Saturday, October 17, 2020

Alexander: Dodgers emphasized doing ‘something special’

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Corey Seager celebrates his two-run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Kenley Jansen throws against the Atlanta Braves during the ninth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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  • Atlanta Braves’ Freddie Freeman is safe at second past Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner after a double during the eighth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Corey Seager celebrates his two-run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Corey Seager celebrates his two-run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Corey Seager hits two-run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Corey Seager celebrates his two-run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Victor Gonzalez throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the seventh inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Chris Taylor scores past Atlanta Braves catcher Travis d’Arnaud on a hit by Mookie Betts during the seventh inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Enrique Hernandez forces Atlanta Braves Johan Camargo out at second after Cristian Pache hit into a double play during the seventh inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate a three-run home run by Will Smith against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas.(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Will Smith (16) celebrates a three-run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Pedro Baez throws against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Will Smith (16) celebrates a three-run home run off Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Will Smith during the sixth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Dustin May watches from the dugout during the seventh inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Will Smith, right, reacts after giving up a three-run home run to Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith, back left, in the sixth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series, Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Will Smith celebrates a three-run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Will Smith celebrates a three-run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Will Smith (16) celebrates a three-run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas.(AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Atlanta Braves’ Dansby Swanson is safe at third past Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager on a single by Nick Markakis during the second inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Atlanta Braves’ Cristian Pache celebrates after a RBI-single single against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

  • Atlanta Braves’ Dansby Swanson celebrates with Freddie Freeman after scoring on a single by Cristian Pache during the second inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Joe Kelly throws against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Corey Seager hits a home run against the Atlanta Braves during the fourth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Corey Seager celebrates a home run against the Atlanta Braves during the fourth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Tyler Matzek throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fourth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Corey Seager watches his home run against the Atlanta Braves during the fourth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Corey Seager celebrates a home run against the Atlanta Braves during the fourth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Atlanta Braves’ Marcell Ozuna watches after getting called out at home after leaving third early during the third inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Blake Treinen throws against the Atlanta Braves during the fourth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Atlanta Braves’ Freddie Freeman, foreground runs on his way to scoring from third base on a sacrifice fly from teammate Travis d’Arnaud in the first inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series, Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts (50) catches a fly ball from Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson then throws to home in the third inning of Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series, Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

  • Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Shane Greene throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fifth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts is save at first past Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman during the sixth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts steals seconds past Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies during the sixth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts is tagged out in a run down by Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Shane Greene during the sixth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts is tagged out in a run down by Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Shane Greene during the sixth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts steals seconds past Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies during the sixth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts steals seconds past Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies during the sixth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger reacts after striking out against the Atlanta Braves during the second inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Atlanta Braves’ Dansby Swanson is safe at third past Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager on a single by Nick Markakis during the second inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Max Muncy walks to the dugout after striking out against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

  • Atlanta Braves’ Freddie Freeman celebrates at the dugout after scoring on a sacrifice fly by Travis d’Arnaud during the first inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Dustin May throws against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

  • Atlanta Braves’ Freddie Freeman hits double against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Dustin May throws against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Max Muncy reacts after striking out against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Dustin May warms up before Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Dustin May warms up before Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Justin Turner hit a double against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

  • Atlanta Braves relief pitcher A.J. Minter throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

  • Atlanta Braves relief pitcher A.J. Minter throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Atlanta Braves relief pitcher A.J. Minter throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker watches batting practice before Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker watches batting practice before Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager warms up during batting practice before Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker watches batting practice before Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker watches batting practice before Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Fans watch batting practice before Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies warms up during batting practice before Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Fans watch batting practice before Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Atlanta Braves third baseman Pablo Sandoval smiles during batting practice before Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw watches batting practice before Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

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How do you handle it, emotionally, when your season – and all those expectations you’ve faced from day one – are on the line?

The Dodgers handled it calmly, confidently and with aplomb Friday night.

“We’re still pretty confident in our team,” pitcher Walker Buehler said in the afternoon, before the Dodgers’ 7-3 victory over Atlanta to stave off elimination. “And, you know, obviously being (down) 3-1, there’s going to have to be something kind of special happen. And I think we have the ability to do that. I think we’re a pretty consistent group, and that’s definitely evident in the way that guys are feeling today.”

That evidently was the tone in the Dodgers’ clubhouse, the opportunity to be part of something special. That phrase could be shorthand for making history, which is what Corey Seager did when he became the first shortstop to hit four home runs in a postseason series by slamming a pair Friday and driving in three runs.

Something special also applied to catcher Will Smith, who won his personal duel with Braves pitcher Will Smith – the first meeting ever in the postseason between a hitter and pitcher with the same name – with a go-ahead, three-run shot in the sixth that made it 4-2. Seager’s two-run blast an inning later pretty much turned the lights out on the Braves for the evening.

(It was Will the younger getting the best of Will the elder. Somewhere in there is a name for a new craft beer, or maybe two, but we digress.)

The specialness applied to Mookie Betts’ myriad contributions, including the snag of a sinking liner in the third that turned into an unassisted double play (thanks to a review that verified Marcell Ozuna left third base too soon attempting to score) and ultimately was a game-changing play. Momentum is normally overrated in baseball, but that play was worth more than the run it saved.

And that special tag even applied to the end of an unintended bullpen game, when Kenley Jansen – yes, that Kenley Jansen – struck out the side on 12 pitches and displayed some velocity that had been hidden previously in this postseason. He got into the 92-93 mph range and hit 94 on his final pitch of the night.

“He was attacking guys, it was coming in good, he was hitting spots,” the Dodgers’ Will Smith said on Zoom afterward. “He looked good, and we’re gonna need him these next two games.”

Jansen’s main contribution seemed to be to save Brusdar Graterol’s arm for Game 6, but … hey, you never know.

So the Dodgers have a chance to do something that’s not necessarily impossible, but the odds remain long.

Seven teams have come back from 3-1 deficits since the League Championship Series became a best-of-seven format in 1985, and six more teams have done so in the World Series. Those 13 comebacks have come over the span of 86 series all-time in which teams had a 3-1 lead, dating to the 1905 World Series (New York Giants over Philadelphia A’s in five games, for those who are wondering). The success rate is less than 15 percent.

More than half of all of those series (45 of 86) finished in five. So the Dodgers have already beaten the odds in one sense. But that’s not nearly enough.

“There’s a lot of guys in this room that have faced elimination games before, so we have that experience,” third baseman Justin Turner said in the afternoon. “And, you know, the one thing we talked about is, this is an opportunity to do something special. So everyone’s embracing the challenge and ready to go.”

That “something special” … you think the veterans in the Dodger clubhouse didn’t plant that seed?

“As a young player, you’re always looking to the veterans who’ve had experience, whether it’s knowing when to get excited, when to calm, when to back off a little bit,” Manager Dave Roberts said. “And just to see guys like Justin come out with a big hit, break the ice a little bit, Mookie doing what he’s doing, it just kind of leads the way for the young guys.”

Maybe the Dodgers were inspired by baseball’s villains. The Houston Astros dug themselves a 3-0 series hole in San Diego against Tampa Bay and have crawled out of it, and those teams will play a Game 7 on Saturday evening.

The Dodgers will attempt to pull off their own escape, knowing theirs carries more pressure. The Astros, after all, made the tournament as a sub-.500 team, thanks to postseason expansion. The Dodgers had the best record in baseball during the regular season, they led the majors in home runs and ERA, and they seemed to have it all through that 60-game sprint and the first two rounds of the playoffs.

But then they seemingly didn’t against a Braves club that has depth and talent of its own, and almost as long a World Series title famine. It’s been since ’88 for the Dodgers, with all of their recent October frustrations making it seem even more interminable, but it’s been since ’95 for the Braves.

Now the Dodgers have another shot at Max Fried, who held them to four hits through six innings in Game 1. If they get past that, they get another crack at rookie Ian Anderson, who limited them to two hits through his six innings in Game 2. The Dodgers’ mantra offensively is that the more they see of a pitcher, the better their chances.

“Just seeing guys twice, that’s huge,” Seager said. “The first time (against Fried) we did a really good job, we grinded it and he never gave in and made pitches when he needed to. And now we’ve kind of built up a little knowledge of what it’s going to be like, what to expect. And (we) can hopefully build off of it.”

The alternative is the offseason. That’s no choice at all.

jalexander@scng.com

@Jim_Alexander on Twitter

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