Cody Bellinger had a regular season to forget and thus far in the playoffs he’s done exactly that. Bellinger’s latest heroics saved the Los Angeles Dodgers from falling into a likely insurmountable 3-0 deficit in the National League Championship Series.
“I don’t know,” answered Bellinger when asked if his game-tying three-run homer saved the Dodgers’ season. “I don’t have that swing without Will and AJ, though.
“Like I said, they really brought the energy into the dugout and when I’m walking up to the plate I just try to continue that and continue to pass the baton.”
Bellinger passed the proverbial baton by connecting on a letter-high fastball from Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Luke Jackson that was clocked at 95.6 mph. Bellinger struggled to handle both velocity and breaking balls throughout the season.
He saw two of each in the pivotal eighth-inning at-bat, but it was Jackson’s last fastball that Bellinger really locked in on. “Yeah, it’s not a hitter’s pitch right there,” he acknowledged.
“Honestly, for as weird as it was, I saw it. I saw it and I just tried to put a good swing on it. It’s just one of those things. Ball’s coming in hard, some shadows you’re dealing with, so I saw it well and I just tried to barrel it up. I just tried to get Will home.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he’d never heard Dodger Stadium get louder than at that moment.
Bellinger feeling healthy, embracing new beginning
In the time leading up to the postseason, Bellinger continued to emphasize it would provide him with a new opportunity. He now twice has delivered for the Dodgers, previously providing the go-ahead run with a base hit in the ninth inning of Game 5 in the NL Division Series.
“I mean, in a way it’s a whole different season,” he said of the playoffs. “Luckily for me I got a clean slate going into the postseason and I was feeling good towards the end of the regular season.
“I just tried to continue that and continue that feel into the postseason and help this team win.”
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