The China Mail - Dodgers beat Braves to advance, Guardians survive in MLB playoffs

Andy Pages put prior post-season disappointments behind him to deliver a go-ahead two-run single in the seventh inning for the Dodgers, who completed a 3-1 victory over the Braves in the best-of-five National League division series.

Max Muncy added an insurance run in the ninth with his third homer of the series.

It had been knotted at 1-1 since the second inning in Atlanta when Pages came through, rewarding the faith of Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.

Braves starting pitcher Tyler Mahle opened the seventh by retiring Los Angeles star Shohei Ohtani but was pulled for rookie Didier Fuentes after giving up a single to Teoscar Hernandez.

Fernandez recorded one out but walked two to load the bases with two out.

The Braves sent veteran Robert Suarez in to face Pages, who stroked a fastball up the middle for the Dodgers' first hit with runners in scoring position in the series.

"I've been preparing myself all series for a moment like that, give myself an opportunity, get a good pitch to hit," Pages said. "And luckily I was able to put a good swing on a pitch."

The Dodgers, trying to become the first team since the New York Yankees in 1998, 1999 and 2000 to win three straight World Series titles, will face either the Milwaukee Brewers or the San Diego Padres in the National League championship series.

The Padres hosted the Brewers later Wednesday chasing a second straight home win to fend off elimination.

"It's important," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "Once you get to an elimination game...anything can happen. And to be able to win today, get back, reset, have a day off tomorrow, set the rotation, it's huge."

In Chicago, Cleveland's Jose Ramirez and Jo Adell struck run-scoring triples to power the Guardians' to a 9-3 triumph over the White Sox.

With Cleveland facing elimination after dropping two straight at home, Ramirez went two-for-four at the plate with a double, a triple, two runs-batted-in, two runs scored and a stolen base.

"The approach was to get on base, try to put pressure on the other team with my speed, and make something happen. Thank God all those things came out well," said Ramirez.

The White Sox, hoping to clinch a playoff series at home for the first time since 1906, had fired up fans with a slender first-inning lead before a Steven Kwan single and Adell's bases-clearing triple put Cleveland up 4-1 in the third.

- Great mindset -

Chicago twice cut a three-run deficit to two, but couldn't rein in Cleveland -- who belted two triples in a playoff game for the first time in franchise history.

"It was a great mindset from the team," Ramirez said. "I think we did the best we could because there's no way back. So we really came out competing, and that's what we wanted to do."

The best-of-five American League Division Series continues Thursday in Chicago, where the White Sox have another chance to extend a fairytale year that has seen them bounce back from three straight 100-loss seasons to improbably reach the playoffs.

The eventual winner will face either the Tampa Bay Rays or the New York Yankees.

The Rays were looking to complete a sweep of that series at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday.

Y.Parker--ThChM