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Tribune News Service

Sport

Michael Cunningham

Michael Cunningham: A great Braves season ends on a bitter note

Dodgers second baseman Chris Taylor reacts after his double against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning in Game 7 Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, for the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS

Everyone will remember the Braves losing Game 7 of the National League Championship Series to the Dodgers. They'll recall how the Braves once led the best-of-seven series 3-1 and had gave back two leads in the final game. They'll think back to Cody Bellinger's solo home run off Chris Martin that put the Dodgers ahead for good Sunday night in Arlington, Texas.

Those things shouldn't crowd out what we shouldn't forget about the 2020 Braves. They won a third straight NL East title despite their pitching rotation falling apart. They pushed the heavily-favored and pitching-rich Dodgers to the brink.

The Braves just couldn't finish.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias (7) celebrates as the dugout empties after the final out of a 4-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News/TNS)

Bellinger's home run sent the Dodgers to a 4-3 victory. They are going to the World Series for the third time in four years and are looking for their first win there since 1988. The Dodgers face the AL champion Rays.

The Braves thrived all year on late-game rallies. They didn't come close to generating one in their final game. After Bellnger's homer, the Braves went down in order in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings. Season's over.

The Braves had three chances to win one game and return to the World Series for the first time since 1999. They led 2-1 after five innings of in Game 5 but lost 7-3. The Dodgers scored three runs in the first inning of Game 6 and didn't need to score again as the Braves left eight runners on base, including not scoring after once loading the bases with no outs.

Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson is tagged out by a diving Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner on a run down in between home plate and third base during the fourth inning in Game 7 Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, for the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

In Game 7, the led 2-0 after Dansby Swanson's homer to lead off the second inning. The Dodgers scored two runs in the third to tie it. The Braves went back ahead by a run on Austin Riley's RBI single off Tony Gonsolin in the fourth. The lead might have been more if not for a Braves baserunning blunder.

Blake Treinein replaced Gonsolin to face Nick Markakis with inherited baserunners Riley and Swanson. Markakis hit a sharp grounder to third baseman Justin Turner. Swanson broke for home and was stuck. While the Dodgers were running him down Riley started for third, stopped, and then started again.

Turner tagged out Swanson before home, then turned and threw out Riley at third. The Braves should have had, at worst, runners at first and second with one out. Instead, they had two outs and Markakis at first. Then Christian Pache grounded out to end the inning.

Braves catcher Travis d'Arnaud tags out Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Chris Taylor at home plate during the sixth inning in Game 7 Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, for the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS

The Braves will always regret scoring just one run in that inning. They still had the lead, though. It held until the sixth inning. Dodgers utility man Kike Hernandez, who bats right, pinch hit for lefty hitter Joc Pederson to face left-hander A.J. Minter.

Hernandez fouled off three straight pitches with two strikes. He pulled the eighth pitch of the at-bat into the stands to tie the game again. Chris Taylor followed with a double and the Dodgers were primed for a big inning.

Betts flied out to center and Taylor moved to third. He tried to score when Corey Seager hit a ground ball through the middle. But ball hit the mound and popped into the air to second baseman Ozzie Albies, who threw out Taylor at the plate.

Los Angeles Dodgers players mob relief pitcher Julio Urias after the final out as the Atlanta Braves bench is shown at the end of the ninth inning in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The Dodgers won 4-3. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Martin replaced Minter and got Justin Turner to end the inning. He struck out Max Muncy and Will Smith in the seventh. Then Bellinger got him on a 2-2 sinker that caught the fat part of the plate.

Braves pitchers performed much better than could be reasonably be expected in these playoffs. Kyle Wright had a blow-up start in Game 3 of the NLCS. The Braves' bullpen game dell apart late in Game 5. Otherwise, the Braves got enough good pitching to win.

In Game 7, Braves rookie Ian Anderson allowed two runs in three innings before giving way. Technically, two rookie pitchers started a deciding postseason game for the first time in MLB history. Really, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts always planned to use Dustin May an opener.

Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson reacts after completing a double play to get out Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Cody Bellinger, top right, at second base to end the fifth inning in Game 7 Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, for the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS

A shaky beginning meant May's night would be even shorter than expected.

May's first eight pitches were called balls. Ronald Acuna and Freddie Freeman took their bases. No. 3 hitter Marcell Ozuna struck a well-placed single to score Acuna. For the fourth time in the series, the Braves scored first.

Tony Gonsolin replaced May for the second inning. The Braves touched Gonsolin for five runs in 4 { innings in their Game 1 victory. They got Gonsolin for two runs in two-plus innings in Game 7. It wasn't enough.

Dodgers second baseman Chris Taylor, left, throws to first for a double play getting Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna out at second base during the first inning in Game 7 Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, for the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

The Braves will head to the offseason feeling like they should have beat the mighty Dodgers. But they also know that young pitchers Anderson, Max Fried, Kyle Wright and Bryse Wilson can be part of a deeper rotation for 2020. It will include No. 1 starter Mike Soroka once he recovers from his season-ending Achilles injury.

The Braves are set with the main pieces of their lineup, with one big exception. Outfielder Marcell Ozuna signed for one season. He ended up being a great lineup replacement for Josh Donaldson. Ozuna was great in the NLCS save for a baserunning mistake in Game 5.

I figured Ozuna's results would be better this year after two down seasons. He was still hitting the ball hard. I didn't know he'd give the Braves even more right-handed pop than Donaldson.

Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna steals second base ahead of the tag by Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager during the first inning in Game 7 Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, for the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Catcher Travis d'Arnaud is under contract for next season. So are the key pitchers in the bullpen. Young stars Ronald Acuna and Ozzie Albies around for a while. Both players signed contracts extensions in April 2019. Their contracts remain well-below market in 2021: $5 million for Acuna, $3 million for Albies.

Underpaying them means the Braves theoretically can splurge elsewhere. They won't need much. If Ozuna leaves they'll need another big bat in the lineup. After the Cole Hamels signing flopped this year, the Braves will need to do better for a veteran starting pitcher to join their young arms in 2021.

The Braves had a great year despite some bad injury luck. They made the Dodgers work hard to return to the World Series. The memories of how this Braves season ended shouldn't crowd out all the good things that happened along the way.