{"id":15384,"date":"2018-10-21T03:06:15","date_gmt":"2018-10-21T07:06:15","guid":{"rendered":"lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/\/?p=15384"},"modified":"2018-10-21T03:06:15","modified_gmt":"2018-10-21T07:06:15","slug":"yasiel-puig-dodgers-nlcs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2018\/10\/21\/yasiel-puig-dodgers-nlcs\/","title":{"rendered":"Yasiel Puig Seals NLCS Game 7 for Los Angeles Dodgers"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Yasiel Puig<\/a><\/strong> and the Los Angeles Dodgers<\/a> sealed the NL West in Game 163 against the Colorado Rockies<\/a>, he made a proclamation.<\/a> A statement that at the time may have been meaningless but now could be the impetus that brought this team together.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are going to the World Series and winning the World Series.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Dodgers breezed by the Atlanta Braves<\/a> in the NLDS. The NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers<\/a> would prove to be a greater challenge. From superb pitching performances to timely hits, both teams battled to the wire, forcing a do or die Game 7 at Miller Park.<\/p>\n

In the heat of the battle, with the game on the line, Puig blasted a three-run home run to left center field. While his celebration could not be contained, it highlighted an epic moment in the young player\u2019s career that he will never forget. With a win over the Brewers, the Dodgers are heading back to their second consecutive World Series.<\/p>\n

“We know how hard it is to make the World Series; to do it two years in a row is really special,” stated 2018 NLCS MVP Cody Bellinger.<\/a> “I know how lucky I am to be a part of it two years in a row.”<\/p>\n

Yasiel Puig<\/a> Overcomes Struggling Season<\/h2>\n

Puig had a below average season for his standards. His numbers declined from the season before, hitting .267\/.327\/.494 with 23 home runs and 63 RBI.<\/p>\n

There were also questions about his character and his work ethic. Doubt about his physical fitness after lingering injuries. This forced Dodgers manager Dave Roberts<\/a> <\/strong>to put Puig on the bench, bringing him into pinch hit. The manager was also quick to criticize the outfielder\u2019s lack of keeping his emotions in check in big games, like a failed stolen base attempt in Game 2 of the NLDS.<\/p>\n

But Puig had a chance to redeem himself and he delivered in the NLCS. In Game 5, he got a critical two-out RBI to score Manny Machado<\/a><\/strong> to give the Dodgers a 3-1 lead. He entered Game 5 hitting .250 with zero runs and zero RBI. Puig\u2019s RBI was the turning point to give the Dodgers a 3-2 series lead. And in Game 7, where players can be etched into legends, Puig became a part of Dodgers lore forever with his three-run home run. A sign that despite being benched, Puig still hustled and cared about his team.<\/p>\n

Dodgers Take Advantage of Brewers Bullpen<\/h2>\n

In the days that will follow Game 7, questions will swirl in Milwaukee. Was their bullpen really as good as advertised? Did Craig Counsell<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s obscure in-game management come back to haunt him? It is strange that Counsell did take out Josh Hader<\/a><\/strong>, arguably one of the best relief pitchers in baseball. Xavier Cedeno<\/a><\/strong> and Jeremy Jeffress<\/a><\/strong>, the two pitchers Counsell would bring in after taking out Hader, gave up the three earned runs that destroyed any chance of Milwaukee winning the game.<\/p>\n

The Dodgers hitters deserve the utmost respect. It wasn\u2019t just Puig who produced in Game 7. Manny Machado<\/a><\/strong>, who has become the Brewers arch nemesis, produced two hits and one run. Cody Bellinger<\/a><\/strong> got the RBI that gave the Dodgers the lead in the second inning.<\/p>\n

In critical elimination Game 7\u2019s, one cannot forget about effective pitching. Rookie Walker Buehler<\/a> <\/strong>went 4.2 innings, giving up one earned run and generating seven strikeouts. And Clayton Kershaw<\/a><\/strong>, on short rest, pitched a scoreless 9th inning, sealing the NL Pennant for the Dodgers.<\/p>\n

“I’m just so proud of our guys for enduring this roller coaster of a season,” stated Roberts.<\/a> “A lot of people had their hand in this. And for us to just continue to lean on each other, depend on one another and stay the course, it says a lot about the focus, the toughness of this team.”<\/p>\n

For the first time since 1977 and \u201878, the Dodgers have won back to back pennants. Last year, Los Angeles lost a heartbreaker in seven games to the Houston Astros<\/a>. Now this season, they take on the 108 win Boston Red Sox squad, who will be favored with their prolific lineup.<\/p>\n

But do not count out these Dodgers. When you have a Puig World Series guarantee behind your team, anything is possible.<\/p>\n

Main Photo
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>