The Dodgers had the kind of night that can sting long after the final out. In a 3-2 loss to the Braves, Los Angeles saw its offense go quiet at the exact wrong time, dropping its first roadblock in the chase for a 3-peat.
The pitching staff held up well enough to keep the game in reach, but the bats never really found their rhythm. The Dodgers finished with just four hits outside of Freddie Freeman’s homer, drew only three walks, and went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Seven runners were left stranded.
Freeman supplied the first real jolt, launching a home run that stood as the Dodgers’ only run until the ninth inning. It was his first since September 2nd against the St.
Louis Cardinals. Besides that swing, Los Angeles had a hard time manufacturing anything.
Miguel Rojas lined a double off lefty opener Ray Kerr, Shohei Ohtani picked up his second hit in as many games, and Freeman added another single. Kyle Tucker also had a hit.
The late push came too late to change the outcome. Max Muncy hit a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth to make it 3-2 and bring Josue De Paula across, but the comeback stopped there.
Blake Snell was not sharp to start the night, and that left the Dodgers leaning heavily on the bullpen. Snell allowed one run in 3.2 innings, but Los Angeles still had to use seven relievers to get through the game.
Kris Bubic gave up a triple to Michael Harris with two outs in the fifth, then a wild pitch brought Harris home. The third Braves run came against Edgardo Henriquez, who allowed two hits and a walk.
The Dodgers needed a cleaner offensive night, especially with Chris Sale lined up for Game 3 back in Atlanta on extra rest. At the same time, the Braves spent a lot of bullpen energy over the first two games, and if Sale cannot go deep, they could be exposed.
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Dodgers Let NLDS Control Slip Away After Another Offensive Letdown
Blake Snells afternoon never found a rhythm, and the Dodgers could not do enough offensively to take advantage of the opening it created. Los Angeles dropped a 3-2 decision to the Braves in Game 2 of the National League Division Series, a result that evened the series at one game apiece and left the Dodgers searching for the timely hit that has been missing too often in October.
Snell issued a season-high five walks, and the game turned on a chaotic stretch that included a wild pitch from Braves reliever Kris Bubic before Atlanta grabbed the go-ahead run. Freddie Freeman also came through for the Braves with a home run, his first since Sept. 2, adding another swing that helped flip the momentum and leave the Dodgers with a split instead of control. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Face A Lineup Decision That Could Test Braves In Game 3
After getting bottled up by the Braves in Game 2 of the National League Division Series, the Dodgers are staring at a familiar October problem: how to jolt an offense that went quiet when it needed to answer back. Atlanta leaned on multiple pitchers to keep Los Angeles in check, and now Dave Roberts is weighing a lineup tweak for Game 3 as the series shifts into a more urgent phase for a team trying to avoid elimination.
The concern centers on center fielder Andy Pages, whose postseason struggles have become hard to ignore, and that has opened the door for Enrique Hernandez to potentially step in and give the lineup a different look. Hernandez has earned a reputation as a reliable October bat, which is part of what makes this decision so interesting for the Dodgers, who need more than just better at-bats now - they need a spark that can change the feel of the series. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Suddenly Face A Real Andy Pages Lineup Dilemma
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Dave Roberts has already made one adjustment by limiting Pages ability to challenge calls, a small but telling sign that the club is trying to manage both the player and the moment. If the struggles continue, the Dodgers do not appear short on alternatives, which only adds to the tension around Pages spot. In October, even a young hitter with legitimate upside can find himself one rough stretch away from a lineup debate. [Read more 🡒]