this game wasn’t Mookie’s catch, I thought it was Buehler pitching through the bases loaded no outs 2nd inning jam. He threw 10 consecutive pitches anywhere from 98 to 98+ to strike out two and get a groundout. Getting out of that inning without allowing them to score? HUGE! Later in a TV interview, Buehler gave the credit to Austin Barnes………..he admitted he (Buehler) was rattled, and that he let Barnes call that entire pitch sequence.
Much respect to Mookie’s amazing catch, but I agree that the turning point was Buehler’s 2nd inning jam. Buehler’s disclosure that he was rattled after loading the bases and crediting Barnes for calling the entire pitch sequence, shows great character. That 2nd inning bases loaded was a nail biter, and watching Buehler (and Barnes) rein it back in, without the Braves scoring, was absolutely unbelievable.
Come on Dodgers, let’s get the W tonight and head to the World Series!!!
I could not believe Dave Roberts pulled Buehler out of that game when he did. The way the Braves have been battering our bullpen that was a gutsy move. When you have a pitcher mowing down your opponents LEAVE HIM ALONE! They WANT you to take him out! Especially in an elimination game. He got away with it so all is well. But we might not get so lucky next time.
Game changing play? He saved a double and maybe a run. Your readers seem to know what game changing means in a baseball game
I believe the pitching will be OK. But then again, the Braves have as good an offense as the Dodgers have faced all year up to this point. So if the Dodgers want to get to the WS, they CANNOT do so by repeating their unproductive offense we saw after that 1st inning yesterday.