It took seven games, but the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series to advance to the World Series for the second straight year.
The series was capped off with a 5-1 win in Game 7 on Saturday night, and all of the Dodgers’ run came on two swings of the bat.
Milwaukee actually scored first on a solo home run by Christian Yelich in the bottom of the first inning, but the Brewers’ lead did not last long as Cody Bellinger launched a two-run home run in the top off the second off of Jhoulys Chacin.
Bellinger’s homer came after Manny Machado laid down a perfect bunt single with a 3-2 count on him to begin the inning. The Dodgers then added some big insurance in the top of the sixth.
The rally was started by Max Muncy and Justin Turner, who both singled to begin the inning. Yasiel Puig then broke out in a big way with a three-run home run to extend the Dodgers’ lead to 5-1.
The long ball was hit off of Brewers reliever Jeremy Jeffress, who said before Game 7 that he believed all of the pressure was on the Dodgers.
While it was great to see the Dodgers’ offense break out, it really was the pitching staff that led the way, not only in Game 7, but in the entire series.
Rookie Walker Buehler got the start and turned in 4.2 solid innings, allowing six hits and a run while striking out seven.
The bullpen was flawless behind him as Julio Urias finished out the fifth by getting Yelich to fly out. He did get some help from his defense though as Chris Taylor made an incredible catch to secure the third out of the inning.
Ryan Madson then tossed 1.2 shutout innings before handing the ball to closer Kenley Jansen for 1.1 perfect innings. Jansen did not finish out the victory on this night though as ace Clayton Kershaw pitched a perfect ninth with two strikeouts to close it out.
The Dodgers will now take on the Boston Red Sox in the World Series beginning on Tuesday night at Fenway Park.
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