Major League Baseball

MLB Playoffs Top Plays: Dodgers narrowly edge Giants in series-deciding Game 5

Updated Oct. 15, 2021 12:59 a.m. ET

The teams with the two best records in baseball didn't disappoint in a win-or-go home Game 5.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants entered the night tied 2-2, with neither being able to gain an edge over the other.

With the Giants at home, they handed the ball to Logan Webb, who already proved capable of shutting down the Dodgers' potent offense with a 10-strikeout, shutout performance in Game 1.

Webb did his part, holding the Dodgers to one run through seven innings of work, but the Dodgers were able to squeak ahead in the ninth inning thanks to a Cody Bellinger RBI-single.

That set up a save opportunity for Max Scherzer in the ninth to push the Dodgers into the NLCS with a 2-1 win, setting up an NLCS tilt with the Atlanta Braves.

Here are the top plays from Thursday:

Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco Giants

Pitcher's duel

Once again, the Dodgers have struggled to solve the problem that is Logan Webb on the mound.

Through four innings, the Giants' ace locked down the Dodgers' lineup with three strikeouts and just two hits allowed while not allowing a run.

For The Dodgers, it was pitching-by-committee through four innings, with Corey Knebel, Brusdar Graterol and Julio Urías combining to pitch four shutout innings.

Scratching first

After 13 innings, the Dodgers were finally able to get a run against Webb thanks to an RBI-double from Corey Seager in the top of the sixth inning.

Tie game

Urías had the Giants flummoxed in his three innings on the mound until Darin Ruf hit a solo homer against him in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game.

Logan's Web

Webb might have given up his first run of the series in the sixth inning, but he turned in another dominant performance against the Dodgers in Game 5.

Webb turned in seven innings of work, allowing just one run while striking out seven Dodgers.

For the series, Webb pitched 14.2 innings while striking out 17 batters, allowing just one run.

Dodgers lead late

It had been a struggle most of the season for Cody Bellinger, but when the Dodgers needed him most, he delivered.

In the top of the ninth, the 2019 NL MVP delivered a go-ahead, RBI-single to give the Dodgers the lead.

That proved to be the difference, with the Dodgers hanging on to win 2-1 to advance to the NLCS, with Max Scherzer shutting the door on the Giants in the bottom of the ninth.

But it wasn't without some controversy.

The game ended with a strikeout of Wilmer Flores when strike three was called by the first base umpire on a check swing.

Did he swing?

Regardless of whether fans thought he swung or not, the Dodgers are moving on.

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