Dodgers score a record 11 runs in the first inning of NLCS Game 3
How would the top-ranked Los Angeles Dodgers respond to falling behind 0-2 in their NLCS against the Atlanta Braves? Oh, just by scoring the most runs ever in a single postseason inning.
The Dodgers put up 11 runs — yes, 11! — in the first inning of their eventual 15-3 Game 3 victory. It was a history-making (and soul-crushing, if you have “Braves” across your chest) display. The Dodgers hit three homers and had seven hits across the 32-minute half-inning. As Jeff Passan of ESPN notes, nobody has ever done that before:
The 11 runs the Dodgers have scored in the first inning of Game 3 of the NLCS are the most in any single inning in postseason history, per @ESPNStatsInfo.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 14, 2020
The Dodgers scored the first two runs on a couple of doubles by Corey Seager and Will Smith. Normal enough. Then Joc Pederson’s three-run homer made it 5-0. Edwin Rios homered right after. Seager had his second RBI of the inning to make it 7-0.
It looked bad enough at that point, but when Max Muncy was up with the bases loaded, you could almost feel it wasn’t over. And it wasn’t.
MUNCY!! GRAND SLAM!
And now we have history! The Dodgers' 11 runs in the 1st are the most runs scored in any Postseason inning in MLB history! pic.twitter.com/vxOLpLpn63— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 14, 2020
Giving up 11 runs in the first inning isn’t the only type of dubious history the Braves own here. You may remember that they gave up 10 runs in the first inning of Game 5 of the NLDS last year against the Cardinals.
If you’re thinking, “Surely no team has ever done that in consecutive years” you are correct, as Sarah Langs of MLB.com confirms.
The Braves allowed 10 runs in the 1st inning in NLDS Game 5 last year & now 11 in the 1st tonight
They're the 1st team to allow multiple 10-run innings in postseason history
BOTH have been 1st innings, the ONLY team to allow 10+ in a postseason 1st inning
(h/t @EliasSports)— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 14, 2020
Remember when the Braves had four shutouts in their first five playoff games? Not this time.
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