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Tribune News Service

Sport

Jeff Wilson

Dodgers top Braves to even NLCS and force first Game 7 at Globe Life Field

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager (5), third baseman Justin Turner (10) and second baseman Enrique Hernandez (14) embrace following a 3-1 win against the Atlanta Braves in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020, at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The Dodgers' win forces a Game 7 on Sunday. (Tom Fox/Dallas Morning News/TNS)

ARLINGTON, Texas _ The most exciting game in sports _ a postseason Game 7 _ is up next at Globe Life Field.

One last game is needed to decide which National League team will play in the World Series after the Los Angeles Dodgers successfully used yet another life line to stay alive in the NL Championship Series.

The winner-take-all contest will be played at 8:15 p.m. EDT Sunday.

Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Enrique Hernandez dives for a ball thrown on a stolen base attempt by the Atlanta Braves' Dansby Swanson, right, during the sixth inning in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020, at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The Dodgers won, 3-1, to force a Game 7 on Sunday. (Tom Fox/Dallas Morning News/TNS)

The Dodgers evened the best-of-7 series on Saturday afternoon with a 3-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves that was highlighted by Walker Buehler's stingy pitching, another terrific catch by Mookie Betts and yet another Corey Seager home run.

Los Angeles is attempting to become the 14th team in MLB history to win a series after trailing 3-1. The excitement of Game 7 was already building moments after Game 6.

"I'm still sort of recovering from this one, but already thinking about Game 7," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "But, absolutely, that's what you live for, man."

Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts makes a catch against the outfield wall, robbing a home run from the Atlanta Braves' Marcell Ozuna during the fifth inning in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020, at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The Dodgers won, 3-1, to force a Game 7 on Sunday. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Seager's homer came in a three-run first inning against left-hander Max Fried, the Braves' best starter who then did what all pitchers aim to do after putting their team in an early hole.

He shut down the Dodgers thereafter, pitching 6 2/3 innings, and gave Braves hitters more chances to chip away and kept the Atlanta bullpen from a heavy workload.

As the Braves begin to wonder if they have blown their best chance at reaching the 116th Fall Classic, they can take comfort knowing that Fried did them a great service that could tilt Game 7 in their favor.

Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts (50) celebrates with center fielder Cody Bellinger (35) after leaping to catch a ball hit by the Atlanta Braves' Marcell Ozuna in the fifth inning in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020, at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The Dodgers won, 3-1, to force a Game 7 on Sunday. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

"He regrouped," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "That was big. He gave us a chance. We just couldn't get the big hit. We're in a good spot. I like the guy we're going to pitch. The bullpen, everybody's available. We'll see what we do."

Right-hander Ian Anderson will start for the Braves, and fellow rookie Tony Gonsolin is an option to pitch for the Dodgers. Their leashes will be short in a game in which every threat will be treated with the utmost caution, with every reliever likely available.

Buehler tossed six scoreless innings, doing his best work when the Braves threatened. No escape was bigger than in the second, after the Dodgers' staked him to a 3-0 lead on back-to-back homers by Seager and Justin Turner and an RBI single by Cody Bellinger.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Max Fried (54) is pulled by manager Brian Snitker, second from left, against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the seventh inning in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020, at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The Dodgers won, 3-1, to force a Game 7 on Sunday. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Atlanta loaded the bases with no outs, but Buehler struck out Austin Riley and Nick Markakis before getting Cristian Pache to ground out.

The Braves put two on with one out in the second, saw Betts rob Marcell Ozuna of an RBI double with a leaping catch in the fifth, and moved a runner to third with two outs in the sixth, but Buehler wiggled off the hook each time.

"It was huge," said Seager, whose five homers and 11 RBIs are all-time records for an NLCS of any length. "It set the table for Walker. He was unbelievable."

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (30) congratulates third baseman Justin Turner (10) following a 3-1 win against the Atlanta Braves in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020, at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The Dodgers' win forces a Game 7 on Sunday. (Tom Fox/Dallas Morning News/TNS)

Atlanta broke through once the Dodgers went to their bullpen. Markakis started the seventh with a triple and scored two batters later on a double by Ronald Acuna Jr., but Blake Treinen struck out Freddie Freeman and got Ozuna on a pop to right field to end the threat.

Right-handers Pedro Baez and Kenley Jansen were perfect in the eighth and ninth.

Game 7 is now necessary.