{"id":39753,"date":"2020-10-19T12:40:23","date_gmt":"2020-10-19T16:40:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=39753"},"modified":"2020-10-19T12:40:23","modified_gmt":"2020-10-19T16:40:23","slug":"dodgers-braves-20201018-nlcs-game7","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2020\/10\/19\/dodgers-braves-20201018-nlcs-game7\/","title":{"rendered":"Dodgers Rally Twice to Defeat Braves for the Pennant"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dodgers 4, Braves 3
\nNLCS Game Seven<\/strong><\/h2>\n

On Wednesday morning, the Atlanta Braves<\/a> led the NLCS, two games to none. Two days later, they held a three-to-one series lead. They have not won since. Defensive plays by right fielder Mookie Betts<\/a><\/strong> saved games for the Los Angeles Dodgers<\/a> and gave them momentum. Clutch hitting by shortstop and eventual-NLCS MVP Corey Seager<\/a><\/strong> powered the Dodgers to the comeback. And after rallying from early 2-0 and 3-2 deficits in Game Seven Sunday night, the Dodgers defeated the Braves, 4-3, to win their third pennant in four seasons. The game was at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.<\/p>\n

Braves Take Early Lead, Dodgers Tie It Up<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Braves jumped out to an early lead off starter Dustin May<\/a><\/strong>, who lasted only one inning. It began with a leadoff walk by second baseman Ronald Acu\u00f1a, Jr.<\/a><\/strong>, who stole second as first baseman Freddie Freeman<\/a><\/strong>, up next, batted. Freeman also walked, bringing up DH Marcell Ozuna<\/a><\/strong>, whose single to left scored Acu\u00f1a. Catcher Travis d’Arnaud<\/a><\/strong> came up next and grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. Freeman advanced to third, but the two huge outs seemed to settle May down. Second baseman Ozzie Albies<\/a><\/strong> then struck out, retiring the side.<\/p>\n

Tony Gonsolin<\/a><\/strong> took the mound for the Dodgers in the second inning, and the first hitter he faced \u2013 shortstop Dansby Swanson<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 homered to the second deck in left-center, giving the Braves a 2-0 lead. Gonsolin settled down for the rest of the second, as a two-out walk was the only baserunner he allowed. Meanwhile, Braves starter Ian Anderson<\/a><\/strong> gave up three singles \u2013 one in the first and two in the second \u2013 but stranded all three runners in scoring position.<\/p>\n

After Gonsolin pitched a 1-2-3 third, the Dodgers struck back in the bottom of the inning. The entire rally came with two outs. Third baseman Justin Turner<\/a><\/strong> drew a bases-empty walk, and first baseman Max Muncy<\/a><\/strong> moved him to third with a double. That brought up catcher Will Smith<\/a><\/strong>, who brought them both in with a single to center.<\/p>\n

Dodgers Make Braves Pay for Baserunning Blunder<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Gonsolin took the mound in the fourth, hoping to get in a third inning of relief. Two straight walks to Albies and Swanson and an RBI single by third baseman Austin Riley<\/a><\/strong> made the score 3-2 and ended Gonsolin\u2019s day. Blake Treinen<\/a><\/strong> came in to pitch to left fielder Nick Markakis<\/a><\/strong>, and a baserunning blunder made his job a lot easier.<\/p>\n

Markakis hit a one-hopper to Turner, who was playing in the shortstop\u2019s position due to an overshift. Swanson broke for home on contact. Turner threw home, and Swanson was in a rundown. Smith chased Swanson back to third and threw to Turner, who ran Swanson down from behind. After slapping a diving tag on Swanson, Turner wheeled around on his knees and fired to third, where shortstop Corey Seager tagged the sliding Riley for a rally-killing double play. Instead of second and third, one out, the Braves had a runner on first with two outs, making for a huge difference in run-scoring probability. A grounder to short by the next hitter, Pache, ended the inning with the Braves only having scored a run.<\/p>\n

A single and two walks loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the fourth against Tyler Matzek<\/a><\/strong>, but a strikeout by Muncy ended the fruitless inning. This added three more runners left on base, bringing the Dodgers total to eight after four innings. To make matters more frustrating for the Dodgers, six of those were in scoring position.<\/p>\n

Betts Sparks Dodgers with Another Defensive Gem<\/strong><\/h3>\n

With one out in the fifth, Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts made his third highlight-reel defensive play in as many days. Freeman hit a deep fly to right. Betts sprinted to the warning track and leapt, reaching above the fence to make the catch and rob Freeman of a home run.<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>