‘The game honors you:’ Cody Bellinger’s clutch swing in NLCS Game 3 evokes memory of legendary Dodger home run
saved an Dodgers’ season with a 6-5 victory over Atlanta, sending the crowd of 51,307 into hysterics with the most improbable and incredible home run hit at Dodger Stadium since Kirk Gibson’s famous shot in the 1988 World Series.
“We were dead in the water,’’ Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “You could see it. It just flipped everything. It’s just hard to imagine a bigger hit that I can remember, really, just what was at stake.’’
The Dodgers were five outs away from going down 3 games to 0 in the best-of-seven National League Championship Series until the eighth inning, losing 5-2, with two runners on.
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The Dodgers, trailing by three runs since the fourth inning, with thousands of fans already heading towards the exits, suddenly were tied at 5-apiece with one of the biggest homers in Dodger history.
“I don’t know how he hit that ball,’’ Dodgers outfielder Chris Taylor said. “The ball was like a foot over his head. Man, that gave us new life.’’
Bellinger jumped into the air after the swing, took a few steps, spun, did a pirouette, and danced around the bases as the stadium shook.
“Pure enjoyment,’’ Bellinger said. “In the moment, it’s loud. You don’t really hear anything. And you don’t really see anything. Rounding second, saw the boys in the dugout giving me the celebration, so I had to do it back.
“Pure joy. Just glad that I could tie up the game right there to give us a chance.’’
The game may have been tied, but realistically, it was over. Three batters later, Mookie Betts hit a two-out double to center, scoring Taylor for a 6-5 lead. Now it was officially over.
The Dodgers are alive.
Atlanta is shaken.
Never has a 2-games-to-1 deficit ever felt so good in a seven-game series.
And never has a 2-1 lead ever felt so vulnerable.
“We have lost tough games before and bounced back,’’ Atlanta manager Brian Snitker says. “This is just one of them games. You got to get 27 outs, man.”
“I think the guys have a lot of confidence in themselves. There’s going to be no residual effects after this game here.’’
Well, we’re about to find out.
Oakland A’s manager Tony La Russa and Eckersley tried to tell us the same thing, but the A’s never recovered, losing the World Series in five games.
Atlanta is still in the driver’s seat, but instead of watching a .165 hitting first baseman at the bottom of the lineup flounder night after night, they must worry about Bellinger’s newfound confidence.
“Tell them, Belli,’’ said Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts, sitting next to Bellinger in the interview room. “They’re good, but you drive a Benz too.’’
Said Bellinger: “I do got a Benz.’’
The moment wouldn’t have been possible months ago, or even weeks ago, with Bellinger shortening his swing, widening his stance, dropping his hands, getting rid of the loop in his swing, and squaring up the ball, just as he and Dodgers hitting coach Brant Brown have religiously worked on the past few months.
“I just think it was an important change,’’ Brown said. “His stance almost premeditates his intent, not trying to do too much. Everyone’s been a little bit down on him but they don’t know the work he’s gone through.
“He knew he had to do something. It’s just something that changes his intent right from the get-go, allows him to have a little shorter swing, allows him to do things like he did today.’’
So long, ineptitude.
It’s Bellinger again, just in the nick of time.
“He was at a point, I know, thinking was he ever going to get another hit,’’ Roberts said. “And that’s a real thought, not realistic, but it’s a real thought for players. So, you’re feeling his struggles, and he was rock bottom, and the confidence. He didn’t quit fighting and competing and working.
“The game honors you.
“And the game honored him today.’’
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