The Los Angeles Dodgers had their share of success against the likes of Ozzie Albies, Freddie Freeman and Austin Riley during parts of the National League Championship Series, but Eddie Rosario remained a thorn in their side all the way through a season-ending loss in Game 6.
He went 14-for-25 (.560) with one double, one triple, three home runs, nine RBI and three walks en route to earning NLCS MVP honors. Rosario punctuated a historic showing against the Dodgers with a three-run home run off Walker Buehler in the fourth inning that proved to be a game-winner.
“I’m sure he’s holding the MVP trophy of the CS. We just couldn’t figure him out,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the 4-2 loss that eliminated his team.
Rosario’s 14 hits were the most in Braves history for a single postseason series. It also tied an MLB postseason record for most in any LCS.
“He beat us the other way, he beat us to the pull side, he got hits off lefties, off righties. We tried to spin him, we went hard,” Roberts said. “We just didn’t have an answer for him and when you’ve got that big guy looming behind him, it’s just kind of tough to pitch around him. Was clearly hot.
“We just didn’t have an answer for him.”
Why did Buehler face Rosario?
With Buehler making another start on short rest, Roberts figured to have a quick hook. However, he stuck with the right-hander against Rosario despite a two-out walk and pinch-hit double preceding the costly home run.
“I just felt right there the way Walker was throwing, I expected him to keep going,” Roberts explained. “And the stuff wasn’t compromised.”
Buehler, who dismissed the notion of being affected by fatigue, echoed that sentiment. “Rosario is obviously kind of on a different planet right now in terms of how he’s swinging the bat,” he began.
“Thought I made some good pitches. Thought the one he hit for a homer was a decent pitch, but he was able to elevate it and get it out of there.”
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