LOS ANGELES – The Braves were five outs away from a commanding 3-0 advantage in the National League Championship Series. Instead, they’re in danger of seeing the NLCS evened up in the next day.
A 5-2 lead was erased with one Cody Bellinger swing off Braves reliever Luke Jackson, who hadn’t allowed a run in the previous six postseason games. A Mookie Betts double off Jesse Chavez put the Dodgers ahead late.
The Braves were handed a stunning 6-5 loss Tuesday in Game 3 of the NLCS at Dodger Stadium. The tone of the series is much different than it was even in the seventh inning Tuesday, when the Braves seemed headed toward building a near insurmountable series lead.
The city of Atlanta is accustomed to gut-wrenching defeats, but this one seemingly happened in the blink of an eye. While the series is far from concluded, Tuesday was a gigantic missed opportunity. Teams that take a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven series have won 38 of 39 times. The Braves would’ve had the chance to make it 39 of 40.
Jackson surrendered singles to Will Smith and AJ Pollock in the eighth. Bellinger, the individual who hit the go-ahead homer in Game 7 last year, came up with one out and hammered the fourth pitch he saw – an elevated fastball – into the stands to reset the game at five. The Dodger Stadium crowd, quieted for most of the afternoon, was re-engaged.
Betts doubled off Chavez and the disaster was complete. The Braves went 1-2-3 against Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen in the ninth to finish their 21st loss in their last 25 games in Los Angeles.
How they got there: The Braves, who were trailing early because of Corey Seager’s two-run homer, struck four times in the fourth to take the lead and (temporarily) quell the energy of the 51,307 fans at Dodger Stadium.
Their comeback started with a single from first baseman Freddie Freeman, who had three hits after beginning the series 0-for-8. Third baseman Austin Riley then drove a pitch to the right-center wall. Dodgers center fielder Gavin Lux – a natural infielder – lost the ball in the sun and botched the catch, resulting in a double for Riley. Freeman moved to third.
Enter Joc Pederson, who spent the past seven seasons with the Dodgers. Pederson singled to right field, scoring Freeman. Outfielder Adam Duvall collected his first RBI of the postseason with an ensuing single that tied the game.
Shortstop Dansby Swanson hit a sharp grounder that bounced off Seager’s glove – the same event that ended Game 2 – and rolled into left field, giving the Braves the lead. A rattled Buehler walked left fielder Eddie Rosario on four pitches. Duvall later added an insurance run and the Braves were seemingly in good shape.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who said entering the game that his team would “lean on” Buehler after the bullpen worked a larger load in the first two games, removed Buehler after 11 outs.
Braves starter Charlie Morton, meanwhile, overcame a rocky start to cover five frames. The veteran walked four in the first inning and needed 69 pitches to get the first nine outs. Yet he settled down and didn’t allowed the Dodgers to strengthen their lead for the duration of his start.
The Braves are expected to pitch a bullpen game in Game 4 Wednesday as they try to put Tuesday’s mess behind them and take a 3-1 lead. The Dodgers are slated to start lefty Julio Urias.
