Chris Taylor was a great example of a man who doesn’t like drama.
Taylor drove in six runs and hit three homers, joining Reggie Jackson in October baseball lore. The Los Angeles Dodgers beat Atlanta 11-2 on Thursday to cut the Braves’ lead down to 3-2 in the best of seven NL Championship Series.
It’s awesome. Taylor stated that it was a surreal experience for him. It was something I never imagined that I would hit, let alone three homers in one game. And it still doesn’t sink in.
AJ Pollock hit two home runs and had four RBIs for the defending champion Dodgers. They have won seven consecutive postseason elimination games since last season. The Dodgers were also behind 0-2 against Atlanta and 1-3 against them in the NLCS last season before rallying to win their third straight at a neutral location in Texas.
Taylor, a mild-mannered man, said that “We had to make a statement.” They put it on us yesterday. “We had to respond.”
Atlanta hosts Game 6, Saturday, and the Braves have two more chances to win their first trip to The World Series since 1999.
Dave Roberts, Dodgers manager, said that “I suppose when our backs against the wall we fight our best but that’s just no place to be in.”
The desperate Dodgers managed eight hits in the third inning of Max Fried’s Game 4, despite only four hits in a 9-2 loss that put them at the edge of elimination. They ended with 17 runs, a club record in a postseason game and also tied a postseason franchise record with five home runs.
Four consecutive hits by the Dodgers in the second inning brought Fried to their attention. Pollock scored a tie-breaking homer, and Taylor drove the first pitch to left field. Los Angeles was now 3-2 ahead.
Taylor was the third Dodgers player to score three homers in the playoffs, taking Justin Turner’s place at third base. Kike Hernandez did the same in Game 5 against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, as Los Angeles won its first pennant since 29 years.
Taylor scored an RBI single in the third, making it 4-2. In the fifth, he went deep and sent a 0-2 pitch by Chris Martin to centerfield, extending his lead to 6-2
In the seventh, Taylor scored again. He took Dylan Lee out of left-center and made a curtain call in dugout.
Taylor stated, “I don’t look cool doing any thing.”
Although the versatile veteran had the chance to match the major league record of four home runs per game, he chose to take the eighth.
Taylor stated, “I tried not to think about that.” “Normally, I’m just trying hit line drives.”
Taylor also scored the game-winning run in the bottom ninth against St. Louis in NL wild-card games for the 106-win Dodgers.
Pollock stated, “He’s just super quiet and he’s so consistent with us.” Pollock said, “Maybe his adrenaline might have been boosted by the three home runs, but likely not.”
Albert Pujols was more than just hugging. He also hit.
The 41-year old slugger scored twice on Taylor’s homers and got on base three times. In his second start, he scored two singles on his third and fourth postseason hits. He scored two hits against San Francisco in the NL Division Series.
Pujols used to greet his younger teammates in the dugout with bear hugs after home runs. It kept them busy.
Three-time MVP Ruth is one of 11 players to have a postseason three-homer game. Ruth achieved the feat twice in World Series.
Pujols stated, “Watching Chris do that, it was pretty amazing.” He ended up winning. He did an amazing job.
Los Angeles also got a great performance from its bullpen after opener Joe Kelly allowed Freddie Freeman a two-run homer in the first. He soon left after 28 pitches and was diagnosed with tightness in his right biceps, which will keep him out of the playoffs.
Evan Phillips, Alex Vesia and Brusdar Grraterol’s Blake Treinen, Corey Knebel, Corey Knebel, Corey Knebel, Corey Knebel, Corey Knebel, Corey Knebel, and Kenley Jansen allowed just three hits to get the job done.
Phillips struck out three batters in 1 1/3 innings, and was awarded the win.
Atlanta’s Eddie Rosario homered twice in the second four-hit game in Game 4 of the NLCS. He also had a strikeout and went 2 for 4.
Fried pitched in his hometown and gave up five runs, eight hits and 4 1/3 innings. Fried struck out three batters and walked two.
Fried stated that Fried wasn’t performing on the corners as well as he normally does. Fried also said that if you leave the balls in the middle, damage can occur.
The Dodgers offense was feast-or-famine. Cody Bellinger went 3-4 with a strikeout. Trea Turner, NL batting champ, was 3-4 with an RBI single in a four run eighth. Pollock’s three-run homer capped the eight-run ninth. Mookie Betts, Corey Seager and Corey Seager combined were 2 for 10.
Freeman stated, “We’re up by 3-2 and we’re heading home.” “That’s an amazing position to be in. We will be fine.
RECORD BOOK
Taylor established a Dodgers postseason mark with 13 total bases. This is the most any major leaguer has ever done in an elimination game. He was the first to hit three homers for a playoff team.
TRAINER’S ROHROOM
Braves: OF Jorge Soler, who had passed a positive COVID-19 testing, was activated. In the eighth, he struck out swinging in pinch-hitting.
Dodgers: Justin Turner, who had injured his left hamstring running to first in Wednesday’s seventh inning, was replaced by Andy Burns on the NLCS roster. RHP Edwin Uceta was designated to assignment in order to make room for him on the 40-man roster.
UP NEXT
RHP Ian Anderson starts for the Braves in Game 6. RHP Max Scherzer begins for the Dodgers.