Any momentum the Los Angeles Dodgers had generated from a historic offensive performance came crashing down as they dropped Game 4 of the National League Championship Series. Now they enter play Friday night needing a win against the Atlanta Braves to stave off elimination.
Should L.A. succeed, they would be right back in the same position Saturday, and then for a Game 7 if they are able to extend the NLCS that far. It’s not a situation many expected the Dodgers to be in.
They finished with the best record in baseball at 43-17, boasted a roster chalk-full of talented position players and easily their deepest bullpen since beginning a streak of eight consecutive National League West titles in 2013.
Outside of erupting in the first inning of Game 3, the Dodgers have largely been outplayed by the Braves. Nevertheless, Edwin Rios doesn’t see their challenge as too daunting.
“It’s tough. But we were going to have to win three in a row anyway,” he said. “We’ve got three left, you’ve got to win them. … Just keep having good at-bats like we did. We couldn’t put hits together. It’s baseball, it’s happens. If we keep doing what we’re doing the hits are going to fall.”
During the regular season the Dodgers had two three-game winning streaks and five stretches of rattling off at least four consecutive victories.
Rios has tried to do his part, hitting a home run in Thursday’s loss, marking a second consecutive game he’s gone deep. He also had a sacrifice fly and thus was responsible for the Dodgers’ only two runs in the loss.
It’s an encouraging sign considering he missed the entire NL Division Series due to a groin injury and an extension of what Rios did during the regular season. Eight of his 19 hits over 76 at-bats were a homer, and he also added eight doubles.
“Just try to stay in myself and dow hat I’ve been doing all year,” Rios said of his recent power surge. “I know it’s the playoffs, but just try not to change what I’ve been doing. I’ve been able to put a good swings and get a couple homers.”
Alex Wood sees difference between Padres, Braves
The San Diego Padres were pegged to represent a significant challenge to the Dodgers, but that has instead come from the Braves, who in the eyes of Alex Wood are a step ahead of L.A.’s counterpart in the NL West.
“As far as talent level and playing field, the Padres are a great team, they’ve got a lot of great players, but they’re still pretty young. The Braves, they’re starting to really piece it all together,” Wood noted.
“They’re a little short in the rotation with some injuries and things like that, but they’ve got a great core and MVP-caliber players. I think they match up really well with us. They came out and did their thing in those first two games.”
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