The Los Angeles Dodgers collectively were looking forward to the National League Championship Series shift to Dodger Stadium, but through seven innings that wasn’t bringing them much better luck against the Atlanta Braves.
However, a Will Smith leadoff single in the bottom of the eighth wound up turning their fortune. AJ Pollock’s base hit up the middle brought the tying run to the plate, and Cody Bellinger capitalized by connecting on a three-run home run.
Chris Taylor followed that with a single and he promptly stole second base to eliminate the potential for a double play. After being advanced on a grounder, Taylor scored the game-winning run on a Mookie Betts double.
Dodger Stadium, which was electric early in the game before falling into a lull as th eDodgers facd a deficit, was roaring yet again. Kenley Jansen kept fans on their feet by striking out the side in the ninth inning.
While fans had multiple reasons to celebrate over the final two innings, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts believed Bellinger’s game-tying home run stuck out most.
“It was as loud as I’ve heard Dodger Stadium after that homer,” Roberts said.
The home run was Bellinger’s first this postseason, and he also took notice of the crowd. “Pure enjoyment. In the moment it’s loud. You don’t really hear anything and you don’t really see anything,” Bellinger said of his trot around the bases.
“Rounding second, saw the boys in the dugout giving me the celebration, so I had to do it back. Pure joy and just glad that I could tie up the game right there to give us a chance.”
Dodger Stadium atmosphere
Despite the 2:08 p.m. PT start time for Game 3, Dodger Stadium was relatively full come first pitch and that remained the case even as some fans made for an early exit with the Dodgers trailing 5-2 in the late innings.
The Dodgers led baseball this season with 2,804,693 home attendance.
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