The Los Angeles Dodgers got a 2-1 victory Thursday night at Oracle Park and continued their postseason journey on to the NLCS. In what was the first postseason duel between these two rivals, the NLDS went to the deciding fifth game before a ninth-inning run sealed the win.
“We poured everything we could into this series and it took everything we had to beat these guys,” Dave Roberts, Dodgers manager, said.
The game featured two heroes for Los Angeles — Cody Bellinger and his single in the ninth with one out, the hit that led to Justin Turner’s winning run, and Max Scherzer taking the mound in the bottom of the ninth to play reliever.
“That’s Scherzer being Scherzer, man,” Bellinger said. “He’s a gamer. He’s a competitor.”
Scherzer struck out Wilmer Flores with Kris Bryant on first base to secure the victory.
It was Scherzer’s first save in his 14-year career.
“No question I was ready,” Scherzer said. “I told them I was hot. I knew my arm felt great, so if you want it, you got it.”
Scherzer threw 13 pitches — 11 of which were strikes.
“I didn’t get a good look at it,” Scherzer added. “I knew I needed to throw a good slider in that situation. I got it, and I just looked down to first base and saw he went.”
Scherzer was in practically ever post-game highlight reel as he celebrated the win wearing green ski goggles, shorts, and seen trotting around with his family.
“That’s nuts out there [in the ninth], but I just wanted to stay within the moment,” Scherzer said. “I knew it was going to go deafening, that I wasn’t going to be able to hear or think anything and that I just needed to stay within myself, use the crowd to my advantage but don’t over-pursue the situation. Just don’t do too much. To me, the postseason is like being a little kid again. You pitch when you get told. It’s a lot like being a 12-year-old again.”
This will be the Dodgers’ fifth time in the National League Championship Series in the last six seasons, facing a familiar foe in Atlanta. The Braves and Dodgers met in the NLCS last season.
“There is no letdown,” Roberts said. “I have no doubt our guys are going to come ready to beat the Braves.”
Atlanta defeated Milwaukee 3-1 in the last round. The best-of-seven series vs Atlanta begins this weekend at Truist Park.
