The Atlanta Braves overwhelmed the Los Angeles Dodgers with their batting abilities, capitalizing on the Dodgers mistakes to win a 10-2 victory. The Braves are now up 3-1 against the Dodgers in the NLCS.
Young Braves pitcher Bryse Wilson kept the Dodgers from making base hits, helping hold Los Angeles to three hits and committing five strikeouts. Designating hitter Marcell Ozuna scored three runs from five at bats and made two home runs.
Dodgers designated hitter Edwin Rios hit one homer and third baseman Justin Turner scored two hits.
“They were just finding holes,” said Dodger head coach Dave Roberts. “We just couldn’t find a way to limit damage.”
The wind was blowing in Arlington at 15 miles per hour at the start of the game. Many of the players had to wear glasses to guard their eyes.
“It was weird, it was everywhere,” Rios said about the winds. “Even when you’re hitting, it’s kind of blowing in your face.”
The starting pitchers of both teams allowed few hits in the first two innings. Wilson struck out right fielder Mookie Betts, shortstop Corey Seager, and Turner to begin the game.
While Kershaw allowed two singles in that same time, outfielders kept the Braves from advancing. A double play got the Dodgers out of the outfield.
Rios kicked off the third inning with a home run. However, the next three Dodgers batters could not make a base hit. Kershaw contained the Atlanta batters until he allowed Ozuna to hit a home run in the bottom of the fourth inning.
“He’s just a good hitter, he had a great, great year this year,” Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw said about Ozuna. “I made a few mistakes to him. I think maybe some other guys did too. But he didn’t miss us, we’re good energy.”
When Wilson returned to the mound for the fifth inning, he delivered three consecutive strikeouts.
The game was tied at one run until the sixth inning. Due to an error by Dodgers second baseman Enrique (Kiké) Hernandez, Braves right fielder Ronald Acuña made a double. First basemen Freddie Freeman and Ozuna hit back-to-back RBIs.
The Dodgers retired Kershaw for the game, but it was to no avail as pitcher Brusdar Graterol allowed three more RBIs. After four at bats, Graterol was subbed out for Victor Gonzalez. After allowing a walk and a RBI, Gonzalez ended Atlanta’s offensive windfall.
By the seventh inning, the Braves were ahead 7-1, they subbed out Wilson for pitcher Will Smith. He allowed two walks and was switched out for Chris Martin. Next at bat was Rios, who scored an RBI on a sacrifice hit. Although the bases were loaded, the Dodgers could not get any more runners to cross home plate.
Dylan Floro was pitching for the Dodgers when Ozuna smacked a home run to give the Braves their eighth point. A glimmer of hope came for the Dodgers when Turner hit a double. However first baseman Max Muncy was struck out, ending the Dodgers time at bat.
Freeman and Ozuna scored an RBI each, edging the score up to 10.
“It’s tough, but I mean we’re gonna have to win three in a row anyway,” Rios said. “We got three left, so we got to win them.”
The Dodgers face elimination as they go up against the Braves in Game 5 of the NLCS at 6:08P.M.
