The Los Angeles Dodgers earned a 9-5 comeback win against the Atlanta Braves in their first meeting since the 2020 National League Championship Series. That was despite L.A. not collecting a hit until the fifth inning.
Ian Anderson had his changeup working and limited the Dodgers to three baserunners (one via error; two walks) through four innings. The Braves held a 1-0 lead to that point thanks to Freddie Freeman’s home run in the first inning.
Anderson walked Chris Taylor with one out in the fifth and his night then began to unravel. Gavin Lux’s double down the right-field line gave the Dodgers their first hit, and AJ Pollock’s swinging bunt drove a run in when Austin Riley’s throw to home plate ricocheted off Taylor.
Lux then scored on Julio Urias’ safety squeeze, which marked the end of the night for Anderson. The Dodgers pushed across two more when Justin Turner and Cody Bellinger each walked with the bases loaded.
Speed is a Luxury. 🏃💨 pic.twitter.com/xrAMhdNiMO
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Chris clears 'em! 💪 #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/sE2mGweXua
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Will Smith hit an RBI single and Chris Taylor broke the game open by clearing the bases with a double. Taylor’s extra-base hit was reminiscent of his three-run double against the St. Louis Cardinals, though it only took three pitches instead of 14.
The Dodgers held an 8-1 led until Ozzie Albies hit a two-run double in the eighth inning. Their scoring should’ve stopped there, but Lux collided with Pollock and two more runs scored on a routine flyball that wound up dropping.
L.A. scored a run in the top of the ninth when Mookie Betts led off with a double and advanced on consecutive wild pitches. Kenley Jansen nevertheless was summoned out of the bullpen to protect the four-run lead.
Urias settled in
After throwing 29 pitches in the first inning, Urias needed just 54 to get through the next four frames. Atlanta mustered just two hits and one walk during that span.
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