Cody Bellinger Bomb Lifts Dodgers Over Braves

By the eighth inning of Game 3 of the NLCS on Tuesday night, the Dodgers appeared likely to lay a third consecutive dud. They were trailing 5-2 and had already fallen behind Atlanta 2-0 in the series, so a loss would've placed LA's season and the prospects of a World Series repeat on life support.

"We were dead in the water," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "You could see it."

But thanks to a Cody Bellinger game-tying bomb, their season is still very much alive.

“Ball’s coming in hard, some shadows you’re dealing with, so I saw it well and I just tried to barrel it up,” said Bellinger following LA's 6-5 win. “Just continue to barrel up the ball and pass the baton.”

"Honestly, for as weird as it was, I saw it. I saw it and I just tried to put a good swing on it," added Bellinger. "It's just one of those things."

Bellinger's heroics in the bottom of the eighth inning tied the score at five, and a Mookie Betts double knocked in the eventual game-winning run.

The best of seven series now stands at 2-1, and the suddenly revived Dodgers have a chance to even the series with a second consecutive win in front of the home fans Wednesday evening.

But don't expect Atlanta to lie down.

“It’s never going to just be easy and handed to us,” said Bellinger following Game 3. “We got to fight for it.”

The home club will throw Julio Urias, while the Braves will likely start the game with one of their relievers on the hill, though no starter has been announced.

First pitch is slated for just after 8 p.m. EST Wednesday night.

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