Cody Bellinger leads Dodgers into NLCS with 3-1 win over the Diamondbacks - MLB

Dodgers first baseman Cody Bellinger had a terrific ballgame both offensively and defensively, contributing to his club’s 3-1 victory over the Diamondbacks in Game 3 of the NLDS at Chase Field on Monday night. After sweeping the D-Backs in the NLDS, the Dodgers return to the NLCS. They dropped the NLCS in six games to the Cubs last year and are certainly looking to improve on that.

D-Backs starter Zack Greinke didn’t have his best stuff and that was apparent right out of the gate. He gave up a leadoff double to Chris Taylor in the first inning, then walked Corey Seager. After Justin Turner lined out to center field, moving Taylor to third base, Bellinger brought Taylor home with a ground out. The Dodgers would continue threaten over the next three innings but Greinke was able to navigate his way out of danger.

In the fifth, Bellinger added to the Dodgers’ lead, ripping a 3-1 Greinke change-up to left-center field for a solo home run. In the bottom half, Bellinger secured the final out of the inning when Jeff Mathis popped out in foul territory. Bellinger tipped over the railing in front of the visitors’ dugout and managed to hold onto the ball.

The D-Backs answered in the bottom of the fifth as Daniel Descalso smacked a solo home run to right field off of Yu Darvish. The Dodgers, though, got the run right back in the sixth on a leadoff Austin Barnes homer to left field off of Greinke.

Darvish came out for the bottom of the sixth but it was clear his command was starting to elude him. He just barely missed hitting pinch-hitter Christian Walker, then hit him on the bill of the helmet with his eighth pitch of the at-bat. Thankfully, Walker was in good enough shape to take his place at first base, but that was it for Darvish. Tony Cingrani came in and induced a 3-6-3 double play on a terrific play by Bellinger. Brandon Morrow came in and got the final out of the sixth on another fine defensive play by Bellinger, this time making a diving effort for a 3-1 putout.

Morrow worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning before giving way to… Kenta Maeda in the eighth. Yep, Kenta Maeda. Not that seeing a starter used in a relief role is exactly strange anymore. Anyway, Maeda worked a 1-2-3 frame of his own with a pair of strikeouts. Kenley Jansen got the ninth, as expected. He fanned pinch-hitter Gregor Blanco, then gave up a single to David Peralta to give the D-Backs the opportunity to bring the tying run to the plate. Unfortunately for them, they couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity. Ketel Marte grounded back to Jansen and Paul Goldschmidt struck out on a 3-2 count to end the game, sending Dodgers pouring onto the field to celebrate advancing in the playoffs.

The Dodgers will have a few days off, awaiting the winner of the Cubs/Nationals side of the NLDS. The Cubs lead that series 2-1. The NLCS will begin on Saturday.

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PITTSBURGH – Andrew McCutchen’s tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the eighth inning lifted Pittsburgh to a 5-4 victory over Oakland on Monday night, extending the Pirates’ win streak to six games and sending the Athletics to their record-tying 15th consecutive road loss.

The 15 straight defeats away from home matches the Athletics’ record since they moved from Kansas City in 1968. Oakland set that mark in 1986.

The major league-worst Athletics (12-50) have lost five games in a row overall. They are on pace to finish the season exactly 100 games under .500 at 31-131.

“It’s tough,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “Tonight’s game, we didn’t play well enough to win the game. I don’t want to say we gave the game away but there were a lot of instances where we had a chance to capitalize on opportunities and didn’t do it.”

McCutchen also singled and drew three walks to go with two RBIs. The 2013 NL MVP now has 1,998 career hits.

With the score tied at 4, Ji Hwan Bae led off the decisive eighth inning with a single off Sam Moll (0-3) and advanced to third on Austin Hedges’ one-out single. McCutchen’s sac fly plated Bae.

“I was just trying to get the job done. I understand the situation there,” McCutchen said. “We just need to get the run. I was trying to bear down against a hard thrower and trying to get that run in as much as I can, and I was able to do it and have a good at-bat.”

Angel Perdomo (1-0) retired both hitters he faced. and Colin Holdeman pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his first career save. It was an eventful inning for Holderman as the first three batters reached base, but he struck out Carlos Perez with runners on the corners to end it.

“I began my career as a starting pitcher in the minor leagues but ever since I was switched to relief, this has been the goal, to get a save in the big leagues,” Holderman said.

Pittsburgh starter Johan Oviedo gave up three runs and four hits with five strikeouts and two walks.

Oakland left-hander JP Sears did not allow a hit until Mark Mathias’ leadoff single in the fifth but was unable to make it through the inning. Sears was charged with one run in 4 2/3 innings while allowing two hits, walking five and striking out six.

Sears has not allowed more than two runs in five consecutive starts. His nine no-decisions are the most in the major leagues.

Ryan Noda and Brent Rooker had two hits each for the Athletics.

The Athletics tied the score at 4-4 in the eighth inning on pinch-hitter Aledmys Diaz’s run-scoring double. Oakland left the bases loaded, though, when Nick Allen hit an inning-ending flyout.

Consecutive bases-loaded walks keyed a three-run sixth inning that put the Pirates 4-3. McCutchen and Bryan Reynolds each worked bases on balls off Shintaro Fujinami to tie the score at 3-all and pinch-hitter Jack Suwinski followed with a sacrifice fly.

The Athletics opened the scoring in the first inning when rookie Esteury Ruiz reached on catcher’s interference, stole his MLB-leading 30th base of the season and scored on Noda’s single. Seth Brown doubled in a run in the third and came home on Perez’s sacrifice fly to push Oakland’s lead to 3-0.

Connor Joe hit an RBI double for the Pirates in the fifth.

The Pirates drew 10 walks, their most in a game in nearly two years.

“We had a bunch of opportunities that we didn’t capitalize (on), but the thing I think I was most proud of is we got down and we didn’t rush to get back,” Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton said. “We were still patient.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Athletics: LHP Kirby Snead (strained shoulder) is expected to pitch in the Arizona Complex League on Tuesday, which will be his first game action since spring training. … RHP Freddy Tarnok (strained shoulder) will throw a bullpen on Tuesday.

TOP PICK PROMOTED

Pirates catching prospect Henry Davis was promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis from Double-A Altoona. In 41 games at Double-A this season, the 23-year-old hit .284 with 10 home runs and seven stolen bases.

“He was performing offensively at a level where we felt like he was more than ready to meet the challenges,” Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said. “He improved as an offensive player even since spring training, focusing on the things we were challenging him on. Defensively, he’s made strides too.”

Davis was the first overall selection in the 2021 amateur draft from the University of Louisville.

UP NEXT

Athletics RHP James Kaprielian (0-6, 8.12 ERA) will make his first start in June after taking the loss in all four starts in May and face RHP Mitch Keller (7-1, 3.25). Keller has eight or more strikeouts in seven consecutive starts, the longest streak by a Pirates pitcher in the modern era (since 1901).