The Los Angeles Dodgers came out with a vengeance in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS) on Wednesday and scored 11 runs in the game’s opening inning, the most scored in a single inning in MLB postseason history, on their way to a 15-3 win over the Atlanta Braves.

The first pitch of the game led to a bang-bang play at first base on a Mookie Betts single that required a Dodgers challenger to overturn the initial out call.

The successful challenge seemed to fire up the Dodgers who proceeded to go on a tear against Braves starting pitcher Kyle Wright, Corey Seager immediately hit a double on the game’s second pitch to left field to bring the Betts home for an early 1-0 lead.

Justin Turner and Max Muncy each grounded out after that, but that’s when the Dodgers offense really kicked into gear. Will Smith hit a line drive to center field for an RBI double with Seager coming in to score. 

The second score prompted a visit to the mound from Braves manager Brian Snitker, but he left Wright in there. 

Wright issued a walk to Bellinger and received another visit from Snitker, but he kept the ball in Wright’s hand, but Wright then gave up a three-run home run to Joc Pederson who swatted one high into center field for a 5-0 lead.

Edwin Ríos tacked on another with a solo home run of his own in the next at bat to make it 6-0.

A walk to Chris Taylor finally forced Snitker to pull Wright, who was replaced by former Dodger Grant Dayton.

Dayton didn’t fare much better however, he opened his appearance with a walk to Mookie Betts and an RBI single to Corey Seager to deepen the Brave’s deficit to 7-0. 

Justin Turner got hit by a pitch to load the bases and bring Joc Pederson to the plate, who proceeded to clear the bases with a grand slam to right center field extending the commanding lead to 11-0.

Finally, after ten runs scored with two outs, the Braves managed to end the game’s first inning, but the result was already no longer in doubt.

A wild 11-run inning. pic.twitter.com/E8Jhc95pln

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 15, 2020

The 11 run inning was the most runs scored in the single inning of an MLB postseason game in history.

Some credit for the offensive outburst may be due to the fact that the roof of Globe Life Stadium had been retracted, which may have affected the way the ball carried, as the Dodgers had struggled to hit home runs to this point in the series.

Another possible factor is the Braves’ top-heavy pitching rotation, they have relied heavily on talented starters Max Fried and Ian Anderson, who pitched games one and two.

Whatever the difference the Dodgers took advantage and it was too much for the Braves to overcome.

After walking the first two batters he faced in the bottom of the first, Dodgers starter Julio Urías battled back to get out of the inning and went on to throw through the fifth with only one run given up, a Cristian Pache solo home run in the third inning.

The Dodgers did the rest of their offensive damage for the night in the second and third inning.

Cody Bellinger led off the second inning with a solo home run to make the lead 12-0.

In the third inning, Corey Seager added another run with a solo shot of his own to right center field. The Dodgers final two runs of the game were less flashy, Turner singled, Muncy doubled, Turner scored on a Will Smith ground out, Muncy scored on a Cody Bellinger single and three innings into the game the Dodgers were up 15-0.

The Braves were able to score two runs in the games final inning for a final score of 15-3 and while they didn’t impact the game’s final outcome, the Dodgers will have to hope the late success won’t carry over into Game 4 much in the way their own nearly successful 9th inning rally seemed to propel them into Wednesday’s game with offensive momentum. 

After he was scratched as the Game 3 starter, Clayton Kershaw is now set to start a critical Game 4 for the Dodgers, as they attempt to keep the rally alive after they fell behind in the series early. 

Braves rookie Bryse Wilson is expected to get the starting nod for his team.

Game 4 of the NLCS is set to kick off Thursday at 5:08 p.m.

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