NLDS Game4 Highlights : LA Dodgers 7 – 2 SF Giants

After six months of battling each other, both teams were rewarded with the first postseason meeting in the storied history of their rivalry. The series has certainly lived up to the hype. And after a 7-2 Dodgers win over the Giants on Tuesday in Game 4 of the NL Division Series at Dodger Stadium, it’ll all come down to a winner-take-all game on Thursday at Oracle Park.

Dodgers starter Walker Buehler told manager Dave Roberts that he wanted to start Game 4 despite being on three days’ rest after tossing 99 pitches in Game 1. Buehler had never started a game on short rest. He gave Los Angeles everything it needed and more.

Buehler allowed one run and struck out four over 4 1/3 strong innings. He had plenty of adrenaline, averaging 96.1 mph on the four-seam fastball, almost a full mph more than his season average. He was pulled after 71 pitches and was welcomed into the home dugout with a well-deserved standing ovation.

While Buehler took care of the Giants’ offense, the Dodgers’ lineup did early damage to chase right-hander Anthony DeSclafani after just 1 2/3 innings. Trea Turner got the Dodgers on the board with a first-inning RBI double. The Dodgers tacked on another run in the second on a Chris Taylor sacrifice fly. Once the Dodgers got into the Giants’ bullpen, it was Mookie Betts’ turn to deliver another signature moment in this series.

Highlights of NLDS Game 4 between Dodgers and Giants.

Betts smacked a two-run homer off left-hander Jarlín García in the fourth inning to give the Dodgers a 4-0 lead. He also added a sacrifice fly in the fifth. But Betts wasn’t alone.

Gavin Lux got the start in center field and was a spark plug for the Dodgers. The former top prospect went 2-for-2 with two walks. In the eighth, Will Smith delivered the final blow, hitting a two-run homer of his own to extend the Dodgers’ lead.