Dodgers Team News

NLCS Game Four: Dodgers Defeat Brewers In 13-Inning Thriller

If I live to be 100, I won’t see five baseball games better than the one that took place on October 16th, 2018. The game itself may not have a nickname yet, but this was an all-time type thriller; so good that it took 13-innings to complete. This game had so many twists and turns of suspense that if you watched, you’ll never forget NLCS game four.

Nevertheless when the dust settled, the Los Angeles Dodgers had evened the series with the Milwaukee Brewers at two games a piece. The final score was 2-1 in a game that took five hours, fifteen minutes to complete.

Where to begin? I know a spot we can begin. Since he’s my guy – we’re going to lead with Cody Bellinger. What a year it’s been for the Dodgers sophomore. The moment found Bellinger on this night, and it would find him again late. Bellinger was the lead story in a game that wasn’t for the weak at heart.

First, ‘the catch’ you’ll hear about if you went to bed early.

That occurred to begin the tenth inning off a Lorenzo Cain liner. Equally important to note that if that ball gets by Bellinger, it rolls to the wall and the season probably is in peril. Alas, it did not; and Bellinger would have the chance to play hero later on.

Rich Hill started this game, and in one of the biggest spots of the entire 2018 season; he retired Christian Yelich after falling behind 3-0 in the count. Hill struck out Yelich by dropping THREE hammer curveballs on him in a row, the last got a swing-and-miss and ended Hill’s night. This was shortly after the Brewers tied the game at 1-1 with a Domingo Santana pinch-hit double.

From there, I don’t have enough daylight to commend the Dodgers’ bullpen. Each and every guy on the NLCS roster who took the ball did it and dominated. As innings wore on, John Smoltz and Joe Buck noted that the Brewers were in better position to steal this game in extra innings by every measure. However, the one measure they were not taking into consideration was heart.

Was it Pedro Baez blowing away all three hitters in his inning of work? Kenley Jansen pumping 96 mile per hour gas past his final hitter in his second inning he gave his teammates? Alex Wood and Julio Urias and Dylan Floro all playing the part of ‘relief ace’? To me, this was a true team win; one that supersedes and sustains time in life.

If you watched this game, you’ll never forget it. For those who had the chance to be at this game – you’ll tell friends about it decades later. You will remember who you were with – and the emotions that you felt. That is because, this was in essence; the magic of the 2018 Dodgers.

Embattled and challenged, and bet against at every turn. But you can never count them out. Let’s fast forward to the bottom of the 13th inning with two outs. Bellinger came to the plate against Javvy Guerra with Manny Machado on second base. And then another moment forever etched in time took place.

That magic that resides inside Chavez Ravine was still alive – and in a few short hours the boys in blue will be the talk at water coolers in the greatest city in America. The team from Los Angeles took this series in their hands and turned it on it’s head. They survived Josh Hader, Corey Knebel, Joakim Soria, Corbin Burnes; and every nasty reliever the Brewers could throw at them.

Later today will be game five – and a chance for this team to take another step towards cementing it’s forever legacy.

Kike Hernandez: Dodger Stadium Lacked Energy For Game 3

Staff Writer

Staff Writer features content written by our site editors along with our staff of contributing writers. Thank you for your readership.

2 Comments

  1. I agree, the game was amazing! The Dodgers handled business and brought it last night. Our “Boys in Blue” masterfully matched Brewers the entire game and ultimately defeated them with Cody’s walk off and Manny’s hustle. (Controversial player or not, today I do not hear anyone complaining about Manny’s second base steal and perfect slide home.) Our pitching was excellent from start to finish, but I would be remiss if I did not mention the incredible catches made by Cody and Chris. Now on to winning #3 this afternoon!

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