The Los Angeles Dodgers looked to rebound from a listless performance against the Atlanta Braves behind Ross Stripling in the middle of a three-game series at Turner Field. Atlanta started Julio, who was scratched from Tuesday’s start due to illness.
Teheran retired the side in order in the first, ending the inning with a strikeout of Justin Turner. Daniel Castro lined a one-out base hit under Turner’s glove, then moved into scoring position with two outs on an A.J. Pierzynski walk.
Kelly Johnson worked a full count in a nine-pitch at-bat, only to end the inning on a strikeout. Yasmani Grandal continued to swing a hot bat as he hit a two-out double off the right field fence in the second inning. Conversely, Howie Kendrick didn’t break out of his slump and chased a pitch in the dirt for strike three.
Stripling bounced back to only throw 10 pitches in the second inning, working around a two-out base hit to keep the game locked in a scoreless tie. Utley dropped a flare single into shallow left field with two outs in the third inning.
He then moved into scoring position on Teheran’s errant pickoff throw. For a second time in as many games, Corey Seager narrowly missed hitting a home run down the right field line. He was called out on strikes three pitches later, much to his dismay.
Seager then booted a routine grounder in the bottom of the third, allowing Nick Markakis to reach with no outs. Markakis was then erased on a force out at second base and replaced by Castro at first.
Castro stole second base on a pitch in the dirt that Freeman struck out on. The error cost the Dodgers as Pierzynski’s two-out RBI single gave the Braves a 1-0 lead.
CONTINUE READING: Dodgers bullpen answers bell, game goes to extra innings