A little more last-minute magic brought the Atlanta Braves two World Series wins away.
Eddie Rosario had a deciding hit in the 9th inning for the second night in a row and gave the Braves a 5-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday and a 2-0 lead in the National League Championship Series.
Rosario’s fourth hit of the game, a two-out single, escaped shortstop Corey Seager’s glove after the Braves rallied two-run deficits twice.
“These guys have always been like this,” said Atlanta manager Brian Snitker. “They never go out.”
Rosario hit a 105 mph single on the first pitch after closer Kenley Jansen’s relief. Seager tried to catch the ball, but it went under his glove and into the outfield.
There was no opportunity to stop Dansby Swanson, who ran from second base to score the winning run, removing his helmet and dropping it to the ground after crossing the plate, a repeat of what happened in the first game of the series, when Austin Riley hit the deciding hit in the ninth for a 3-2 victory.
The series resumes in Los Angeles, with the third game of the series scheduled for Tuesday night.
“We all have that dream, that desire to go to the World Series,” Rosario said. “That is what we aspire to.”
The Braves need two more wins to make their first World Series appearance since 1999, but this is not the time to celebrate.
A year ago, they led the Dodgers 2-0, 3-1 in the NL Championship Series, then lost the next three games. Los Angeles beat Tampa Bay in the World Series.
They are halfway there after bouncing back in the eighth against Julio Urías, who pitched three no-hitter innings to end Game 7 against the Braves last October.
“Last year we were 2-0 up with them, so it’s one of those things that you can’t stop right now, you have to keep applying the pressure and go out every day and go for it,” Riley said.
For the Dodgers, Albert Pujols 1-0.
For the Braves, Puerto Rican Eddie Rosario 5-4 with a run scored and an RBI. The Venezuelan Ehire Adrianza 1-0.
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