Dodgers score eight in fifth to beat Braves in NLCS rematch

ATLANTA – The Dodgers didn’t exactly knock the cover off the ball on Friday night in the first game of the season against the Atlanta Braves. But they didn’t have to. They were able to ride some wild Braves pitching and smart baserunning to a eight-run fifth inning on the way to a 9-5 victory over their NLCS foes from last season. It was a sloppy game, and shouldn’t have been as close as it was, but in the end it was a W.

Urias gives up homer early, but settles down

The Braves got up early on a Freddie Freeman solo shot against starter Julio Urias in the first inning. And though a couple more Braves reached after the homer, Urias was able to retire the side with no further damage.

On the other hand, Braves starter Ian Anderson was cruising. Through the first 4.1 innings, the Dodgers couldn’t solve the young righty, going hitless through the first thirteen hitters. It wasn’t until a Gavin Lux double with Chris Taylor aboard in the top of the fifth that they were able to break through.

3 hits + 5 walks = 8 runs

After that first hit, what followed was one of the more curious eight-run rallies that you’re likely to see. AJ Pollock hit a slow roller to third baseman Austin Riley, and Taylor was moving on contact from third. It would have been a close play at the plate, but Riley drilled Taylor in the back and the ball bounded away from catcher William Contreras. The game was tied and the Dodgers were off and rolling.

The next hitter was pitcher Julio Urias, who was able to lay down a two-strike sacrifice bunt. Gavin Lux broke hard from third and was able to slide just under the tag to score. With a 2-1 run lead, the Dodgers scored the next few runs the easy way. After new Braves pitcher Sean Newcomb got a flyout from Mookie Betts, he walked the next three Dodgers hitters to push across two more runs.

Taylor adds to All Star résumé

RBI walks are fun and all, but eventually, it’s good to drive in some runs the old fashioned way. After Newcomb was lifted in favor of Grant Dayton, the Dodgers put their hitting shoes on. Will Smith ripped a single up the middle to score one run and reload the bases. Then, Chris Taylor came up with the bases loaded, just as he had a couple of nights ago against St. Louis. This time, it didn’t take fourteen pitches, but the outcome was the same. A bases-clearing double made it 8-1 Dodgers. And it looked like the good guys would win in a laugher.

Nelson looks good in return from IL

With a big lead, Urias’s night was over after five innings of work. Other than the long fly from Freeman, he had a good night. His line for the evening: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 5K. Unfortunately, for what seems like the fourth or fifth time this year, the Dodgers second tier guys from the bullpen were not able to keep the game out of the opponent’s reach in a potential blowout game. They got a nice sixth inning from Jimmy Nelson, fresh off the IL, and Mitch White pitched a scoreless seventh, but then things got a little sloppy.

Last two innings were, um, not great

With White still on the mound, the Braves took advantage of a single, a walk, an Ozzie Albies double to score a couple. Then, after Joe Kelly replaced White on the mound, an error from Gavin Lux on a routine pop fly to left scored two more. Suddenly, the laugher wasn’t quite so funny anymore. It was now 8-5 and Dave Roberts was forced to get Kenley Jansen up in the Dodgers bullpen.

Luckily, the Dodgers were able to score an insurance run in the ninth on a Mookie Betts double and a couple of wild pitches. Even though it was no longer a save situation, Roberts wasn’t taking any chances. He brought Jansen in to finish up the game. Quite the difference from the NLCS, when it was Urias who closed out the Bravos while Jansen watched from the bench.

Jansen forced into action, but wild

Jansen’s outing will look okay in the scorebook, but it wasn’t great. He walked the first two Braves, and suddenly the tying run was on deck. And who should be coming to the plate but the top of the Braves lineup. More specifically, NL home run leader Ronald Acuna Jr.

Pitching coach Mark Prior bolted out of the dugout for a mound visit. Jansen seemed none too pleased by the conversation, but after Prior returned to the bench, Kenley got busy. He got Acuna to pop out to second baseman Chris Taylor. Then, after Freddie Freeman struck out, Jansen got Ozzie Albies to fly out to shallow center field, and the game was over.

Kershaw on the mound for game on Fox

A little sloppy, to say the least. But anytime you can score nine runs on only four hits, you’ll take it. Clayton Kershaw returns to the mound on Saturday night to try to join his teammate Urias and the Cardinals’ Jack Flaherty as the NL’s only eight-game winners so far this season. He will face another familiar postseason opponent. Charlie Morton, whom the Dodgers last faced in the World Series. It will be a Fox Sports exclusive tomorrow, with a 4:00 pm PDT start time.