October 7th, 2019 at 8:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka Game-3 of the 2019 National League Division Series will forever be remembered for Dodgers catcher Russell Martin‘s 2-for-4 / four-RBI night that included a double and a home run, and Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner‘s 3-for-6 / three-RBI night that also included a double and a home run. It will also be remembered for its historical top of the sixth inning at Nationals Park in which 10 Dodgers batters came to the plate and a night in which eight of the 18 total Dodgers players who were in the lineup during the nearly four-hour-long marathon game (including six pitchers) got a hit.
But buried in all of the hype and hoopla of the Dodgers second win in the best-of-five series was an at-bat that could not only prove to be the turning point of the NLDS but quite possibly the turning point of the entire postseason for the Dodgers, should they make it to their third consecutive World Series. That at-bat was, of all things, a flyout to right field in the top of the third inning by Dodgers center fielder and NL MVP hopeful Cody Bellinger.
I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking how on earth can a flyout be a turning point for anything, and it’s hard to dispute that. But consider this: Prior to that seemingly meaningless flyout, the 24-year-old Scottsdale, AZ native and Dodgers fourth-round draft pick in 2013 out of Hamilton High School in nearby Chandler, AZ had gone 0-for-7 with five strikeouts thus far in the Division Series. In other words, Bellinger was a complete mess; and as we all know – So goes Bellinger, so go the Dodgers.
But in that top of the third inning on Sunday night, Bellinger hit a 2-1 / 74-mph change-up off of Nationals starting right-hander Aníbal Sánchez to straightaway right field. And even though it is listed as an F-7 in the box score and ended the inning, it was the first sign of life in three games for the young Dodgers outfielder / first baseman. Could it be that the Dodgers two-time All-Star and 2017 NL Rookie of the Year is finally back?
(Video capture courtesy of TBS)
But wait… There’s more!
In that historic top of the sixth inning, Bellinger came to the plate twice. He led off the inning with a sharp line-drive single to right off of Nationals left-hander Patrick Corbin for his first hit of the postseason, and in his second at-bat of the frame, he doubled to right off of right-hander Wander Suero.
Although it may be a bit premature to proclaim the Belly is finally out of his funk, and although he didn’t make the front page on a night when Russell Martin and Justin Turner deservingly did, Bellinger’s 2-for-5 night might very well prove to be the turning point of the entire postseason for the Dodgers.
…because, as we all know – So goes Bellinger, so go the Dodgers.
Play Ball!
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1000% agree about Bellinger’s turning point, and its importance to the Dodgers pursuit of World Championship, but for last night’s game I nominate Max Muncy’s 5th inning home run as the turning point. 5th inning, 2 outs, no balls and 2 strikes on Muncy who takes the next pitch deep for a 400′ home run, cutting the Nats lead in half. One never knows how events can change outcomes, but Muncy’s home run ignited the Dodgers bench and I believe took momentum away from the Nats and put it into the Dodgers dugout.
It didn’t look good for the Dodgers before the 6th inning and for awhile it didn’t look good during the inning. It started out like it was going to be another dismal inning for the offense. After that, it felt like a regular season game with the Dodgers hitting at will. A big win, as we get ready to face Scherzer up two games to one.
My take away from last night’s game was the clutch hit by Freese. After the WS last year Justin Turner spoke to Freidman and Co. that Dodgers must bring Freese back for this year. Well Turner should already plan on another meeting with the FO to get Freese to re=sign for 2020. The 6th inning was a franchise record for scoring in 1 inning during the PS and I was quite surprised at what took place. After all, one would never initially guess that Dodgers or any team for that matter would end up winning a game in which it’s hitters struck out another 15 times.