Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Chris Taylor. Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Dodgers' Chris Taylor says crucial baserunning error was 'bad read'

By Adam Stites | Last updated 10/17/21

The Atlanta Braves started off the National League Championship Series with a bang by defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers, 3-2, in Game 1 via a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning from Austin Riley.

But Los Angeles had an opportunity to score a go-ahead run of its own in the ninth inning that was foiled by a baserunning error by outfielder Chris Taylor. With two outs in the inning, Cody Bellinger hit a single into shallow right field and Taylor rounded second base only to find himself in a rundown between second and third. Taylor was tagged out trying to return to second base.

A wild end to the top of the 9th! pic.twitter.com/24ZLeIsoLp
— MLB (@MLB) October 17, 2021

"It was just a bad read," Taylor told reporters, via USA Today. "I saw it barely got over (Ozzie) Albies' head, and I thought I could get to third. I didn't realize Joc (Pederson) had it that quick and tried to stop. I should have kept going."

Taylor, 31, was the Dodgers' hero in their 3-1 win in the NL Wild Card game against the St. Louis Cardinals when he hit a two-run, walk-off home run. Against Atlanta, Taylor went 2-for-3 and was walked in the ninth inning. His strong showing was overshadowed by his baserunning mistake, though.

“It's kind of one of those where you got to pick," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of the play, via USA Today. "You either are going to go hard, and I don't know if Joc (Pederson) would have thrown to third right there and just conceded that base, or just hold up and two outs and give Mookie (Betts) a chance. But I think right there [Taylor] was kind of caught in between. That's kind of when you get in trouble.”

The first pitch of Game 2 of the NLCS is set for 7:38 p.m. ET on Sunday.

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