It was Chris Taylor’s night to shine as the third baseman hit three home runs and had six RBI’s to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to an 11-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves. The Dodgers extend their season by at least another game as they make it a 3-2 NLCS.
The long ball was the primary ball in Game 5 and at first glance, people thought it would be the Braves taking control. They certainly got off to an early start as reigning NL MVP Freddie Freeman sent a two-run blast into the right center field stands.
.@FreddieFreeman5 is not messing around. 💪 pic.twitter.com/bNSAFz0Ht0
— MLB (@MLB) October 22, 2021
The Dodgers answered with a couple homers in the second. The first was a solo shot by AJ Pollock on the second pitch of the inning while Taylor hit a two-run dinger to take a 3-2 lead.
AJ Pollock puts the Dodgers on the board. pic.twitter.com/pfYCUaFBWz
— MLB (@MLB) October 22, 2021
CT3 for the lead! pic.twitter.com/5zq0ep0kwp
— MLB (@MLB) October 22, 2021
Taylor kept that up in the third with an RBI single into center field. Two innings later, Taylor went 3-for-3 has he roped another two-run homer to make it a 6-2 ballgame.
Crush Taylor! pic.twitter.com/ZcnycMhGay
— MLB (@MLB) October 22, 2021
That wasn’t it for Taylor. In the seventh, he sent his third home run into left center and made history, becoming the 11th player to hit three home runs in a postseason game and the first to do that in an elimination game.
CT FOR 3! pic.twitter.com/arPBqywCXK
— MLB (@MLB) October 22, 2021
That seemed to break the proverbial camel’s back for the Braves as in the eighth, Mookie Betts got a leadoff single and stole second base. He would’ve stolen third but Trea Turner got a hit to score Betts. Then with two on base, Pollock hit his second homer of the game to make it 11-2. Taylor had a chance for a fourth home run, and become the first ever to do that in a postseason game, but he struck out.
PO11OCK pic.twitter.com/cp3ONtR56j
— MLB (@MLB) October 22, 2021
It wasn’t all great for the Dodgers. Joe Kelly started for the Dodgers but had to leave with just two outs in the first due to right bicep tightness. So it was a refreshing surprise that despite the starting pitcher allowing two runs and getting injured very early, the bullpen stepped up to keep the Braves scoreless the rest of the game.
With the win, the NLCS heads back to Atlanta for Game 6 on Saturday. The Braves have the advantage and are at home for the rest of the series but if the Dodgers can keep their bats hot, they might be the ones standing tall when this series is all said and done.