It will forever be remembered as one of the greatest postseason games ever played.

It took 13 innings and five hours and 15 minutes to complete.

Combined, there were 16 total pitchers used who made a total of 381 pitches, while striking out 32 total batters.

There were zero home runs, zero triples, and only two doubles – none by the Dodgers.

There were exactly zero relievers left in the Dodgers bullpen and only one left  in the Milwaukee Brewers bullpen.

It was, in every sense of the word, epic.

And the Dodgers won by a score of 2-1 over the Brewers in front of a very loud (and very tense) Dodger Stadium crowd of 53,764 who knew that if their team lost, would be down three games to one in the best of seven National League Championship Series and, in all likelihood, be out of it.

Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger would have none of that.

After Dodgers first baseman Max Muncy led off the bottom of the 13th inning of the 1-1 tied ballgame by lining out to Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun, and Dodgers second baseman popped out to Brewers third baseman Mike Moustakas in foul territory, Machado lined a two-out single to left, bringing Bellinger to the plate. After making three pick-off attempts of Machado at first, Brewers right-hander Junior Guerra threw a wild pitch, allowing Machado to take second base. It would give the Dodgers their biggest advantage of the series thus far – and they took it.

Reaching second base on a wild pitch with two outs in the bottom of the 13th inning would prove to be the biggest play of the game to that point. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

In what was arguably the biggest at-bat of his two-year MLB career, Bellinger skillfully worked the count to 3-2. After seeing six pitches off of Guerra (which included the aforementioned wild pitch), Bellinger lined the seventh into right field for the game-winning walk-off single.

Bellinger’s seven-pitch at-bat was absolutely outstanding, ending with this walk-off single to right.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

“It’s probably a feeling you won’t forget, seeing your guys chase after you,” said Bellinger, after being mobbed by his teammates in celebration out in left field, where he had run to. “Honestly, I was surprised that they were throwing to me, I thought they would pitch around me and get me to swing. Once I saw they were attacking me, it was just kind of grind mode and do what you can to put the ball in play and try to end the game.

“I’ve been seeing [back-foot sliders] so much now that if you keep seeing it you’re going to get used to it. And I’m a different hitter than I was last year. I’ve learned a lot,” Bellinger added modestly.

His manager was a bit more complementary.

“I think it’s seeing our guys persevere through that game,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “But I just … understanding and seeing what Cody has been going through and really just wearing it and the weight of the world on him.”

What Bellinger has been going through was being 2-for 24 (.083) in eight postseason games thus far. His third hit, however, would be a game – and series – changer.

“You lose that game, extra innings, at home, go down 3-1, it’s not a very good feeling with the quick turnaround tomorrow,” said Dodgers third baseman and unofficial team captain Justin Turner. “It’s something we had to get done. Belly, what an incredible at-bat he had, laying off tough pitches and finding a hole.”

Twenty-two-year-old Dodgers left-hander Julio Urias, the last reliever in the Dodgers bullpen, picked up the first postseason win of his young career on Tuesday night thanks to Bellinger’s walk-off hit.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Under the radar and lost in the excitement of the Dodgers victory scrum out in left field is the fact that the play at the plate on Machado was extremely close on an outstanding throw by probable NL MVP Christian Yelich. Machado, however, managed to get his hand in and on the plate a fraction of a second ahead of the tag by Brewers catcher Erik Kratz to score the game-winning run.

Yelich’s throw to the plate was right on the money but a fraction of a second too late, thus allowing Machado to reach in with his left hand to touch the plate with the winning run. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

And then bedlam ensued.

The Dodgers dugout erupted in celebration, with Bellinger running all the way out to left field, where he was mobbed by his happy teammates and his jersey ripped from his body.

…and it was GREAT!

There are no words.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

The Dodgers are hoping to take a three-games-to-two lead over the Brewers in Game-5 of the 2018 NLCS at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday afternoon when they send their ace left-hander Clayton Kershaw to the mound opposite Brewers left-hander Wade Miley. First pitch is scheduled for 2;05 p.m. PT.

Play Ball!