Every year, the Dodgers roll out of spring training like a high-priced luxury vehicle with a bumper sticker that says “World Series or Nothing.” This season they have overcome more bumps than usual and have lost some pieces along the way.
But all those miles have brought them to their destination this time: where they find another high-priced luxury vehicle with its own worn-out “World Series or Nothing” sticker, hoping to compete for more than just dismissal tickets.
With four RBIs from NLCS MVP Tommy Edman, a two-run homer from Will Smith and much more in support of their bullpen’s latest collective effort, the Dodgers clinched their spot in the World Series with a 10-5 victory over the New York Mets in Game 6 of the NLCS on Sunday night.
The Dodgers fell behind two games to one in their NL Division Series against the Padres, raising the specter of first-round exits in 2022 and 2023. Since then, they have won six of eight games.
“I think they’ve proven to themselves how strong they are,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who tied Bruce Bochy for the most World Series appearances (four) among active managers. “I think when you’re in a position like we were against a division rival, against a very talented team at the time, it becomes a street fight. It’s either lose and go home or just fight like crazy. And I think that’s what got us through the Division Series and also what allowed us to finish these guys in six games.”
The Dodgers are headed to the World Series for the 22nd time in franchise history, the fourth time in the last eight years, but the first since their championship in the “bubble” of the pandemic in 2020. They will face their old nemesis, the New York Yankees, for the 12th time in the World Series, the first since 1981. Game 1 is Friday night at Dodger Stadium.
“As a baseball fan, how can you not be excited about this?” said Dodgers infielder Max Muncy, starting the train of excitement. “We are talking about two of the largest franchises. The biggest sports stars. You have Freddie, Mookie, Shohei. On the other side you have Aaron Judge, Giancarlo, Juan Soto, Gerrit Cole. The game’s biggest stars on the biggest stage – how can you not be excited about this as a fan?
“Come on, man! It’s Dodgers-Yankees, come on!”
With a pitching staff decimated by injuries, the Dodgers knew they would have to hit to get to this World Series. And they did it. They outscored the Mets 46-26 in the NLCS with eight runs or more in four of six games. The 46 runs are a franchise record for any postseason series and a National League record for an LCS.
Just as they did in 2020, the Dodgers relied on a potent shortstop for their NLCS victory. An unexpected star, Edman’s 11 RBIs in six games against the Mets tied the Dodgers’ postseason record set by Corey Seager during their seven-game NLCS victory over the Atlanta Braves in 2020.
“We had some really good at-bats throughout the series,” Edman said, not knowing he had tied a record until after the game. “Our entire lineup was a very good lineup. Any number of guys could have won MVP.
“I kept coming up with guys on base and had a lot of opportunities to drive in runs.”
Edman’s season was halted by offseason wrist surgery and an ankle injury suffered during his rehab. He didn’t play his first game until mid-August, after the Dodgers acquired him even though he was on the injured list from the St. Louis Cardinals.
That late start gave Edman his own personal schedule. For him, he said earlier this week, he feels like his season has reached May or maybe June.
Call him Mr. June then. Edman was 11-for-27 in the NLCS with three doubles, a home run and those 11 RBIs.
“When we got it, we said ‘NLCS MVP or nothing.’ So, fortunately, we didn’t fail,” joked Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations.
Edman moved from center field to shortstop when Miguel Rojas was excluded from the NLCS roster. And he moved to the fourth shift twice in this series with All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman on the bench because of his injured ankle.
He started the scoring in the first inning, driving in two runs with a double into the left field corner. That made up for an early 1-0 lead given up by Michael Kopech in the top of the inning. Deployed as a starter by the Dodgers, Kopech did everything but hit the bull with a pitch during the first inning. He walked two, threw a wild pitch and gave up one run when Chris Taylor made a wild throw to first base on Pete Alonso’s broken bat grenade in the infield.
Edman’s double provided the first – and only – lead change of the entire series.
The Dodgers’ relievers didn’t have to be perfect like they were the last time the team turned to a relief game in an elimination scenario (Game 4 of the Division Series against the San Diego Padres).
And they weren’t. The Mets had 18 runners on base: 11 hits, six walks and one hit. They had more than one runner on base in six of the first seven innings.
Edman and Smith’s two-run homers in the third inning made the lead 6-1. But Anthony Banda gave up a two-run homer to Mark Vientos, settling things. Evan Phillips loaded the bases in the sixth, but exited without allowing a run.
Blake Treinen (the Dodgers’ seventh and final pitcher of the night) took over in the eighth and ended the Mets’ miracle dreams. He struck out all three batters in the eighth.
The Dodgers gave him three more runs in the bottom of the inning. Treinen gave up one before converting the first save opportunity for either team in this series.
Moments later, Roberts was hoisting the National League championship trophy and asking a roaring crowd at Dodger Stadium: “Do you want a parade in Los Angeles?” That benefit of a championship was not available in 2020.
“That’s something I really wanted to bring out because, in 2020, we didn’t have that parade,” Roberts said later. “If there is even more incentive to win the World Series in 2024, it is to have that parade. The way fans responded speaks to how passionate and how much they care about the Dodgers. It’s LA It’s about championships. “I respect that.”
Original Story
Dodgers beat Mets in Game 6, head to World Series reunion with Yankees
Originally Published: October 21, 2024 at 9:48 a.m.
