Enrique Hernandez put a Hollywood ending on an LA story three decades in the making.
Fueled by Hernandez’s home run trilogy, Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers are finally going to the World Series.
Hernandez homered three times and drove in seven runs, Kershaw breezed through six crisp innings and Los Angeles ended the Chicago Cubs’ title defense with an 11-1 victory in Game 5 of the NL Championship Series on Thursday night.
Victory: The Los Angeles Dodgers players celebrate after Game 5 of baseball’s National League Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Enrique Hernandez (14) hits a home run off Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jose Quintana during the second innings
‘It feels good to hear World Series,’ Kershaw said. ‘It’s been a long time coming for this team.’
After years of playoff heartache, there was just no stopping this group of Dodgers.
With Kershaw firing away at the top of a deep pitching staff and Justin Turner anchoring a tough lineup, one of baseball’s most storied franchises captured its first pennant since Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda managed Los Angeles to its last championship in 1988.
The Dodgers will host the New York Yankees or Houston Astros in Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday night.
The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate in the clubhouse after defeating the Chicago Cubs 11-1 in game five of the National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) throws during the first inning of Game 5 of baseball’s National League Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jose Quintana reacts after giving up a double to Los Angeles Dodgers’ Chris Taylor
Yasiel Puig #66 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates in the clubhouse after defeating the Chicago Cubs
The Yankees have a 3-2 lead in the ALCS heading into Game 6 at Houston on Friday night, so one more New York win would set up another chapter in an old October rivalry between the Yankees and Dodgers.
The Dodgers made the playoffs eight times in the previous 13 seasons and came up short each time, often with Kershaw shouldering much of the blame.
The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner took the loss when Los Angeles was eliminated by the Cubs in Game 6 of last year’s NLCS at Wrigley Field.
He was just OK in his first two starts in this year’s postseason, but Los Angeles’ loaded lineup picked him up each time.
Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon (70) takes out starting pitcher Jose Quintana during the third inning
Backed by Hernandez’s powerful show in Chicago, Kershaw turned in an efficient three-hit performance with five strikeouts in his sixth career playoff win – matching Burt Hooton for the franchise record.
When Kenley Jansen retired Willson Contreras on a liner to shortstop for the final out, the party was on.
The Dodgers poured out of the dugout and mobbed their dominant closer near the mound, and a small, but vocal group of Los Angeles fans gathered behind the visitor’s dugout and chanted ‘Let’s go Dodgers! Let’s go Dodgers!’
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