With their backs seemingly up against the wall, the Los Angeles Dodgers put together a historic performance en route to a 15-3 drubbing of the Atlanta Braves in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series.
The Dodgers still have yet to lose three consecutive games this year and they became the first team to score first against the Braves this postseason. Atlanta also suffered their first loss of the 2020 playoffs.
On the same day he took accountably for not providing a spark from the leadoff spot of the Dodgers lineup, Mookie Betts beat out a grounder to third base — albeit needing a review — and the game of inches wound up fueling a record-setting inning.
Corey Seager followed with an RBI double, and though Braves rookie starter Kyle Wright retired the next two batters faced, the floodgates opened from there. Will Smith delivered an RBI double with a sinking line drive into center field, and a walk by Cody Bellinger set the table for Joc Pederson’s three-run home run to the opposite field.
Then Edwin Rios — making his NLCS debut after missing the NL Division Series because of a groin injury — jumped on the first pitch he saw to give the Dodgers back-to-back home runs. Seager’s second at-bat of the inning produced an RBI single, and Max Muncy landed the proverbial knockout punch with a grand slam.
The 11 runs the Dodgers scored set an MLB postseason record for most in any inning of a playoff game. They added to the commanding lead on Cody Bellinger’s leadoff home run in the second, Seager’s blast, Smith’s run-scoring groundout and an RBI single from Betts in the third.
The Dodgers set a franchise record with their 15 runs and five homers.
Urias eats innings
Julio Urias had to wait a half hour before taking the mound for his first start and third overall game of this postseason. He walked the first two batters but eventually settled in to get through five innings. Cristian Pache’s solo homer was all the Braves got off Urias.
Kenley Jansen pitched for the first time in one week, tossing a perfect sixth inning. Jansen had improved velocity and movement from that NLDS appearance but command also lacked and he gave up two hard-hit balls, including a drive to the warning track in center field.
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