CHICAGO — The Dodgers are one win away from the World Series.
And even though fans of this franchise might have trouble accepting the reality that’s unfolding in front of them — and who can blame them, after watching the past 10 trips to the postseason end in excruciating fashion short of the Fall Classic? — this is happening.
For the first time since 1988, a trip to the Series seems imminent.
MORE: NLCS Game 3, as it happened
With their 6-1 Game 3 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Tuesday night, the Dodgers have a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven NLCS. Only one team in history has ever blown a 3-0 lead in a playoff series, and the manager of this team knows all about the only team to pull off that miracle comeback.
Dave Roberts was part of the 2004 Red Sox team that came back from a 3-0 deficit to beat the rival Yankees in the ALCS before going on to win the World Series. And he has a special place in Red Sox lore; his Game 4 stolen base led the comeback in that contest that sparked the comeback in that series.
GAME CENTER: Dodgers-Cubs box score, stats
Tuesday was the 13th anniversary of that stolen base, in fact. Roberts was asked before Game 3 if he ever talked about that moment.
“Funny story. Yu Darvish about two weeks ago, I guess, was surfing the internet, and there was an 'a-ha' moment,” Roberts said with a laugh. “He ran across the stolen base and kind of put two and two together and didn't realize that was his manager. So he proceeded to kind of awkwardly approach me about it and talked about my goatee and how I could steal a base. He just couldn't believe that was [his] manager.”
MORE: Postseason bracket, schedule
This is the Dodgers’ fifth trip to the NLCS since winning that 1988 World Series, and it’s the first time they’ve even won three games, much less the series. Last year, LA had a 2-1 series lead, but it lost the next three to the Cubs. In 2013, the Dodgers lost to the Cardinals 4-2. In both 2008 and 2009, they lost to the Phillies in five games.
In 2017, they’re going to the World Series. Almost certainly. Definitely. Maybe.
