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ATLANTA – The clash between the hottest baseball teams is being staged, thanks largely to the big night of a player from both teams participating in this much-coveted clash in July.
This player is Manny Machado, who drove in four innings Monday to bring the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 6-2 tie-off win against the Atlanta Braves. The Dodgers won the division series of the National League against the Braves 3-1.
The next step for the Dodgers is a match in the NL Championship series against the Milwaukee Brewers, one of the many clubs that sued Machado before the no-waiver deal deadline of July. Of course, it was the Dodgers who finished with Machado, and it was especially for nights like Monday.
"I can not say enough about him," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. "Obviously, with Manny and a player of his caliber, the expectations are so great."
Machado entered the game barely 1 in 12 in the series, his only goal being a two-run homer in the second match. He doubled his total shots with a double RBI in the first leg of the fourth match, sending the shot to his greatest performance since moving. to the Dodgers.
Atlanta and Los Angeles exchanged their heads, each getting two singles and a simple brush stroke. The Braves beat Kurt Suzuki 2-1 in the fourth, but the Dodgers found the advantage of David Freese's double in the sixth. It was the last big October match of Freese, who was MVP of the NLCS and World Series when he was in St. Louis in 2011. It's still Freese's first time in the post -season since 2014, and he learned to savor these fleeting moments.
"It's crazy," Freese said. "You never know what this game will offer you, what opportunities are waiting for you.You just have to be ready.I've learned that over the years.Whether you're in high school, at University, whatever, be ready.
"You do not have to be the best player in the world.You do not need to earn as much money as possible, but you will have a chance to do something cool I learned this early in my career, and try to stay with her. "
When Freese made the comment "best player in the world", he pointed to Machado, who was sitting next to him on the podium. It's Machado who opened the game on Monday. In the seventh, he launched a laser beam on the left field of the Braves rookie, Chad Sobotka, on the three balls that gave the Dodgers their last advantage.
Machado hit the ball hard all night. According to Statcast data, Machado is the author of the four most hit balls of the night, with exit speeds of 104 mph or more at each of his first four appearances.
"I've been locked in all the series," said Machado. "The results are not yet visible, but you are trying to stay with the same approach and not change anything, I think you put yourself in bad situations when you try to change, and today I was able to to make contacts miss two balls that have been a big key to our victory today. "
The young Braves fought, charging the bases with a point on the fifth goal, but the reliever of the Dodgers, Ryan Madson, fainted by forcing a pair of pop-ups. This proved to be the last breath for a team that emerged as a powerhouse and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2013.
"It was a great race," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "[The season] has exceeded everyone's expectations. It's sad. I mean, you know, we came so far and after winning a match last night, sort of, maybe we could do it. But they never give up. They have never stopped fighting all year long. It was an amazing band to patronize. "
Machado was considered the biggest price of the trading season. With the impending free agency this winter, Machado was put at the disposal of his former team, the Baltimore Orioles, fell far from the controversy. Weeks of rumors ensued and, in the days leading up to Machado's treatment, the rumor mill suggested that the Dodgers and Brewers were among the finalists for the all-star championship.
Los Angeles won these draws, sending a package of prospects to Baltimore for Machado, who, he hoped, could fill the void left by the injury inflicted on the young Dodgers star, Corey Seager.
This trade fell during the break from the stars and Machado joined his new club in Milwaukee. His first press conference was held at Miller Park, where the first game of the NLCS series will take place on Friday. Of course, he was questioned about the possibility that he could have become a brewer.
"I know that they were also in the running," Machado said at the introductory conference. "It's a bit odd to be here right away, on the opposite side. It was always good. Honestly, all the rumors are spreading, I was more grateful that they want me to help their club out.
The Brewers played well after losing to Machado, adding key veterans for the stretch race, like third-baseman Mike Moustakas, reliever Joakim Soria, starter Gio Gonzalez and former teammate Machado with the Orioles, the second goal, Jonathan Schoop, who declared that he was crying. was traded out of Baltimore.
Milwaukee finished with the best record in the NL and will therefore have the advantage of the home ground series. Machado could have been part of that, but instead he's part of the next Brewers hurdle, and he's high. The Dodgers will play their third consecutive NLCS and fourth place in the last six seasons.
"To win in the overall standings is always incredible," said Machado. "Coming from Baltimore in the middle of the season, new ball club, new atmosphere, new teammates, new coaching staff, new front office, I mean, it's always a fit." But they have was just incredible for us, me and my family.And come here in a winning ball club that has been determined since last year to put myself in this situation and further.I am just sitting here enjoying everything, to enjoy the ride. "
The Dodgers won their sixth consecutive NL West title in the regular season. They have entered the countryside as big favorites to find themselves where they are now, but their path to get here has been far from easy. Los Angeles did not clinch a playoff spot until the last days of the season and did not win the division until they beat Colorado Rockies in the playoff game last week at Dodger Stadium.
Nevertheless, recent trends have been strong. This victory allowed the Dodgers to finish 14-4 in the regular season. While the Braves won a 6-5 win in the third game of the NHLD on Sunday to force Monday's game, L.A. dominated all four games. After a difficult season, the Dodgers seem to be playing their best baseball.
"I said it sometime in September," Roberts said. "I felt like we were collectively playing our best baseball, and we took a hard way to get to that point, I think it made us stronger and kind of galvanized our team, but you know, we're celebrating this. evening, but we all know that there is still a lot to do, we still have eight wins to win. "
The first four of these victories will have to be at the expense of the Brewers, and if there is a team warmer than the Dodgers, it is Milwaukee. The Brewers also needed a win to break the tie to win the division, beating rival NL Central, Chicago, last week. That gave Milwaukee a run of eight straight wins to finish the campaign, a win that the Brewers built at 11 after a three-game Rockies sweep.
After a season of parity and uncertainty in the National League, the two best teams on the circuit are preparing to fight. Machado will be ready. Ready to win and, above all, to have fun.
"Until now, I'm just trying to take advantage of the moment, of all that comes to you," Machado said. "It's going to be great, the two ball clubs have worked hard to get to this situation, they are two good ball clubs that are playing in the championship, and we're just going to play baseball, be ourselves. , keep playing what we have been doing all year and hopefully we come to the top. "
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