Andy Pages stepped to the plate in the seventh inning with the bases loaded and sent the ball into center field — that hit not only drove in two runs but also put an end to the series against Atlanta. The Los Angeles Dodgers won 4:1, took the series 3-1 and for the first time since 2024 found themselves back in the NLCS.
The team from Los Angeles has now reached the National League final for the second year in a row, and now faces a rare task: to become the first NL team to win three World Series in a row. Last year they made short work of Milwaukee in the NLCS; now a rematch awaits — the Brewers have just gotten past San Diego and will meet the Dodgers again on Sunday.
The win in Atlanta did not come easily: the Dodgers lost the first two games of the series on the road, but then turned things around, winning two straight games away from home. The key moment was precisely that seventh inning — Pages capitalized on his chance against Robert Suarez, with Teoscar Hernández and Tommy Edman already on base.
For Atlanta, the defeat was yet another confirmation that even a strong roster does not always cope with the pressure of the playoffs. The Braves, despite their regular season, could not hold on to their lead in the series and were eliminated already at the divisional round stage.
Now the Dodgers face not just a series but a test of strength: can they repeat last year's success against the same team, or whether fatigue and the pressure of the chase for history will take their toll. In any case, the path to three straight titles has already begun.
This victory shows how important it is in modern baseball not only to assemble stars but also to stay focused in the key moments — it is hits like Pages's that separate potential champions from those who remain in the shadows.
