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Cody Bellinger keeps L.A. alive
Although they entered the series as heavy favorites, the Dodgers fell to two walk-offs to start their series against Atlanta, and were in a must-win situation on Tuesday in Game Three. You may have heard only one team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit. They did get off to a good start with a two-run homer from Corey Seager in the first, but then things went downhill.
L.A.’s offense started to go cold against Atlanta’s pitching after that first inning, and the Braves exploded for a four-run fourth to take the two-run lead. They’d get the score up to 5-2 after another run in the fifth, and that score held into the eighth. Things were looking bleak for the Dodgers, but they got two on with one out for Cody Bellinger. It’s been a tough year for the former MVP, but he was sitting for a high fastball and despite getting one significantly above the zone, he crushed it for a three-run shot to tie the game. Mookie Betts came through with the go-ahead hit later in the inning, and Kenley Jansen closed it out to give the Dodgers their first win in the series. They can even things up on Wednesday with another win.
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Aaron Boone staying in New York
The Yankees made some moves with their coaching staff, but the decision as to whether or not they’d keep manager Aaron Boone was yet to be decided. The Yankees have had plenty of regular season success under him, but they’ve struggled to get it done in the postseason. That can’t all be put on his shoulders, of course, but he’s made some rough decisions in those games and more generally some young talent has stagnated on his work. He’s not a bad manager, but I think most Yankee fans you asked would have liked to see a change.
They’re not going to get their wish. New York announced on Tuesday that they were retaining Boone on a three-year deal. As Red Sox fans, I think we can look at this as a net positive, in part because there were probably better options available for the Yankees, but even more because we get to watch upset Yankee fans, and that’s always fun.
Jeter Downs homers again
The big-league club had a rough Tuesday against the Astros, but a couple of the bats in the Arizona Fall League had big days. Jeter Downs, who had perhaps the most disappointing year in the organization, has gotten off to a huge start in the desert. He kept it up in this game with his second homer of the fall, and he added a walk for good measure. Triston Casas, meanwhile, didn’t leave the yard but he hit a double and got on base four times. Kole Cottam got in on the fun, too, ending his day with a single and a walk. On the pitching side, Connor Seabold allowed two runs over three innings on a double and two walks with two strikeouts.