The hit was just his third in 25 postseason at-bats, second in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series, but arguably the biggest Cody Bellinger has had in his young career.
“It’s nice seeing results. I’m sticking with the process, been feeling good for those most of the series,” Bellinger said. With the Los Angeles Dodgers facing a scenario in which they would fall into a 3-1 series deficit to the Milwaukee Brewers, Bellinger delivered a walk-off single in the 13th inning.
He rounded first base as Christian Yelich’s throw to home plate was in the air, and carried into left field after Manny Machado slid in to beat the tag. Bellinger was mobbed by teammates and manager Dave Roberts.
“I think it was the first time I ever got mobbed out in the outfield,” Bellinger said of the celebration. “I saw Kemp do it earlier and thought I kind of wanted to do that when I hit my walk-off.”
Kemp’s game-winning hit came during a key series against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. One night after clubbing a go-ahead home run off Archie Bradley, Kemp banged a walk-off double to the wall in center field. He was chased down in shallow left field by teammates.
Aside from Bellinger’s hit coming in the postseason, another difference was manager Dave Roberts joining in the jubilation. Managers and coaches typically acknowledge one another in the dugout and are a bit more tempered in celebrating.
“I gave my coaches some love after the walk-off hit,” Roberts said. “But understanding and seeing what Cody has been going through and really just wearing it and the weight of the world on him. And for him to come through in that big spot, I just felt for him and all of our guys. I wanted to make sure I went out there and greeted him.”
While Roberts wanted to be part of the mob, it may have come at a cost. “Hamstring is good now, but it will be sore tomorrow,” he joked.
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