Dodgers Advance To Third Consecutive NLCS
Manny Machado insisted before Game 4 that his struggles in the NLDS wouldn’t change his aggressive approach.
Staying true to his word, the Dodgers are on their way to the NLCS again with his bat playing the biggest of roles.
The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Atlanta Braves 6-2 on Monday at SunTrust Park in Game 4 of the NLDS to win the series 3-1 and advance to the NLCS.
Manny Machado entered the game 1-for-12 with 7 Ks in the series but he would come up huge for the Dodgers in a huge series clinching performance.
The Dodgers star trade acquisition from this season would start the damage for the Dodgers in Game 4 and would leave Braves fans stinging with his next hit.
A big home run vs the Atlanta Braves in a tight game late took the air out hopeful Braves fans in attendance lungs while providing Dodgers fans some thousand miles away a sigh of relief.
It was needed to takedown a gritty and hungry young baseball team in the Atlanta Braves who’s future looks special moving forward
The Los Angeles Dodgers will be playing in their third consecutive NLCS, hoping to advance to the World Series for the second consecutive year.
Dave Roberts’ Dodgers would jump out to a 1-0 lead after Manny Machado’s RBI double off Mike Foltynewicz with two outs gave them the early edge in the first inning.
Rich Hill, who cruised through the first three innings vs the Atlanta Braves, would put himself in a tough spot to begin the fourth.
Hill would walk the first two batters to begin the inning. After a Ender Inciarte sacrifice bunt moved the runners over to second and third base, the Braves would take a 2-1 lead on a two-run RBI single by pinch-hitter Kurt Suzuki, who lined Hill’s offering to left field.
Atlanta would have another grand opportunity given to them in the fifth inning with a teetering Rich Hill continuing to struggle with control.
With two men already on in the inning, Manny Machado would fail to corral a groundball at shortstop as the ball caught him on the heel of his catching glove before bouncing up in the air as all hitters would be safe.
Ryan Madson would come into the game with one out with the bases loaded facing the bottom of the order for the Atlanta Braves as he would get catcher Tyler Flowers to pop-up in foul ground before getting out of the jam as he induced a pop-up by Ender Inciarte to end the inning.
Pinch-hitting for reliever Ryan Madison with two outs in the sixth, David Freese would give the Dodgers a 3-2 lead following a two-run single off right-hander Brad Brach.
In the seventh inning, Manny Machado would put some distance between the Dodgers and Braves. With two men on and no outs in the seventh, Machado would blast a no doubt homer off reliever Chad Sobotka to left to give Los Angeles a 6-2 lead.
The Braves would fail to get any offense going against the Dodgers bullpen, which turned in another solid showing to begin the postseason.
Atlanta would go 1-for-8 with RISP in the do-or-die game. The promising pairing of Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies would go a combined 1-for-10 with 2 Ks.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ closer Kenley Jansen, pitching in a non-save situation, would come in for the ninth inning and retire the top of Atlanta’s order to clinch a NLCS birth.
Brian Snitker’s Atlanta Braves surprised in 2018 by winning the NL East as they were one of the most exciting teams in the MLB.
Their season ends in heartbreak, but with an eye to 2019 and beyond, the Braves after years of rebuilding through their minor league system are on the path to being a established contender in the National League.
For the Los Angeles Dodgers, finding a way to leave SunTrust Park with the series wrapped up was the only thing that mattered.
With Clayton Kershaw set to go for a potential Game 5 on Wednesday, that’s not exactly a dire situation for the Dodgers, but one that you want to avoid after having a 2-0 series lead.
Now, Clayton Kershaw will start the beginning of the NLCS vs a Milwaukee Brewers team that has won 11 straight games but is mostly shutting teams down.
It’s a different challenge from a season ago having to go on the road to start a playoff series, but as they have shown throughout the season, they are mentally tough enough to win anywhere.
What are your thoughts on the Los Angeles Dodgers advancing to the NLCS? Leave your comments below!