Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts deemed Game 2 of the National League Division Series a near must-win, and his team then went out and put together an inspired effort to defeat the San Francisco Giants, 9-2.
Kevin Gausman kept the Dodgers off balance during various stretches, but intentionally walking AJ Pollock with two outs in the second inning proved costly. It put two on for Julio Urias, who had a career day with the bat during a game at Oracle Park in May.
Urias delivered an RBI blooper into right field to give the Dodgers their first run of the NLDS. Mookie Betts then followed that with an RBI single that extended the Dodgers’ lead to 2-0 before Gausman could get out of the inning.
When you intentionally walk the batter to face the pitcher… pic.twitter.com/Uid57FhYYu
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 10, 2021
Kings of Leone. pic.twitter.com/B8nSbkbDhL
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 10, 2021
Dazzling defense by the @Dodgers. 😱 pic.twitter.com/kHwUhQBVNI
— MLB (@MLB) October 10, 2021
Wow, Mookie. 😳 pic.twitter.com/952CVsqCwR
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 10, 2021
A giant swing from Will. pic.twitter.com/NOiEGUquIv
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 10, 2021
With their lead trimmed to 2-1, the Dodgers broke the game open in the sixth inning behind two-run doubles from both Cody Bellinger and AJ Pollock. Prior to the extra-base hits, Bellinger and Pollock were a combined 0-for-9 with seven strikeouts in the NLDS.
The Giants scored a run off Joe Kelly in the bottom of the sixth, but were otherwise turned away away by stellar defense.
Trea Turner made a diving stop on a grounder up the middle to get a force out, and Brandon Crawford’s RBI single also led to the inning ending because of a strong throw Betts made to get Wilmer Flores on his attempt to go first to third.
L.A. created more separation in the eighth inning on a leadoff home run by Will Smith, and RBI singles from Matt Beaty and Corey Seager.
Dodgers confident
Having earned a split at Oracle Park, Roberts said he is pleased with the team’s standing heading into Game 3 and a Max Scherzer start.
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