The Los Angeles Dodgers fell into a deficit but rallied behind power, a productive out and timely hitting for a 3-2 win over the Atlanta Braves to guarantee themselves a series victory.
Walker Buehler didn’t turn in his sharpest effort but managed to keep the Dodgers in the game throughout his seven innings of work. Buehler finished the night with two runs allowed on four hits and two, while collecting five strikeouts.
He had a no-hitter through two innings that was lost on Joc Pederson’s leadoff home run in the third inning that gave the Braves a lead. The homer came on an elevated fastball that was well out of the strike zone but Pederson still managed to get on top of it.
Prior to that, Buehler was aided by Mookie Betts making a running catch at the wall in left field to rob Travis d’Arnaud of a home run.
Though, d’Arnaud, another former Dodger, added to Atlanta’s lead in the fourth inning with an RBI double. That also came on some misfortune as he softly lifted the ball down the left-field line with the Dodgers shifted in the outfield for d’Arnaud to hit the ball the other way.
Buehler’s effort was bested by Charlie Morton, despite the veteran right-hander not turning in as long of a start.
Betts hit a solo home run off Morton to give him two in as many games. Justin Turner went 2-for-2 with a double off Morton but the three hits were all he allowed over six innings.
Turner’s single followed Betts’ home run and Corey Seager’s walk then put two on with one out, but Morton retired Will Smith and AJ Pollock to preserve the Braves’ slim lead.
However, that was erased once the bullpen took over. Luke Jackson walked Pollock with one out, and he went first to third base on Cody Bellinger’s single. Chris Taylor pinch-hit for Buehler and tied the game with a sacrifice fly.
Pederson called off Jorge Soler to make the catch in right-center field and had some trouble getting the ball out of his glove before throwing late to home.
Although Tyler Matzek retired Max Muncy to end the threat in the seventh, he ran into trouble the next inning after Betts’ leadoff walk. Two batters later Seager delivered a go-ahead RBI double.
Dodgers, Giants headed for showdown
L.A. picked up a full game on the San Francisco Giants for a second consecutive night. They will enter play Wednesday trailing the Giants by just a half-game for first place in the National League West standings.
The two teams meet Friday for the start of a three-game series at Oracle Park.
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