With their backs against the wall, the Los Angeles Dodgers overcame a 3-1 deficit in the National League Championship Series to eliminate the Atlanta Braves and advance to their third World Series in the past four seasons.
The win-or-go-home Game 7 saw the Braves jump out to an early 2-0 lead, but the Dodgers eventually evened things up via Will Smith’s two-run single in the third.
With the score knotted at 3-3 in the seventh inning, Cody Bellinger provided the decisive blow, sending a 2-2 pitch from Chris Martin into the right-field seats for a solo home run.
After crossing home plate, an ecstatic Bellinger bumped arms with AJ Pollock and Kiké Hernandez. He was also greeted by other Dodgers teammates with high fives upon entering the dugout.
The home run celebration unfortunately came at a cost, as Bellinger dislocated his right shoulder and needed to have it popped back into place. While he was able to avoid missing time, the injury required offseason surgery.
During a Dodgers Zoom party, Bellinger explained that he will be leaving his elbow high-five celebration in 2020. “I won’t be doing any more elbow high fives anymore, but even if I do, I think it will be sturdy when the season comes,” he said.
Despite being almost two months removed from his operation, Bellinger reportedly has not yet swung a bat. That would project him as being behind schedule, though Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recently offered a more optimistic update.
Bellinger will remember resiliency Dodgers had to win 2020 World Series
In addition to overcoming a 3-1 deficit against the Braves, the Dodgers had to bounce back from a heartbreaking defeat to the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 4 of the World Series.
Rather than let the loss deflate them, the club quickly moved past it and strung together two consecutive wins to capture their first World Series since 1988. Bellinger credited the resiliency his teammates displayed and will most remember it when reflecting on the season.
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