Machado, Freese boost Dodgers to National League Championship Series
by Rowan Kavner
Yasiel Puig tossed ice in the air from a giant bucket filled with Budweiser, Beau Joie and Korbel. Kenley Jansen grabbed ice from the bucket and tossed it into Puig’s mouth. Champagne sprayed in every direction as players poured beer onto their teammates’ heads and down the backs of their shirts. In the midst of revelry, David Freese found temporary cover.
Where the Dodgers celebrated a trip to the National League Championship Series on Monday night in Atlanta was the same place Freese got the news five weeks prior he’d be going to the Dodgers.
Freese was acquired from Pittsburgh for these October moments, the ones the 2011 World Series MVP has become known for, but three years had passed since his last trip to the postseason. It seemed there might be a fourth. There was no way to know then, on Aug. 31, he’d find himself back at SunTrust Park in the 2018 playoffs creating new October memories on a new club.
“You never know if you’re going to get back,” Freese said after helping spark the Dodgers to a 6–2 win in Game 4 of the National League Division Series. “Some guys don’t get a chance to be in the postseason. You’re grateful. You’re thankful. You miss the guys in Pitt, but you’d rather be doing this, for sure.”
In the time of year that creates the most lasting moments and memories, the latest acquisitions made their most impactful Dodger impressions.
Freese’s two-out, two-run single put the Dodgers ahead in the sixth inning. That inning was made possible by two crucial outs with the bases loaded from reliever Ryan Madson, another World Series champion acquired the same day as Freese specifically for these moments. The game would break open in the seventh inning on a three-run home run from Manny Machado, the Dodgers’ prized deadline acquisition brought in to do what he did Monday night, setting up an NLCS matchup against the Brewers.
“Tonight was actually pretty cool to see a lot of those guys that we acquired over the last couple months of the season come through,” said general manager Farhan Zaidi.
Machado finished the game 2-for-5 with four RBI. He started the scoring with an RBI double in the first inning before tacking on late in his biggest game as a Dodger with his biggest hit as a Dodger, a no-doubt shot sent 109 mph off the bat and out to left field.
“Can’t say enough about him,” said manager Dave Roberts. “Obviously with Manny and a player of his caliber, there are so many expectations put on him. And we said it from the beginning that it’s going to take all of us to win a championship, and he understands that. For him to put together some at-bats tonight, really quality at-bats, and obviously a game-changing home run…you look back at this series, his two homers essentially led us to two wins.”
All three of Machado’s hits during the series went for extra bases. Hitting for power and getting on base weren’t problems for the Dodgers during the series. Entering Game 4, they led all playoff teams in homers and walks.
They also led all postseason teams in two-out RBI. Hitting with runners in scoring position hadn’t gone quite so smoothly, batting .136 in those situations through the first three games. Freese helped increase both marks with one vital swing off the bench.
After the Dodgers left runners in scoring position in the first, second and fourth innings, Freese’s pinch-hit, two-run single in the sixth went by the outstretched arm of shortstop Charlie Culberson and into center field, erasing the lead the Braves had just obtained two innings prior.
“It was one of those, ‘That’s through…oh wait…oh, it’s through!’” Freese said. “I was just hoping Charlie didn’t get there. He dives. You’re running, but you’re kind of peeking. Lost the ball and then saw it by him and then you know you got the two runs in.”
Starter Rich Hill had danced around trouble to begin the day, leaving two runners stranded in both the first and third innings. Walks would eventually come back to bite him in the fourth.
Hill walked each of the first two batters he faced to start the inning before getting a sacrifice bunt and groundout. Atlanta starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz had started to settle in, but with two on, two out and trailing by a run, Braves manager Brian Snitker went to his bench with Foltynewicz’s spot coming up.
Kurt Suzuki delivered a two-out, two-run single to put Atlanta ahead.
In the bottom of the fifth, another walk and two misplayed grounders — the latter of which was an error on Machado — loaded the bases with one out. Roberts went to Madson, who proceeded to get out of the inning with no damage done via two popouts. Machado said he was feeling down about the error, but his teammates picked him up.
“Madson coming in, you know, holding down the fort, not allowing any runs, giving us the opportunity for Freese, one of the most clutch hitters in the game to come in and give us the opportunity to give us the lead … at that point of the game, everything changes,” Machado said.
Madson said he never felt more connected to his team and teammates than he did Monday night, being able to contribute the way that he did. On a team full of fresh contributors still getting accustomed to their surroundings, these were the types of performances that can only further endear the newcomers to their veteran Dodger teammates.
“This is the beauty about this team, everyone supports everyone, whether we’re struggling or we’re not,” Machado said. “It’s unbelievable support.”
Pedro Báez followed Madson with 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Dating back to the regular season, Báez has thrown 10 straight scoreless appearances and hasn’t allowed a run in 20 of his last 21 outings. Caleb Ferguson added two more outs, and after Kenta Maeda ran into some traffic in the eighth inning, he stranded runners at the corners to get out of the jam.
The bullpen’s work bought time for Freese, who further added to his October legacy. Playing mostly against left-handed pitchers during his time with the Dodgers, he received a rare opportunity against a righty that put the Dodgers in the driver’s seat.
“You never know what this game is going to give you, what opportunities arise for you,” Freese said. “You’ve just gotta be ready. That’s what I’ve learned over the years. Whether you’re in high school, college, whatever, just be ready. You don’t have to be the best player in the world. You don’t have to make the most money, but you’re going to have a shot to do something cool.”
Machado, who hopes to carve out his own October legacy, then put the foot on the pedal to help run away with the win. Jansen finished off the Game 4 series victory, sending the Dodgers to the NLCS for the third straight year.
But for the new contributors, this is a first in a Dodger uniform.
“Just going to continue to enjoy this moment,” Machado said. “This is just the beginning of it.”
