October 15, 2021
1. The Dodgers win the NLDS on the checked swing call heard around the world
You’ve likely seen it, but here it is again — the final moment of one of the biggest series in recent baseball history. And the Dodgers beat the Giants, win Game 5, and advance to the NLCS.
Suddenly, Gabe Morales (first-base umpire) has become the most infamous name in baseball.
It’s called a swing, strike three, the Giants lose, and a classic series comes to an end late at night in San Francisco — after a dead tie between two 109-win teams broke late for the Dodgers in the ninth.
Here, to the consolation of Giants fans, was another angle of the swing, that makes the call a bit more passable:
And lastly, perhaps to make things just a little bit acceptable, we can think of it as a long distance make-up call for that Darin Ruf swing back in July that decided a game (in a division race that came down to one game, in the end).
Here was Ruf himself, commenting after last night’s game:
2. Scenes from the Dodgers winning celebration
One of the biggest nights in Dodgers history.
And maybe the photo (and moment) of the year — as Max Scherzer gives us all enough of a scare to last through Halloween:
Another angle, of an all-time majestic-psychotic baseball moment:
3. Rewinding now, the highlights from the game itself
It was a tight, scoreless battle for the first few innings, with the Dodgers in a crafty chess match of sorts — starting with Corey Knebel, then Brusdar Graterol, before finally turning to their “starter” (or “bulk guy” as they called him on the broadcast) in the third inning, Julio Urias.
Here were the Dodgers’ pitching lines, to start the night:
And as for the Giants, their ace from Game 1 was dominant once again — and going forward, Logan Webb might just be one of the best pitchers in baseball. Seven innings pitched. Four hits, one walk. One run given up.
In the sixth inning, the Dodgers took a 1–0 lead, and the Giants tied it right back up. A base hit by Mookie Betts (his fourth of the game), then an RBI double from Corey Seager — and in the bottom of the inning Darin Ruf launched the deepest home run of the 2021 postseason.
After that, more great pitching. Until the top of the ninth, when the unlikeliest of heroes came through for the Dodgers — Cody Bellinger, former NL MVP turned ugly duckling for this year’s team, batting .165 on the year, had the hit of the season.
4. And then came the bottom of the ninth
Who else came in to pitch, but the legend? Max Scherzer.
In his debut with the Dodgers in August, he dominated a reviled Astros lineup in L.A., amid the most intense atmosphere of the regular season. The rest of the late summer, he pulled off a potential Cy Young season. In the Wild Card game last week, he dominated. And there he was again last night, after 100+ pitches just days ago, coming out of the bullpen to close out the series.
He pitched like he always does. Quickly. Intensely. Striking out the last two batters, after one reached on a nervous error from Justin Turner, and finishing with the controversial no-check-swing call.
And just like that, minutes after jogging out of the bullpen, Max Scherzer berserk-rejoiced on the mound, the series was over, the Dodgers advanced, and the party began.
5. The quote of the night: Max Scherzer
6. Game 1 of the ALCS is tonight in Houston
Will absolutely not be watching, given the Astros vs. Alex Cora derby, but will look for the silver lining and wish Kyle Schwarber the best.
8:07 ET on FOX.
7. The pitching matchup: Chris Sale vs. Framber Valdez
The struggling veteran against the often-dominant young upstart, and as baseball tends to go — we have no idea how it’ll play out.
8. The Dodgers will play the Braves starting tomorrow, in a rematch of the 2020 NLCS
Game 1 in Atlanta, tomorrow night. As the team with about twenty fewer wins in the regular season has the home field advantage.
9. Charlie Freeman is the early favorite for MVP of the series
Watch out for this guy. Electric presence at the plate.
10. And lastly, the joyful moment of the night
Albert “Tío Albert” Pujols embracing the redeemed Cody Bellinger:
