The Los Angeles Dodgers were presented with a golden opportunity on Monday night as they took the field with a chance to take a 2-1 series lead on the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series. They were unable to take advantage of it though, playing their worst game in weeks and losing 4-0.
One of the players that is currently struggling is center fielder Cody Bellinger, who went 0-for-4 in Game 3 and overall is 1-for-21 this postseason.
“Come back tomorrow and get them. I’ve got to be better. We got opportunities, we have to take full advantage of it,” Bellinger said after the Dodgers lost Game 3.
The Brewers jumped out to an early lead with a run off Walker Buehler in the first inning and never looked back. That has seemed to be the case all series, which Bellinger believes needs to change. “It’s something you don’t want, it’s just what’s been going on,” he said. “Obviously, we want to score first and let our pitchers have some comfort.”
The Dodgers have been reliant on the home run ball to score runs, and Max Muncy and Joc Pederson downplayed that being problematic for the postseason. However, Los Angeles hasn’t been able to hit many out of the park in the NLCS.
“When home runs aren’t there, we’ve got to find a way to score without hitting a home run, Bellinger said. “Like I said, myself included, have to have better at-bats.”
As was the case in Games 1 and 2, the Dodgers were able to battle back at the end, loading the bases against Brewers closer Jeremy Jeffress to bring the tying run to the plate in the ninth inning.
Jeffress ultimately struck out the final two hitters to escape the jam, but Bellinger took solace that the Dodgers did not quit. “We came back off their guy again,” he said. “Just a few hits shy. It’s promising.”
Los Angeles may be trailing 2-1 in the series, but it takes four to win so Bellinger is not losing hope yet. “Plenty of series. We’ve got a talented group of guys.”
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