Uribe delivers for Dodgers

Late two-run homer and Kershaw's pitching power LA past Atlanta and into NL Championship Series

Juan Uribe was unable to get a bunt down - and it was the best thing that happened to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night.

Uribe hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth inning after Clayton Kershaw started on short rest for the Dodgers in a 4-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves that sent Los Angeles into the National League Championship Series for the first time since 2009.

Carl Crawford homered his first two times up for the Dodgers, who won the best-of-five playoff 3-1. The NL West champions will open the next round on Friday against St. Louis or Pittsburgh.

The Cardinals host the wild-card Pirates in a winner-take-all Game 5 on Wednesday.

"We've moved one step closer, and we don't have to get back on a plane tomorrow. It's a good feeling," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said.

Meanwhile, it was the latest October flop for Atlanta, which hasn't won a postseason series since 2001. During that stretch, the Braves have lost seven straight playoff series and the 2012 NL wild-card game.

Yasiel Puig doubled down the right-field line leading off the eighth against losing pitcher David Carpenter. The rookie charged into second base and pumped his right fist in the air.

Fans were on their feet chanting "Let's go Dodgers!" when Uribe fouled off two bunt attempts before ripping a hanging 2-2 breaking ball into the Dodgers' bullpen in left field to put them in front to stay.

"This moment today I'll never forget," Uribe said.

Brian Wilson pitched a scoreless eighth to get the victory. Kenley Jansen struck out all three batters in the ninth for a save, fanning Justin Upton to end it.

That set off a raucous celebration on the field by the Dodgers, who rushed toward the mound in a mob. They tore jerseys off each other in unbridled excitement and doused Uribe with a bright-colored sports drink.

"This team has a lot of fun. We don't think about being the team to beat and all that stuff. We just go out there and play and try to have fun," Crawford said.

Jansen and catcher A.J. Ellis jumped into each other's arms, and a burst of fireworks lit the sky in center field as blue and silver streamers cascaded from an upper level of the stadium.

The Dodgers lined up exchanging hugs in the infield, and co-owners Mark Walter and Magic Johnson grinned watching the revelry among the team they purchased last year.

Kershaw, Puig, Wilson and other players jogged around the warning track exchanging high-fives and hand slaps with delirious fans.

The Dodgers were criticized for jumping into the ballpark pool in Arizona when they clinched the NL West crown last month.

This time, they got to party at home.

The Braves took a 3-2 lead in the seventh on pinch-hitter Jose Constanza's RBI single off reliever Ronald Belisario.

Needing a win to avoid elimination, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez never got the ball to lights-out closer Craig Kimbrel.

"You don't want it to ever end the way we ended today. But we had the right guy out there. Carp has been good for us," Gonzalez said. "There is nothing to be ashamed of."

The Dodgers gambled in bringing back Kershaw on three days' rest for the first time in his career. But with a chance to close out the series, they opted for their ace over scheduled starter Ricky Nolasco.

The move paid off when the 2011 Cy Young Award winner tossed six solid innings before turning it over to the bullpen.

(China Daily 10/09/2013 page24)