Atlanta Braves Take 2-0 Lead Over LA Dodgers in NLCS; Morton vs Buehler in Pivotal Game 3

(Photo : Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) ATLANTA, GEORGIA - Eddie Rosario (#8) of the Atlanta Braves is congratulated by teammates after he hit a single to score the winning run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the ninth inning of Game Two of the National League Championship Series at the Truist Park on October 17, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Atlanta Braves moved to within two victories of reaching the World Series after winning Game 2 of the National League Championship Series in dramatic fashion against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Eddie Rosario hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Braves a pulsating 5-4 win and hand them a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Dodgers heading into Game 3.

It looked like the Dodgers were on their way to knotting the series at one game apiece after taking a 4-2 lead in the top of the seventh inning. However, momentum swung in the Braves' favor in the bottom of the eighth inning after the Dodgers manager Dave Roberts opted to use 20-game winner Julio Urias as his reliever during that critical juncture.

Urias gamble backfires for Roberts as Braves rally

Urias was the hero in Game 7 last year against the Braves, pitching three hitless innings to seal the series win for the Dodgers. That was not the case on Sunday, as Rosario quickly tagged Urias with a leadoff single. Rosario, who moved to second on Freddie Freeman's flyout, scored after Ozzie Albies' single to right cut the Dodgers' lead to one run.

Austin Riley, who delivered a walk-off single in Game 1, starred again in Game 2 as he tied things up at 4-4 with a clutch double over Mookie Betts' head in center field. That set the stage for the late drama in the ninth inning, with Rosario making a star turn for Atlanta.

After using Urias in the eighth, Roberts made another questionable decision in the ninth by utilizing Brusdar Graterol instead of Kenley Jansen. The Braves took full advantage with Travis d'Arnaud leading things off with a single. Rosario then delivered the biggest hit of the night with two outs, smacking a hard liner off Corey Seager's glove to score Dansby Swanson.

Related Article: Houston Astros, Boston Red Sox Renew Rivalry in 2021 American League Championship Series 

Can the Dodgers pull off a series comeback again?

The Dodgers may be down 2-0 in the series, but this NLCS is far from over. Just ask the Braves, who held leads of 2-0 and 3-1 against Los Angeles in last year's NLCS. They failed to close out the Dodgers, though, who won the last three games to book a spot in the World Series, where they defeated the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Dodgers will still fancy their chances against the Braves even with a 0-2 series deficit as they have fared extremely well against Atlanta at home of late. The Dodgers had won 10 of their last 11 games against the Braves at Dodger Stadium, including their last seven meetings there. The Dodgers just swept the Braves at Chavez Ravine in a three-game series from August 30 to September 1.

Game 3 will take place Tuesday in Los Angeles with 5:08 PM ET as the start time. Charlie Morton will start for the Atlanta Braves in this contest against Walker Buehler, who will take the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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