After momentum swings throughout, late home runs by Kiké Hernandez and Cody Bellinger propelled the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 4-3 comeback win over the Atlanta Braves in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series.
The Dodgers’ decision to use Dustin May as an opener rather than start Tony Gonsolin on regular rest backfired as both pitchers struggled.
May started the game with back-to-back walks, failing to throw a single strike in his first eight pitches. To May’s credit, he held the Braves to just one run in his lone inning of work. Going to Gonsolin didn’t bring much better results as Dansby Swanson greeted him with a leadoff home run in the second.
After the Dodgers rallied in the bottom of the third to tie the game on Will Smith’s two-run single with two outs, Gonsolin allowed the Braves to pull right back ahead. He too was hurt by consecutive walks to start the inning as it led to Austin Riley’s RBI single in the fourth.
That brought in Blake Treinen and Atlanta was primed to add to their lead when a wild pitch allowed both runners to advance. However, a baserunning blunder on chopper to third base resulted in a double play on the back of a heroic effort by Justin Turner.
It nearly sparked L.A. at the plate but Tyler Matzek was able to work out of a bases-loaded jam by striking out Max Muncy.
Mookie Betts robbing Freddie Freeman of a home run with a second leaping catch at the wall in as many games also didn’t produce an immediate payoff, but the Dodgers caught lightening in a bottle when Hernandez tied the game with a pinch-hit home run off A.J. Minter in the sixth inning.
Chris Martin then went to the well one too many times in the seventh inning and Bellinger obliterated a fastball that was left over the plate for what held as a game-winning home run.
Although it was Hernandez and Bellinger provided fireworks, Julio Urias proved just as key by throwing three perfect innings to finish out the game.
World Series begins Tuesday
The Dodgers are in the World Series a third time in the past four years and will face the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 on Tuesday night.
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