Low on offensive flow? Why Dodgers should be concerned about hitting in NLCS Game 7
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)
The Dodgers have seen offensive momentum flow from one game to the next this postseason.
They managed one run and six hits in the first 15 innings of the National League Championship Series before breaking out with seven runs and eight hits, including two homers, in the final three innings of an 8-7 Game 2 loss to the Braves.
The following night, the Dodgers pounded Atlanta starter Kyle Wright and reliever Grant Dayton for 15 runs and 13 hits, including five homers, in the first three innings of a 15-3 Game 3 victory.
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)
But momentum can go both ways, which is why the Dodgers should be somewhat concerned about their hitters entering a winner-take-all Game 7 on Sunday night.
Five of their first six batters in Saturday's 3-1 Game 6 win reached base, with Corey Seager and Justin Turner hitting solo homers off Atlanta starter Max Fried. Max Muncy drew a walk, Will Smith hit a single and Cody Bellinger hit an RBI single for a 3-0 lead.
But the Dodgers managed only five singles in 27 at-bats off Fried and relievers Darren O'Day and Chris Martin the rest of the game. They went 0 for 15 with runners on base from the end of the first inning through the eighth. They went one for six with runners in scoring position.
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)
Fried, the Atlanta left-hander, recovered from the rocky start to go 6 2/3 innings, throwing a career-high 109 pitches while limiting the Dodgers to three runs and eight hits, striking out five and walking four.
"Seager hit the homer on a curveball, but after the first inning he settled in," Turner said of Fried. "He threw a lot of off-speed pitches and did a pretty good job of keeping us on the ground.
"If we're nitpicking, maybe we do a little bit better of a job adjusting in the middle of the game and trying to hit some of those breaking balls the other way instead of pull-side groundballs. But we did what we have to do to force a Game 7."
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)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)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)Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler reacts after retiring the Atlanta Braves' Cristian Pache to escape a bases-loaded jam during the second inning 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 won, 3-1, to force a Game 7 on Sunday. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS)Los Angeles Dodgers players celebrate 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. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Max Muncy, left, loses control of the ball as he tries to tag the Atlanta Braves' Ozzie Albies 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. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)With a runner on first, Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler throws during the fourth inning 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 won, 3-1, to force a Game 7 on Sunday. (Tom Fox/Dallas Morning News/TNS)Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies cannot make the catch on a single hit by the Los Angeles Dodgers' Austin Barnes during the fourth 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)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)Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Kenley Jansen (74) throws against the Atlanta Braves during the ninth inning in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020, at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The Dodgers' 3-1 win forces a Game 7 on Sunday. (Tom Fox/Dallas Morning News/TNS)Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts, right, celebrates with center fielder Cody Bellinger after Betts made 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)The Atlanta Braves' Freddie Freeman, middle, reacts as he watches the replay of Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts, not pictured, making a catch to rob Marcell Ozuna of a home run 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)Atlanta Braves players, from left, Ozzie Albies, Marcell Ozuna, Cristian Pache, and Johan Camargo react after teammate Austin Riley, not pictured, flied out against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the ninth 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 Braves relief pitcher Darren O'Day works 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. (Tom Fox/Dallas Morning News/TNS)Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner fields a ball hit by the Atlanta Braves' Cristian Pache and throws him out at first 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. (Tom Fox/Dallas Morning News/TNS)Fans in the Los Angeles Dodgers family section react to right fielder Mookie Betts' leaping catch on a deep ball hit by 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. (Tom Fox/Dallas Morning News/TNS)
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