Los Angeles Dodgers: The implications of winning Game 3
By Jason Reed
2. The Los Angeles Dodgers have some momentum
Momentum is real in sports. There are those that deny momentum but it is definitely a factor that contributes to how a team performs. While it does not guarantee performance on either side, it is easier to come to work the next day knowing that you were on the winning side of an 18-inning war.
The Dodgers have to use the momentum to their advantage and have to come out firing early in this game. The Red Sox are a talented team that has flipped the momentum on a dime and will look to do so again.
Just look at Game 2 of this series; the Dodgers seemingly flipped the script and were riding the hot hand. All it took was a two-out single off Hyun-Jin Ryu to get the Boston crowd involved, get a two-run lead and suck the life out of LA.
The fact of the matter is that the Dodgers offense has been pretty woeful the last two games. Even in Game 1, when the team scored four runs, just two hits from Manny Machado would have made it a six-run game. The Boys in Blue have failed to come up when it matters.
However, as we saw in the NLCS with Cody Bellinger‘s 13th inning walk-off, a game like this can get the confidence back. No longer are the hitters questioning the performance. Rather, a hit like Muncy’s bomb lights a fire under the team.
The crowd will undoubtedly be more involved with it being a close series and the Dodgers will be riding the adrenaline from last night. There is blood in the water and the Dodgers need to strike.