Dodgers: Los Angeles is finally World Series bound

It took one-half inning and three big hits two silence 29 years of postseason futility. Finally, the Los Angeles Dodgers are on their way to the World Series, winning their 22nd National League pennant thanks to an 11-1 drubbing of the Chicago Cubs in game five.

In a year where they won 104 games their most in Los Angeles and also had a September swoon going 1-16, the Dodgers reset themselves in October and run through the National League like a bull in a china shop. Thanks to their lineup depth the Dodgers have outscored their opponents 48-19 in the postseason winning 7 of 8 games.

Game five was a microcosm of their October so far.  Thanks to a walk to Chris Taylor and a RBI triple by Cody Bellinger, LA took a 1-0 lead after their part of the first inning, it was a lead they never relinquished thanks mostly to Enrique Hernandez.

The super utility, Enrique Hernandez, had the game of his life for the Dodgers. Hernandez added to the Dodgers early lead by hitting a solo home run in the top of the second inning on the first pitch from the Cubs pitcher Jose Quintana.

One inning later with the bases loaded Hernandez virtually put the game away when he hit a stunning grand slam putting the Dodgers up 7-0 after just three innings of play. Hernandez was not done with the score 9-1 in the top of the ninth and Yasiel Puig on base, Hernandez hit another two-run home run.  Hernandez’ three home runs and seven RBI’s set Dodgers playoff records for a game, and the RBI’s set a League Championship Series record.

With such a huge lead the pressure was all off of Dodgers starting ace Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw so many times under pressure to carry the Dodgers in the playoffs and not always at his best in October, was efficient going six innings surrendering just three hits and one run while striking out five.

On the night Kershaw’s teammates carried him instead of the other way around, again Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was able to call on his lights out bullpen to mop up the last three innings of the game.

When Kenley Jansen got the last three outs of the game it represented 17 innings of scoreless baseball for the unit during the series.  The Dodgers bullpen struck out 22 Cubs and allowed only four hits over those 17 innings.

Next: The new narrative of October baseball

With the final out made the Dodgers celebrated on the same mound a year later after having to watch these same Cubs celebrate last years NL pennant win. Having exorcised the World Series drought the Dodgers can now rest until game one on Tuesday night. After a 29 year wait, you can bet Dodgers fans will be ready to go on that night.