Facing elimination yet again the Dodgers got a clutch pitching performance from Walker Buehler, home runs from Corey Seager and Justin Turner, some fine bullpen work from Blake Treinen, Pedro Baez and Kenley Jansen and an incredible catch from Mookie Betts to defeat the Braves by a 3-1 score in game 6 of the NLCS on Saturday afternoon to force a winner take all game 7 on Sunday evening.
The Dodgers scored three runs in the first and held on from there. Opposing starter Max Fried made 109 pitches, and was tough but the Dodgers got to him in the opening frame. Back-to-back home runs from Seager and Turner, and an RBI single from Cody Bellinger put the Dodgers ahead 3-0. Seager is red hot and has now hit 5 home runs in this NLCS, tying an MLB record for most dingers in a postseason series.
Buehler worked in out of trouble escaping damage like Harry Houdini. Buehler escaped a bases loaded none out jam in the second inning after three consecutive singles from Travis d’Arnaud, Ozzie Albies, and Dansby Swanson. Buehler would rebound to strike out Austin Riley, Nick Markakis and then got a ground out from Christian Pache to get out of the inning. Everyone was all fired up, including Alanna Rizzo in the press box.
When you don’t know you’re being recorded & @buehlersdayoff gets out of a bases loaded jam with nobody out! pic.twitter.com/9ggtGYucNP
— AlaNNa Rizzo (@alannarizzo) October 17, 2020
NLCS Game 6
Braves 1 9 0
Dodgers 3 9 1
WP-Buehler-1-0
LP-Fried-0-1
SV-Janasen-1
HR-Seager-5-Turner-1
Buehler then got out of a two on and one out jam in the top of the fourth. In the top of the sixth with the Dodgers still up 3-0, a swinging bunt from Albies allowed him to reach base, but he thought he was out after a missed tag from Max Muncy. He made the turn and trotted towards second letting Buehler tag him out. That would prove costly for Atlanta as Swanson would single and steal second. He advanced to third on a throwing error from Austin Barnes. Buehler struck out Riley to stymie another Atlanta scoring rally. Buehler would throw 89 pitches, allowing no runs, seven hits, no walks and struck out six.
The Braves struck back in the seventh, against Blake Treinen. Nick Markakis tripled into the corner and one out later Acuna plated him with a double. Treinen then struck out Freddie Freeman on some super nasty pitches. Marcell Ozuna smacks an opposite field deep drive to right. Betts leaps into the air to make an incredible catch against the wall. Mookie goes nuts as he runs off the field and Dodger nation breathes a sigh of relief.
Pedro Baez pitched a clean inning in the top of the eighth recording a strike out. The Dodgers put two on in the bottom half of the eighth but couldn’t score. So in comes Kenley Jansen for the top of the ninth. Joc Pederson made a great diving catch on an Austin Riley liner to left for the first out. Kenley would get Markakis to fly out and fat man Pablo Sandoval to line out to left to end the game. Dodgers win it! The Dodgers will play for all the marbles tomorrow night. Please don’t toy with our emotions Dodgers. We love you. Please win this thing. Go Blue.
What a game. Dodgers come out strong, and force a Game 7. The Dodgers immediately jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the 1st inning, which eventually proved to be enough for the win. The Stars of the series come through again. Mookie, another defensive gem, Seager’s powerhouse offense continues to shine, prompting JT to join him with a back-to-back HR performance. Buehler in command going six strong shutout innings, and manages to wiggle out of a bases loaded, no out situation without a scratch. Jansen, again looking like the Kenley of old. I heard Jansen had called his mentors Rick Honeycutt and Charlie Hough for some helpful advice… something he was unable to get from current coach Mark Prior (I never had any confidence in Prior)..
If they can win Game 7, then they will face a tough and highly confident Tampa Bay Rays team for the World Series Trophy. Amazing that the A$$tros were able to make it All the way to the ALCS without trashcans. Whoops, NLCS is not over yet, so I better not get ahead of myself.
One game at a time. Go Blue!
Not a single quotation mark in that post…
HMMMMM.
Hmmm, I may have underestimated “My” Dodgers.
“Et Tu Bluto?”
“Go Blue!”
4 more wins!!!!