Dodgers vs. Braves score, results: Cody Bellinger's late homer sends LA back to World Series

Jacob Hancock

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Dodgers vs. Braves score, results: Cody Bellinger's late homer sends LA back to World Series image

The Dodgers punched their ticket to a third World Series appearance in four seasons with a 4-3 win over the Braves in Game 7 of the NLCS on Sunday, thanks to a seventh-inning home run by Cody Bellinger.

LA trailed for most of the game but twice battled back to tie and then finally took its first lead on Bellinger's blast.

WORLD SERIES SCHEDULE: Dates, times, TV info and more for LA-TB

Atlanta jumped ahead 2-0 with an RBI single by Marcell Ozuna in the top of the first and a solo home run by Dansby Swanson in the top of the second. The Dodgers responded in the bottom of the third as Will Smith hit a two-run single, beating the Braves' shift as he punched the ball through the open right side of the infield.

The Braves pulled back ahead in the top of the fourth when Austin Riley singled up the middle to score Ozzie Albies from second. They had a chance to do further damage in the inning, with two runners in scoring position and no outs, but ran themselves into a double play. Nick Markakis hit a sharp grounder to third baseman Justin Turner, who threw home to catch Swanson in a rundown. Turner was able to tag out Swanson, and then he threw back to third to catch Riley.

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Atlanta nearly added to its lead again in the top of the fifth when Freddie Freeman launched a drive to deep right field, but Mookie Betts timed his jump perfectly as he snagged the ball and robbed Freeman of a home run.

LA eventually tied the game on the bottom of the sixth on an Enrique Hernandez pinch-hit home run. Hernandez saw seven pitches in the at-bat before clobbering the eighth pitch.

Bellinger followed suit in the bottom of the seventh, seeing seven pitches before he cranked one to right and took a moment to watch it fly before trotting around the bases.

Now, LA will turn its attention to the American League champion Rays in the World Series, with Game 1 set for Tuesday in Arlington, Texas.

Sporting News tracked live scoring updates and highlights from Dodgers vs. Braves in Game 7 of the 2020 NLCS. Follow below for complete results.

Dodgers vs. Braves score

GAME 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R
Braves 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3
Dodgers 0 0 2 0 0 1 1 0 X 4

Dodgers vs. Braves live updates, highlights from NLCS Game 7

11:53 p.m. — FINAL: Dodgers 4, Braves 3. Bellinger catches the final out to send LA back to the World Series.

11:45 p.m. — END 8: Dodgers 4, Braves 3.  Melancon gets Seager to ground out to short and Atlanta will have one last chance to extend the game.

11:43 p.m. —  Betts rips a two-out double into the gap in right-center. Chance for Seager to extend the lead.

11:38 p.m. —  Melancon is in to pitch for Atlanta in the bottom of the eighth.

11:35 p.m. — MID 8: Dodgers 4, Braves 3.  Nothing doing for Atlanta that inning as Urias retires them in order. One more chance for LA to get some insurance runs.

11:23 p.m. — END 7: Dodgers 4, Braves 3.  Martin strikes out the side to end the inning, but the damage has been done as Atlanta trails for the first time tonight going into the top of the eighth.

11:21 p.m. —  DINGER ALERT:  Cody Bellinger watches it fly as he gives the Dodgers their first lead of the night on a solo bomb to right field. LA leads 4-3, two outs in the bottom of the seventh.

11:09 p.m. — MID 7: Braves 3, Dodgers 3.  Urias retires the side in order to take us to the seventh-inning stretch.

11:04 p.m. —  Julio Urias is in to pitch for LA to start the top of the seventh.

11:01 p.m. — END 6: Braves 3, Dodgers 3.  Martin gets Turner to fly out to right to end the inning. Markakis will lead off the top of the seventh for Atlanta.

10:51 p.m. — OUT AT HOME. Seager hits a grounder to Albies at second base, who throws it home to get Taylor. That'll be it for Minter, Chris Martin coming with one on and two outs.

10:50 p.m. —  Taylor follows up Hernandez's homer with a double down the left field line. No outs, runner on second for Betts at the top of the order.

10:46 p.m. — DINGER ALERT.  On the eighth pitch of the at bat, Hernandez cranks one to left field and the game is now tied at 3-3.

10:42 p.m. —  A.J. Minter is on to pitch for Atlanta in the bottom of the sixth, facing pinch hitter Kike Hernandez.

10:38 p.m. — MID 6: Braves 3, Dodgers 2.  Graterol gets back to back strikeouts to end the frame.

10:32 p.m. —  Brusdar Graterol is on to pitch in the top of the sixth for LA.

10:29 p.m. — END 5: Braves 3, Dodgers 2.  Greene gets a ground ball double play to end the inning.

10:23 p.m. —  Shane Greene comes on to pitch for Atlanta in the fifth, Smith leading things off.

10:19 p.m. — MID 5: Braves 3, Dodgers 2.  Treinen retires the side thanks to the big play by Betts.

10:18 p.m. — ROBBERY!  Betts takes one off the board as he snags a would-be home run over the right field fence from Freeman.

10:12 p.m. — END 4: Braves 3, Dodgers 2.  Matzek works out of a bases-loaded jam and strikes out Muncy to escape trouble. Braves still lead heading into the fifth.

10:03 p.m. —  Taylor flares a one-out single to center field and Betts walks to put a pair on for Seager.

9:55 p.m. —  Tyler Matzek has come on to pitch in the bottom of the fourth for Atlanta.

9:52 p.m. — MID 4: Braves 3, Dodgers 2.  Atlanta pulls ahead, but LA does well to limit the damage to one run. Still a lot of baseball left to play.

9:51 p.m. — DOUBLE PLAY.  After a wild pitch, Markakis hits a hard grounder to Turner at third, who catches Swanson in a pickle as he tries to score and then gets Riley trying to advance to third base. Big momentum swing as there's now two outs with a runner on first.

9:42 p.m. —  RBI SINGLE.  Riley drives a two-strike pitch back up the middle to bring home Albies and give the Braves a 3-2 lead, still no outs with runners on first and second for Nick Markakis. It looks like that'll be all for Gonsolin as Blake Treinen comes in.

9:39 p.m. —  Albies and Swanson draw back-to-back walks to put two on for Austin Riley with no outs.

9:30 p.m. — END 3: Braves 2, Dodgers 2.  Anderson works out of the jam and gets Pollock to fly out to center to end the third.

9:25 p.m. — TIE GAME:  Smith punches one through the right side with three infielders shifted to the left of second base and scores both runs to tie things up at 2-2.

9:23 p.m. —  Turner draws a two-out walk and Muncy rips a double down the right field line. Runners on second and third for Smith.

9:14 p.m. — MID 3: Braves 2, Dodgers 0.  Gonsolin works quickly with a much-needed five-pitch inning.

9:08 p.m. — END 2: Braves 2, Dodgers 0.  Anderson works out of the jam and strikes out Taylor with a 3-2 changeup.

9:04 p.m. —  A.J. Pollock smacks a hanging curveball with two strikes for a two-out single and Joc Pederson follows by poking one in the left-center gap. Runners on the corners now for Chris Taylor.

8:57 p.m. —  Will Smith narrowly misses a home run as he pulls it foul down the left field line, and winds up flying out to right a couple pitches later.

8:52 p.m. — MID 2: Braves 2, Dodgers 0.  Gonsolin works around a two-out walk and gets Acuna to pop out to left to end the frame.

8:44 p.m. — DINGER ALERT:  Tony Gonsolin comes out to start the second inning and Dansby Swanson leads it off with a solo shot to left. Braves lead 2-0 now.

8:40 p.m. — END 1: Braves 1, Dodgers 0.  Ian Anderson gets Turner to pop out and strikes out Max Muncy to end the inning.

8:36 p.m. —  Freeman knocks it down to get Seager out at first. Betts is on second with one out, Justin Turner up to bat.

8:32 p.m. —  Mookie Betts battles out of an 0-2 count, works it full and rips a base hit to left to lead things off for LA. Corey Seager steps in.

8:27 p.m. — MID 1: Braves 1, Dodgers 0.  May strikes out Albies to escape further trouble.

8:24 p.m. —  May gets Travis d'Arnaud to ground to short for a double play. Two outs now, Freeman on third for Ozzie Albies.

8:22 p.m. —  Ozuna drives one through the left side and brings home Acuna. Atlanta leads 1-0, runners on first and second and no outs in the top of the first.

8:21 p.m. —  Freeman also walks on four pitches and now there's two on for Marcell Ozuna, no outs.

8:18 p.m. —  Acuna steals on the first pitch to Freddie Freeman and now he's in scoring position.

​ 8:17 p.m. —  Dustin May walks Ronald Acuna Jr. on four pitches and the Braves have the leadoff man on first to start the game.

( Updates will begin at 8:15 p.m. ET )

Dodgers vs. Braves start time

  • First pitch: 8:15 p.m. ET
  • TV channel: Fox, FS1
  • Live stream:  Fox Sports Live, fuboTV

Game 7 between the Dodgers and Braves is scheduled to start at 8:15 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast nationally on Fox and Fox Sports 1. You can also stream the NLCS finale on Fox Sports live or with fuboTV, which offers a seven-day free trial .

World Series schedule 2020

The 2020 World Series will take place exclusively in Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. It's the only postseason series in 2020 that has built-in off days, as well. 

In years past, World Series first pitch usually occurs around 8:07 p.m. ET, so expect that for 2020.

Date Game Start time TV channel
Tuesday, Oct. 20 Game 1 8:09 p.m. ET Fox
Wednesday, Oct. 21 Game 2 8:08 p.m. ET Fox
Friday, Oct. 23 Game 3 8:08 p.m. ET Fox
Saturday, Oct. 24 Game 4 8:08 p.m. ET Fox
Sunday, Oct. 25 Game 5* 8:08 p.m. ET Fox
Tuesday, Oct. 27 Game 6* 8:08 p.m. ET Fox
Wednesday, Oct. 28 Game 7* 8:08 p.m. ET Fox

*If necessary

Jacob Hancock