By the time Manny Machado rounded third base, the Los Angeles Dodgers had already started streaming out of the dugout.
After more than five hours of tension-filled baseball, they were certainly eager to celebrate.
Cody Bellinger singled home the winning run with two outs in the 13th inning Tuesday night to give Los Angeles a 2-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers that tied the NL Championship Series at two games apiece.
The slumping Bellinger, who began the night 1 for 21 in these playoffs, was chased all the way into left field by teammates. Even manager Dave Roberts ran out to congratulate his outfielder, who got soaked with a Gatorade shower.
"I think we gave each other a big hug," Bellinger said. "I think it was the first time I ever got mobbed out in the outfield."
"One of the crazier games, where there's really no margin on either side," Roberts said. "The bullpen, what they did tonight against a very good offensive club, my hat's off to these guys."
It was the fourth extra-inning postseason game in Dodger Stadium history, and the home team's first such win since beating Philadelphia in Game 4 of the 1978 NLCS.
"It was a great baseball game, it really was," Yelich said. "Both sides had opportunities and they were just able to cash one in there at the end."
After a quick turnaround, Game 5 in the best-of-seven series is Wednesday afternoon, with Wade Miley pitching for the Brewers on three days' rest against fellow lefty Clayton Kershaw.
The teams return to Milwaukee for Game 6 on Friday.
"We lock it in, win one tomorrow, and we feel a lot better heading home," Yelich said.
Both teams used all their position players and wasted numerous chances. Los Angeles went through its entire bullpen.
The Dodgers struck out 17 times — all against Milwaukee relievers — and have whiffed 49 times in the series. The Brewers fanned 15 times.
"Exhausting," Los Angeles outfielder Chris Taylor said. "Just a mental and physical grind all the way to the end."
