Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
After yesterday’s barnburner of the game, today’s was about how I thought that game would end up, as the Braves jumped on the Dodgers early and never looked back in a 6-3 loss.
That’s ends their nine series winning streak, as the best they can do now is split.
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Lance Lynn getting shelled is one thing, as you kinda expected that it would be a bad matchup. But Julio Urias is a guy the Dodgers will need come October if they are to have a chance, and this was a bit more demoralizing.
After a rare scoreless 1st, solo homers from Travis d’Arnaud in the 2nd, Ronald Acuna Jr. in the 3rd, and Marcell Ozuna in the 4th put three runs on the board. The only reason it wasn’t worse early is because with runners on second and third and one out in the 2nd, Eddie Rosario tried to steal home and failed.
Forgot people might want to see the play. pic.twitter.com/0xHcFdWjeZ
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) September 2, 2023
The Braves scored for the fourth inning in a row in the 5th, as a double from Acuna was followed by an infield single, and then Urias seemingly picked off Acuna but threw to second instead of third and Acuna had a steal instead. Austin Riley followed with a double to plate a run, and Ozuna singled to plate another and it was 5-0.
Yeah, not good: 5 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 92 Pitches.
For the pen, it was Caleb Ferguson in the 6th, where he allowed a two-out bunt single against the shift, but that’s all. Ryan Brasier got the 7th on three groundouts, but Gus Varland gave up a double, single, and a Rosario single to score a run, then surrendered another single but somehow was able to get out of that jam thanks to a strikeout and then a double play by Acuna. So it was “just” 6-0, and Varland finished the Braves offense in the 9th with a flyout and a pair of a strikeouts.
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The reason I haven’t mentioned the offense yet is because Max Fried didn’t allow much of one to develop against him. Through six innings, he gave up just two singles (one of them of the infield variety) and a walk, but also faced just one over the minimum thanks to rolling two double plays. In the 7th, the Dodgers got a pair on with two outs via an infield single and a walk, but that wasn’t able to be cashed in either as he dominated the lineup today over seven shutout.
The Braves pen then entered in the 8th and they did not have a good time despite Dave Roberts seemingly waving the white flag.
?
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) September 2, 2023
Damn, this is some shit I'd say to do on Twitter. https://t.co/hBXc2FveH4
A James Outman single and Miguel Rojas reaching on a fielder’s choice put a pair on, and Kolten Wong in his first at-bat of the Dodgers yanked a homer into the pen in right to make things 6-3.
Kolten Wong homers in his first at-bat with the Dodgers, halves the deficit. pic.twitter.com/OomsEZbm2C
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) September 2, 2023
A walk and a single followed and the tying run was on base all of a sudden, but a strikeout ended the rally.
So that was a bit of fun, but trying to put together one last rally in the 9th, the Dodgers only got one runner on and weren’t able to do something funny like a Wong walk-off grand slam.
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| NL | RECORD |
|---|---|
| Braves | 89-45 |
| Dodgers | 83-51 (6 GB) |
| NL WEST | RECORD |
|---|---|
| Dodgers | 83-51 |
| Giants | 70-65 (13.5 GB) |
*Either still playing or will play later.
It’ll be an hour earlier tomorrow for the third game of the four-game set at 3:10 PM HT/6:10 PM PT/9:10 PM ET. No starter is listed for the Dodgers, and the pen game will be facing Bryce Elder.
