Thousands of fans crammed into Dodger Stadium on Tuesday for Game-3 of the National League Championship Series – 51,307 of the Dodger’s faithful, to be exact. Many had to take off from work to represent their team for the home opener of the best-of-seven series because of its 2:08 pm PT midweek start time.

There is no end to the stereotypes and whatnot that certain teams will pick up over the years. At Dodger Stadium, the cliché is that fans arrive late and leave early. Sure, on the face of it, this is true. Typically, the ballpark will not be full at first-pitch and on many nights, fans can be seen leaving the stadium on the television broadcasts – reminiscent of the ‘taillights’ seen during Kirk Gibson‘s famous home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.

However, if you dig a little deeper, it may not have to do so much with a lack of loyalty or abandoning the team. Factor in LA traffic and work schedules, and it is not always feasible for everyone to arrive on time. Truth be told, some might have to leave early to be up early for work the next morning, all the while listening to the game on AM 570 LA Sports on their drive home.

Whatever their reason for leaving, social media and the TBS television broadcast were aflutter about “fans leaving the game early” on Tuesday afternoon.

Lack of run support was definitely disappointing for Dodger fans, with the Braves leading 5-2 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning. Add to that the fact that the Dodgers went through eight relievers after Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler was chased from the game after only 3.2 innings. To say that the energy in the stadium was deflated would be an understatement.

While it is true that some fans did leave early – perhaps thinking that the Dodgers might not be able to bounce back from the three-run deficit – if you look at the many photographs of ‘Blue Heaven on Earth’ that were posted on social media, the stands were not nearly as empty or as lifeless as the TBS broadcasters would have you believe. In other words, never count out the Dodger faithful.

There was a lot of life at Dodger Stadium before, during, and especially after Tuesday’s remarkable come-from-behind 6-5 win. In fact, famed mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuellar played in Right Field Plaza throughout the game. One of the musicians gained national attention for trading his mariachi jacket for a jersey from popular Dodgers right-hander Joe Kelly. They really came to life when Kelly entered the game in the top of the sixth inning and were accompanied by Dodger Stadium organist Dieter Ruehle for ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’ during the seventh-inning stretch.

Were there noticeable gaps in the seats around the ballpark towards the later innings? Sure. But as many know, it’s not over until the last out is recorded, and the many (most) who gutted it out were treated to one of the greatest games in Dodgers postseason history. As loyal Dodger fans may or may not know, this was the 82nd time in Dodgers postseason history that they trailed by three-plus runs in the eighth inning or later but the first time they have won such a game.

During that remarkable ‘improbable/impossible’ eighth-inning rally, fans were on their feet waving their rally towels and chanting in support for their Boys in Blue.

“It was as loud as I’ve heard Dodger Stadium after (Dodgers first baseman Cody Bellinger’s) homer,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said postgame. “It’s just hard to imagine a bigger hit that I can remember, really. Just kind of what was at stake, and couldn’t be happier for him.”

There can be a lot of bias in baseball, but never doubt or question the love Dodger fans have for their team. Many were there to celebrate and high-five each other after a well-earned win, all while singing along to Randy Newman’s “I Love LA”.

The team rallied – and so did the crowd.

Let’s go Dodgers!

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