#Dodgers reach World Series after completing NLCS comeback vs. Braves

Cody Bellinger’s presence in the NLCS had largely been an afterthought until Sunday night. A player of immense talent who won the National League MVP award last season, Bellinger was making solid contact against the Braves but had little to show for it.

Corey Seager, Mookie Betts, Max Muncy and Will Smith were among the names that had produced the Dodgers’ biggest moments. But when Bellinger’s final opportunity arose in the series, he seized it.

On the eighth pitch of his at-bat against Chris Martin in the seventh inning, Bellinger crushed a go-ahead homer that sent the Dodgers to the World Series with a 4-3 victory over the Braves in Game 7 of the NLCS at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

The Dodgers, who won their third NL pennant in four years, will meet the Rays in Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday. The series will match the teams with the best regular-season record in each league for the first time since 2013.

Bellinger’s rocket was the Dodgers’ 16th homer in the series. Seager, who blasted five of them to set a NLCS record, was named the series MVP.

“From Corey to Cody, they are really talented players, but what they are doing this postseason is another level,” manager Dave Roberts said.

Now the Dodgers’ mission becomes ending a World Series title drought that dates to 1988. The Dodgers, who lost the World Series to the Astros in 2017 and Red Sox in ’18, will be favored to beat the Rays.

“You can’t really ask for much more than what this team is doing,” Betts said. “We apply pressure all nine innings, we just do everything well, so we’re going to be tough to beat for sure.”

The Braves, who were attempting to reach the World Series for the first time since 1999, became the 14th team out of 88 to squander a series lead of at least 3-1 in the postseason.

But the Braves certainly had their opportunities to finish the job Sunday, taking a 3-2 lead into the sixth.

Kiké Hernandez launched a pinch-hit homer leading off the sixth against A.J. Minter that tied it 3-3. It was the eighth career postseason homer for Hernandez, a right-handed bat who was inserted in Joc Pederson’s spot against the lefty Minter.

“I’m sad it didn’t happen at Dodger Stadium, because this game would have been at Dodger Stadium,” Hernandez said. “But I am just glad we are going to the World Series.”

Julio Urias pitched the final three innings scoreless in relief on a night the Dodgers used five pitchers. The lefty Urias retired all nine batters he faced.

Austin Riley’s RBI single in the fourth, after Tony Gonsolin had walked Ozzie Albies and Dansby Swanson, put the Dodgers in a 3-2 hole. But a base-running gaffe prevented the Braves from creating breathing room.

After Blake Treinen replaced Tony Gonsolin and unleashed a wild pitch that advanced runners to second and third, Nick Markakis hit a grounder that Justin Turner fielded and fired home to catch Swanson in a rundown. Swanson was tagged out by Turner, who alertly fired to third base and nailed Riley.

The catcher Smith delivered a two-run single in the third that tied it 2-2 against Ian Anderson, who had recorded two quick outs in the inning before walking Turner and surrendering a double to Muncy.

Betts’ magic glove gave the Dodgers a boost for a third straight game. Betts’ leap at the right-field fence in the fifth robbed Freddie Freeman of a homer, keeping the Braves’ lead at 3-2.

“[Betts] is a great player,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “This guy is one of the best players in the game. He’s so darned athletic and things he can do. He’s just a crazy talent.”

A day earlier, Betts’ leaping catch at the fence robbed Marcell Ozuna of an extra-hit that saved a run. On Friday, Betts reached to catch Swanson’s bloop and turned it into a double play, after Ozuna left early from third base.

The Braves pounced quickly against rookie Dustin May, who was tabbed by Roberts as the opener. Ronald Acuña Jr. and Freeman walked in succession, on eight pitches, to open the game before Ozuna delivered an RBI single. Swanson’s homer leading off the second against Gonsolin put the Dodgers in a 2-0 hole.

“We’ve worked our ass off all year,” Seager said. “Following protocols, being away from family at times, being here in the bubble quarantined. It hasn’t been easy, but we’re sticking with it and we’re going to keep going.”