The Los Angeles Dodgers opened their six-game road trip on Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves, in what was the Dodgers’ first matchup with a non-division opponent this season. Alex Wood took the mound at Turner Field for the first time since being traded last season, and he was opposed by Williams Perez, who started on three days’ rest.
Perez needed just nine pitches to retire Chase Utley, Corey Seager and Justin Turner in the first inning. Perez was aided by a Nick Markakis sliding catch to rob Turner of a base hit and end the inning. Markakis then led off the bottom of the first with a single to center.
Daniel Castro’s sacrifice bunt attempt was thwarted, as Yasmani Grandal cut down Markakis at second base. Freddie Freeman followed with a single to center on the first pitch he saw from Wood. The former Braves pitcher then walked Adonis Garcia to load the bases with one out.
Jeff Francoeur’s sac-fly and Tyler Flowers’ RBI single gave the Braves a 2-0 lead before Wood managed to get out of the inning. Adrian Gonzalez’s leadoff walk in the second inning as Yasiel Puig immediately hit into a double play.
After extending the inning with a walk, Yasmani Grandal was stranded by Howie Kendrick, who was called out on strikes. Wood recorded two quick outs in the bottom of the second before hitting Markakis on a 1-2 count. It didn’t cost the southpaw or the Dodgers as Castro lined out.
Joc Pederson worked a nice plate appearance in the third, culminating it by drawing a walk on the 10th pitch he saw from Perez. Pederson was moved into scoring position on Wood’s sacrifice bunt, where he was stranded by Utley and Seager.
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