Game 3 of the National League Division Series saw an intense battle ensue between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants yesterday. Despite the series shifting to Dodger Stadium, the reigning World Series champions failed to capitalise as the Giants recorded a narrow 1-0 victory.
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Although the Dodgers failed to score a run, a moment in the final inning shocked millions across the world. With the match on the line, Gavin Lux struck a pitch from Camilo Doval which seemed to head for the stands. However, gusty winds saw the ball drop straight into the hands of Steven Duggar, leaving the Dodgers in awe.
Social media went into a frenzy following the game, with fans getting creative in expressing their reactions.
Fans rect to Gavin Lux missing out on a home run
The first two games of the best-of-five series saw both teams clinch a win each in Oracle Park. In yesterday’s game, both teams found it difficult to get any runs on the board. In addition, the strong 15mph winds weren’t doing any favors for either team.
Just before the very first pitch of the game, Max Scherzer lost balance due to the wind. After much strife, Evan Longoria scored the first run of the game with a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning. In the final inning, Lux stepped up to the plate as the Giants recorded two outs.
He smashed a pitch from Doval with a speeded of 106.9mph at a launch angle of 22 degrees. More often than not, a hit like that results in a multiple-base hit. In fact, some Giants players even thought Lux’s hit would be a game-tying home run.
However, that didn’t turn out to be the case, as the Dodgers fell behind in the series. Fans gave a wide range of reactions to the incident on Twitter. While some got creative, others failed to believe its occurrence.
The wind vs. Gavin Lux pic.twitter.com/5kOWOipm9N
— The Claw News (@PapaLovesKitty) October 12, 2021
Gavin Lux was so nice to help out the center fielder. Never seen a player point to the sky and do that. Great sportsmanship.
pic.twitter.com/vqPyiJlMzn— Soto (@SotoP_23) October 12, 2021
The wind when Gavin lux hit the ball pic.twitter.com/BqetHZfQbO
— jw (@iam_johnw2) October 12, 2021
The wind when Gavin Lux hit what should have been a game tying home run. #SFvsLAD pic.twitter.com/9ONhxyaXPW
— Austin (@AustinPlanet) October 12, 2021
Gavin Lux really hit a ball 107 off the bat… just for the wind to say pic.twitter.com/oIV3iSjQ22
— Spooky SZN 🎃👻 (@NMBae17) October 12, 2021
“It was huge. Both Gavin Lux’s ball and Chris Taylor’s ball would have been out on any other night.” — Dave Roberts #Dodgers on the wind tonight in Game 3
— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) October 12, 2021
The winds reaction to Gavin Lux’s “home run”#ResilientSF | #SFGiants pic.twitter.com/p2ZIbcZeF9
— Sterling Bennett (@49ers_Access) October 12, 2021
Gavin Lux when the wind swiped the ball 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/ZPAHCciAQi
— ❤️🔥🏜 (@gazelleinthesky) October 12, 2021
The wind to Gavin Lux fist pump… pic.twitter.com/rgUpqvp5EO
— Frank Durand (@Turn_2_Cards) October 12, 2021
Gavin Lux: That should’ve been a home run!
Wind: pic.twitter.com/GcuAGwBpqZ— Ben Lucchese (@ben_lucchese) October 12, 2021
*The Santa Ana winds blowin and stopping Gavin Lux’s hit from bein a homer to tie it up*#Dodgers pic.twitter.com/GwMoERJiZw
— (An)Drew Wong (@AndrewRW45) October 12, 2021
The wind to Gavin Lux home run pic.twitter.com/72Do6W09Bt
— Cherry Bonds (@CherryMotivated) October 12, 2021
I knew the wind would play a role in this game, but I underestimated just how much.
Gavin Lux's reaction on the final out said it all. He's a professional ballplayer who has hit countless home runs in his life. He knows what a home run feels like off the bat. Got robbed by wind.
— Daniel Preciado (@DanJPreciado) October 12, 2021
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Can the Los Angeles Dodgers save their season in Game 4?
Today, the Dodgers find themselves in a do-or-die situation in front of their fans at the Dodger Stadium. Should they lose, we are not only guaranteed to have a new name on the National League Pennant, but the World Series as well.
They can take heart from the fact that they restricted the Giants to scoring just one run in Game 3. However, their hitters need to step up their game if they want to avoid ending their title defence at home today.
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READ MORE: How Many Times Have the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers Met in MLB Playoffs?
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