ATLANTA, GEORGIA – OCTOBER 23: Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts to a strike out during the ninth inning of Game Six of the National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on October 23, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
MLB Twitter did not go easy on the Los Angeles Dodgers, who were eliminated by the Atlanta Braves in Game 6 of the NLCS.
The Los Angeles Dodgers accomplished what they had not done since 1988 last year, and that was win the World Series. They were one round away from earning the opportunity to defend their crown, but ran into the red-hot Atlanta Braves. Despite showing life in Game 5 of the NLCS, their run is officially over.
On Saturday night, the Dodgers fell to the Braves 4-2 to be eliminated from the postseason. Now, the Braves will return to the World Series for the first time since 1999. MLB Twitter shared the news of Atlanta’s accomplishment, while Dodgers haters were happy to rub it in at the NL West team’s expense.
ATLANTA, TIME TO PARTY LIKE IT'S 1999 🔥
The Braves are headed to their first World Series in 22 years! pic.twitter.com/mghm5sYbYV
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 24, 2021
Party like it’s 1999 🧇🎉 @BRWalkoff
Braves are going back to the World Series for the first time in 22 years pic.twitter.com/9RFoKF39Zk
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 24, 2021
Dodgers miss out on defending World Series title
The Dodgers bounced back from a 3-1 NLCS deficit last year against the Braves to reach the Fall Classic, but they received no such luck this time around.
Trailing 4-1 after a three-run homer by Eddie Rosario, Los Angeles showed life in the seventh inning once Luke Jackson took the mound. After a double by Chris Taylor, a walk to Cody Bellinger and an RBI double, the Braves were able to cut the deficit to 4-2. Unfortunately for the Dodgers, Jackson was removed from the game in favor of Tyler Matzek, who struck out the next three batters to get out of the jam.
Will Smith closed things out for the Braves in the ninth, as he struck out both Taylor and Bellinger in succession before getting Pollock to ground out to clinch the NL pennant for Atlanta.
The Dodgers will now pivot to an important offseason, as they try to build a roster capable of making it to the World Series in 2022.