Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger blasted a high pitch beyond the outfield to tie the Dodgers-Braves game in the eighth.
The Atlanta Braves were looking to take a 3-0 lead in the NLCS in Game 3.
Then Cody Bellinger stepped up to the plate.
Bellinger smacked the ball into the stands and danced around the bases as his home run brought in a total of three runs. Bellinger’s exit velocity was 102 MPH and the ball sailed 399 feet.
https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1450627291487236096?s=20
MLB reporter Mike Petriello remarked on how high the winning pitch was, which was remarkable for a homer.
What an absurd pitch to hit for a homer pic.twitter.com/sG7FNC2nOq
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) October 20, 2021
A screenshot of the moment before the hit shows just how much Braves pitcher Luke Jackson threw himself into the pitch. The ball can be seen well above the virtual strike zone, which is detailed by a box outline in the photo.
Postgame stats reiterate just how unlikely it was for the Dodgers to win at that point — and just how clutch Bellinger is at bat.
The Dodgers only had four hits heading into the eighth inning down 5-2.
— SB Nation (@SBNation) October 20, 2021
Then they erupted with 6 hits and a Bellinger 3-run homer
Atlanta had a 93% chance of winning. That 7% was just enough for LA to win it pic.twitter.com/7nGELBTBNy
That's Cody Bellinger's 4th career game-tying or go-ahead hit in the 8th inning or later of a postseason game, tied for 5th-most in postseason history, behind only:
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 20, 2021
Bernie Williams: 6
Pete Rose: 6
David Ortiz: 5
J.D. Drew: 5
Cody Bellinger hit high pitch for 3-run home run to come back in Game 3
After Bellinger’s late-game hit, the Dodgers finished the game with a 6-5 win at home.
MLB Twitter celebrated Bellinger’s game-saving hit that put the Dodgers back in the Series.
Cody Bellinger is alive. And so are the Dodgers. It is now 5-5.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 20, 2021
Codyyyyyy! @Dodgers @Cody_Bellinger
— Derek Carr (@derekcarrqb) October 20, 2021
CODY BELLINGER MAY HAVE JUST SAVED THE DODGERS SEASON pic.twitter.com/CKzx69e9Ue
— The Dylan & Dylan Show (@DylanDylanShow) October 20, 2021
Cody Bellinger: pic.twitter.com/ZApbhzYC8q
— Justice delos Santos (@justdelossantos) October 20, 2021
Cody Bellinger just changed the entire course of the postseason with one swing pic.twitter.com/XNcmxRW0Vx
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 20, 2021
In Game 5 of the NLDS, Bellinger “embraced redemption” with another game-winning hit that gave them the Divisional Series victory.
If Bellinger had not sprung for that high pitch, it could have easily been the end of their 2021 season. With this incredible moment, Bellinger put the Dodgers back in position to tie the series in Game 4, which is set to take place on Oct. 20 in Dodgers Stadium.