The Los Angeles Dodgers faced extreme pressure heading into the seventh

National League Championship Series and ended up handling that situation with flying colors.As a result http://www.athleticsfanproshop.com/authentic-boog-powell-jersey , the Dodgers are going back to the World Series for the second year in a row.The Dodgers used a two-run home run from Cody Bellinger in the second inning and a three-run shot from Yasiel Puig in the sixth inning to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-1 and win the National League pennant.Walker Buehler gave up a first-inning home run to Christian Yelich, but the Brewers were not able to do any further damage against the 24-year-old right-hander and the four Dodgers relievers. Kenley Jansen pitched the seventh and eighth innings in shutdown fashion for the Dodgers, while staff ace Clayton Kershaw finished the job in the ninth. World Series ScheduleTuesday, October 23 (Game 1): Los Angeles Dodgers at Boston Red Sox, 8:09 p.m. ETWednesday, October 24 (Game 2):Los Angeles DodgersatBoston Red Sox, 8:09 p.m. ETFriday, October 26 (Game 3):Boston Red Soxat Los Angeles Dodgers, 8:09 p.m. ETSaturday, October 27 (Game 4):Boston Red SoxatLos Angeles Dodgers, 8:09 p.m. ETSunday, October 28 (Game 5, if necessary):Boston Red SoxatLos Angeles Dodgers, 8:15 p.m. ETTuesday, October 30 (Game 6, if necessary):Los Angeles DodgersatBoston Red Sox, 8:09 p.m. ETWednesday, October 31 (Game 7, if necessary):Los Angeles DodgersatBoston Red Sox, 8:09 p.m. ETAll World Series games will be televised by Fox.Clayton Kershaw closed out the Brewers in the ninth inning.Jeff Roberson/Associated PressKershaw is the likely starter for the Dodgers in Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday night at Fenway Park. Chris Sale will start for the Red Sox in that game Pat Neshek Jersey , and there's every chance the Fall Classic opener will be a classic pitcher's duel.The Red Sox won 108 regular-season games and will have home-field advantage throughout the World Series. Boston is attempting to win its fourth World Series title since 2004, while L.A. is hoping to make up for last year's seven-game loss to the Houston Astros.The Dodgers' most recent of their six World Series triumphs came in 1988. They beat a heavily favored Oakland Athletics team in five games, and they are underdogs in this series to the Red Sox."It doesn't matter how you get there, and we are excited," Kershaw saidin a postgame interview with Tom Verducci on FS1. "When Kenley went in and pitched two innings in the seventh, I thought I might be going in."The Red Sox are minus-155 favorites to win the World Series (wager $155 to win $100), while the Dodgers are plus-135 underdogs (wager $100 to win $135), per OddsShark.The Dodgers needed to go the limit to win the NLCS, but the Red Sox disposed of the Houston Astros in five games. After splitting the first two meetings in Boston, the Red Sox swept the three games in Houston to eliminate the World Series champions.The Red Sox had the best offensive team in baseball during the regular season, and their relentless attack was the primary reason they were able to beat the Astros in four straight games following their loss in Game 1 of the ALCS.Jackie Bradley Jr., regularly the ninth-place hitter in the Boston lineup, drove in nine runs against the Astros and won the ALCS Most Valuable Player. He hit a bases-loaded double in Game 2, he hammered a grand slam in Game 3 and followed that with the go-ahead two-run homer in Game 4 that proved to be the big hit in that contest.The Red Sox are led Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez, who have both been dynamic this season. Betts won the American League batting crown, hit 32 home runs and stole 30 bases. Martinez hammered 43 homers and drove in a major league-best 130 runs.The Red Sox also depend on Xander Bogaerts, Andrew Benintendi and third baseman Rafael Devers.The Dodgers will counter with Justin Turner, Manny Machado, Bellinger and Puig.These two franchises last met in the World Series in 1916. At that time, the Dodgers were known as the Robins and played in Brooklyn http://www.philliesfanproshop.com/authentic-lenny-dykstra-jersey , New York. The Red Sox defeated the Brooklyn Robins four games to one.After losing the World Series in heartbreaking fashion to the Astros last year, the Dodgers will try to make the Red Sox feel their pain this time around. MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell apologized Friday for the “hurt” and “pain” he caused his ex-wife but didn’t detail what prompted a 40-game suspension under Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy.“My past behaviors were wrong and unacceptable,” he said.Russell met with the media Friday for the first time since being suspended last fall, a penalty that he accepted without appeal. Russell spoke for nearly 20 minutes at Cubs camp, ahead of position players joining spring training workouts early next week.The suspension followed allegations made by ex-wife Melisa Reidy. Russell missed the final 11 regular-season games plus a wild-card playoff loss to Colorado. He will be eligible to return in early May, barring postponements.“I don’t want to get into any specifics, but what I do want to say is I am accountable for my past actions,” Russell said. “I’m not proud of the person I was, but I do want to own this issue and take responsibility for the hurt and the pain that I’ve caused Melisa, and for that I am sorry.”The 25-year-old Russell said preparing for this public appearance was difficult, yet also a long time coming for him to “have a voice finally and to speak on what I have been thinking.”“My preparation for this press conference, it’s been tough. I haven’t ever had to face the media like this before,” he said.Russell is now in a “loving” relationship with another person, he said. He said his relationship with his ex-wife is “moving in the right direction” as they co-parent their son.“I want to own my actions. I want to be accountable for the hurt that I put Melisa through and the pain that she went through. That’s what I want to own,” he said. “… I’ve had time to reflect. Through counseling I have a better understanding what domestic abuse really is. And I am committed to my work right now, that’ my main focus, and already I see the benefits that come within that with my family and with my children.”Asked what specifically he learned about the definition of domestic abuse, Russell noted, “it includes feeling like you’re the only person on an island Rhys Hoskins Jersey , feeling isolated, but also disrespected by someone who cares about you.”The Cubs considered Russell’s news conference a significant first step in the process for his possible return this season. Manager Joe Maddon and president of baseball operations Theo Epstein attended the session.“If he continues to do what he’s doing right now obviously everything’s headed in the right direction,” said Maddon, who communicated regularly with Russell via text message during the offseason. “Within the group itself, a lot of it’s going to depend on him and his interaction with the group and how the boys react to him. And a lot of that’s going to come through conversation and interaction. … We’re still early in the ballgame right now. We’re trying to work our way through it and everybody knows that, and of course Addison knows it more than anybody. Be patiently working through this and see where it concludes and keep an open mind with him obviously and try to be supportive.”The Cubs said they will hold a couple of domestic violence training sessions, one mandated by MLB and another more enhanced meeting.On Tuesday, Epstein said he is in regular contact with Russell, who knows “he has been given a conditional second chance by this organization” and will be held to “an incredibly high standard.”The former first-round draft pick by Oakland was disciplined after Reidy published a blog post in September describing years of physical and emotional abuse.Maddon will be available to Russell as a listener and asked angry, critical fans to perhaps consider the idea of giving someone a second chance as a human first, with baseball coming second.Russell said he is working with a counselor, speaking as recently as Thursday. He noted the support of his family and the team for sensing he is “determined” and “committed” to being a better person.An All-Star in 2016 when the Cubs won the World Series, he hit .250 with five home runs and 38 RBIs in 130 games last season. He received $3.4 million, one-year contract — a $200,000 raise — last month.Russell realizes that if and when he does return to Chicago’s lineup, he will face scrutiny both at home and in road ballparks.“I am learning how to cope with my feelings and emotions to handle adversity whenever I face them,” he said.