The 7 biggest moments of Game 7

Last night was truly one for the ages. The Dodgers rallied back in the NLCS after trailing the series 3-1, stunning the Atlanta Braves in Game 7 to win the National League pennant.

This game was one of those all-timers, with so many memorable and crucial plays happening. There are too many to count and it is impossible to rank them, so I thought I would go back in and take a deep-dive at the biggest plays from Game 7.

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1st inning - Dustin May gets out of massive jam

Things weren’t looking good early on for Dustin May. He walked the first two batters and he couldn’t find the strike zone. Marcell Ozuna singled in a run, and just like that, Atlanta was leading 1-0 three batters into the game. With runners on first and second and no outs, the Braves looked like they were in prime position to have a massive first inning.

May didn’t let that rattle him, as he settled down and potentially saved the entire game for the Dodgers. He got a crucial double play, and then struck out Ozzie Albies on a 100-mph pitch to end the inning. What could have been a multi-run inning from Atlanta, the Dodgers entered the bottom of the first inning trailing only one run.

Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

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3rd inning - Two-out rally to tie game

The Dodgers trailed 2-0 in the bottom of the third, and two quick outs looked like they’d be heading into the fourth still trailing. Justin Turner helped spark the rally, drawing a two-out walk to bring the tying run up to the plate in Max Muncy. He fell behind in the count, as he was down to his last strike. On a 1-2 pitch, Muncy doubled down the right field line, putting runners on second and third for Will Smith.

Smith, who hit the go-ahead home run back in Game 5, delivered in the clutch yet again. On the first pitch of his at bat, Smith singled to center field, bringing in both runners to tie the game at two. The MVP of the inning goes to the fresh prince for tying the game, but it wouldn’t have been possible without the great at bats from Turner and Muncy.

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

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4th inning - A huge double play

The fourth inning was pretty much identical to how the first inning played out. The Braves had their first two runners reach base with a walk, and then a single brought in a run with no outs. Atlanta had a 3-2 lead with runners on second and third.

The Dodgers turned to Blake Treinen, hoping he’d be able to get them out of the jam. He did, largely due to one of the best double-plays in recent postseason memory. Nick Markakis grounded to Turner at third base, who immediately went home with the throw. After a rundown, Turner tagged the runner, and then made the heads up play to throw it to third base. Corey Seager applied the tag and got the out, securing the crazy double play.

The Dodgers ended up getting out of the inning down only one run.

Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images

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5th inning - Another incredible Mookie Betts catch

As we’ve seen all season, Mookie Betts is a very, very, very good baseball player. There’s a reason he’s going to be a Dodger for the next decade. Not only does he do it with the bat, he also does it with the glove. We’ve seen him make some incredible defensive plays in right field all season, but what he did in Game 7 may be his best yet.

In the top of the fifth, Freddie Freeman connected on one that just seemed to keep soaring. It looked like he was about to hit a solo home run and put the Braves up two runs.

Betts had other plans.

Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

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6th inning - Kiké Hernández delivers on the big stage yet again

Remember back in 2017 when he had that three-homer game against the Cubs in the Dodgers’ NLCS-clinching victory? That was awesome. Well, he may have hit an even bigger NLCS home run to add to his accolades.

With no outs in the sixth inning, trailing by a run, Hernández connected on this 2-2 pitch and crushed one nearly to the old Rangers stadium, tying the game up at three.

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7th inning - Cody Bellinger gives the Dodgers the lead

The game was tied in the bottom of the seventh, and the Dodgers had two quick outs. Cody Bellinger stepped up to the plate, looking to provide some sort of spark. Boy, did he ever. He worked the count, and had an eight-pitch at bat. On the eighth pitch, he launched one, dropped his bat, and had the most bad-ass strut I’ve ever seen.

Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images

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7th-9th inning - Julio Urias shuts things down

With the game tied at three, Dave Roberts turned to Julio Urias in the seventh inning. This would be the final move to the bullpen he needed to make all night. Urias dominated, throwing three scoreless and hitless innings to close the game out. Atlanta had no answer for him, as they failed to reach base in his three innings of work.

Urias picked up his second win of the series and his fourth of the postseason.

Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images

What a game.

What a series.

The Dodgers are going to the World Series.

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I’ll turn this to you all. In your opinion, what was the biggest moment of the game for you? Or instead, what was your favorite moment? Vote in the poll!