ATLANTA -- What frustrates opponents of the Los Angeles Dodgers more than the money they spend is what it buys them. For all their stars, it is the nine-deep lineups, the handful of starting-pitching options and the relentless parade of bullpen arms that allow the Dodgers to bully, batter and eventually break their foes.
"You never know who the guy's going to be," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after a 4-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday that clinched a third consecutive National League Championship Series appearance. The Dodgers will face the top-seeded Milwaukee Brewers beginning Sunday night. The previous two postseason runs ended in World Series titles, and the ease with which Los Angeles dispatched Atlanta in four games, allowing just eight runs in the series, reinforced the reality facing anyone in their path.
Nine-hole hitter Andy Pages was the hero in Game 4, lacing a two-run single in the seventh inning to break a 1-1 tie and silence most of the 41,173 fans at Truist Park. "They're going for their third straight world championship for a reason," Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said. "Their arms just keep coming at you."
Five Dodgers pitchers combined to limit Atlanta to three hits, and the Braves went 1-for-23 with runners in scoring position across the series. Starter Tyler Glasnow worked around five walks, allowing one hit in 4⅔ innings. Closers Tanner Scott and Edwin Diaz, both signed in recent offseasons, pitched clean innings to close it out. Diaz, who joined Los Angeles on a three-year, $69 million deal, had missed significant time with elbow surgery and neck inflammation during the season before returning strong by September.
Roberts credited good fortune as well as skill. In the sixth inning, Ozzie Albies' drive would have been a home run in 29 of 30 stadiums, but at Truist Park it hit the top of the fence for a double. Los Angeles then capitalized on the momentum, loading the bases against rookie Didier Fuentes before Pages delivered the decisive blow.
Source: ESPN MLB · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing