October 22, 2021

1. Chris Taylor hits three home runs to save the Dodgers season

He was the hero in the Wild Card Game, and again last night Chris Taylor came through:

Three home runs. Four hits. Six RBI.

Here are the videos of each:

Before the third one, TBS played a montage highlight reel of Reggie Jackson’s three home runs in the 1977 World Series, with a minute-long chat between the broadcast team, going: “Will Chris Taylor be able to hit three?”

And then, right then, he did.

2. The stat of the day: Chris Taylor ties Albert Pujols

Elite company, for one of the most underrated players in baseball.

And who was there at home plate to hug him, after both of those first two home runs?

3. The rest of the highlights from Game 5 of the NLCS, as the Dodgers win big to keep their season alive

A final score of 11–2, the franchise record for hits in a postseason game (17), and beyond the Taylor hat trick there was AJ Pollock going deep twice to left field. As the Dodgers force a Game 6, tomorrow night in Atlanta.

And then there was Albert Pujols, getting on base in each of his first three at-bats, with two singles and a walk — like he forgot his age completely:

4. The fashion statement of the night: Cody Bellinger

5. Game 6 of the ALCS is tonight in Houston

Nathan Eovaldi vs. Luis Garcia. 8:08 ET.

If the Astros win, they’ll be in the World Series.

Here’s Reggie Jackson (who now works for the Astros) dancing to Thriller for the occasion:

6. Max Fried pitched in front of a home crowd last night

He grew up right across town from Dodger Stadium, in Santa Monica, went to the Harvard-Westlake School (along with Jack Flaherty and Lucas Giolito), and gave out 60 tickets for friends and family last night — but couldn’t quite get the win.

7. The guy who caught the broken bat shard at Fenway Park last night

And he gets to keep it, too.

8. The odd stat of the day

The first runner caught stealing in the entire National League postseason this year. How can that be?

9. Eddie Rosario continued his hot streak yet again last night

Two hits again last night, including a double, and just look at these game logs. He’s gotten a hit in every single game of the postseason this year.

10. And lastly, Joc Pederson is setting a trend in Atlanta

Fashion statements around town. Halloween costumes coming up. The pearl necklace is happening in Atlanta.