NLCS: Eddie Rosario Leads Atlanta Past Los Angeles Dodgers

When he tripled against Urias in the third, the two exchanged knowing looks, Rosario on third and Urias looking over from the mound.

“It was a smile on his part to me as if he was telling me, ‘Everything is going for me,’” Urias said in Spanish.

“He was laughing like, ‘Oh, I can’t get this guy out,’” Rosario said, also in Spanish. “And I’m laughing because today is my day.”

Rosario came to Atlanta in a largely overlooked trade on July 30 that was essentially a salary dump for Cleveland (Atlanta sent Pablo Sandoval to Cleveland). It was part of a flurry of smart, on-point moves General Manager Alex Anthopoulos made at the trade deadline after the club lost star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. to season-ending knee injury.

“Alex went out and got him and showed these guys that we’re not going to sit and hang our heads,” Manager Brian Snitker said. “We’re going to go for this thing.”

Rosario was nursing an abdominal injury at the time and didn’t start playing every day in Atlanta until nearly a month after the trade, on Aug. 28. Atlanta wasn’t sure what it was getting because, after signing a one-year, $8 million deal with Cleveland, Rosario hit only .254 with seven homers and 46 R.B.I. in 78 games.

What changed when he arrived in Atlanta?

“The weather,” Rosario quipped. “The first two months is 40 degrees all the time in Cleveland.”

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/21/sports/baseball/atlanta-los-angeles-dodgers-nlcs-game-4.html