Andy Pages Sends Dodgers Back to NLCS With Two-Run Single

Andy Pages delivered the hit that sent the Los Angeles Dodgers back to the National League Championship Series. His two-run single broke a 1-1 tie in the seventh inning Wednesday night, and Los Angeles beat the Atlanta Braves 4-1 to close the NL Division Series in four games.

The defending champions advanced to the NLCS for a third consecutive season. They will face the winner of the Milwaukee Brewers-San Diego Padres series.

Pages breaks through at the biggest moment

Pages came to the plate with the bases loaded after Atlanta starter Tyler Mahle and reliever Didier Fuentes created the seventh-inning threat. Braves right-hander Robert Suarez entered to face him, but Pages worked the count full and lined a single into left-center field to score Josue De Paula and Kyle Tucker.

The swing ended a remarkable drought. It was the Dodgers’ first—and only—hit in 20 plate appearances with runners in scoring position during the series. Pages finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

His timing made the moment especially significant. Pages had missed most of the final month of the regular season with a fractured left hand and went hitless in the first two games of the NLDS. Manager Dave Roberts nevertheless kept the first-time All-Star in the lineup, saying before the series moved to Atlanta that the Dodgers would need Pages to play an active role if they were to win another World Series.

Dodgers pitching closes down Atlanta

Tyler Glasnow held the Braves to one run and one hit over 4 2/3 innings, although five walks prevented him from pitching deeper into the game. Alex Vesia, Edgardo Henriquez, Tanner Scott and Edwin Díaz combined to cover the final 4 1/3 innings without allowing another run. Díaz recorded the save.

Atlanta scored first in the opening inning, but Shohei Ohtani came home in the second when Max Muncy reached on an error by Mauricio Dubón. Muncy added the final run with a ninth-inning solo homer, his third of the series and the 19th postseason home run of his Dodgers career—a franchise record.

Los Angeles limited Atlanta to eight runs across the four-game series. The Dodgers have now won five consecutive road playoff games, tying a franchise record, and are 10-1 in their past 11 postseason games away from home.

The Dodgers entered October trying to become only the fifth team in major-league history to win three straight World Series championships. Pages’ breakthrough moved that pursuit one round closer.