The Los Angeles Dodgers narrowly escaped a 3-0 series hole against the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS with a comeback victory Tuesday thanks in large part to Cody Bellinger's late three-run homer.
OCTOBER BELLI. pic.twitter.com/ZZ1vxcBaGq
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 20, 2021
And, while his squad is still playing catch-up, Dave Roberts seems to think the momentum has swung.
"We were dead in the water," The Dodgers skipper said, according to J.P. Hoornstra of the Southern California News Group. "(Bellinger's homer) just flipped everything. We just needed that kind of shot in the arm. I'm expecting it to carry over into tomorrow."
The Dodgers won their first-ever playoff game when trailing by three or more runs after seven innings. Bellinger's eighth-inning homer was his first this postseason and tied the game at 5-5. Later that inning, Mookie Betts doubled to score Chris Taylor as the Dodgers reclaimed the lead and held on to cut the series deficit to 2-1.
.@Cody_Bellinger was in protect mode on that swing? 😲@Dodgers l @HeidiWatney l #MLBTonight pic.twitter.com/pMHF1HTE9X
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 20, 2021
The home team has won every game of the NLCS so far. The 106-win Dodgers host Game 4 and 5 on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. The final two games, if necessary, will take place in Atlanta, with the 88-win Braves holding home-field advantage by virtue of their division title.
Bellinger, 26, is coming off a tough regular season. The former MVP hit .165/.240/.302 with 10 homers and three steals over 95 games, eventually getting demoted to platoon duties against right-handed pitchers only.
