Jeff Birney
Dodgers Take 1st Game of Series From Braves
The Dodgers continued to look more like the 2017 NL pennant winners Friday night, taking game 1 of 3 in the series against the Braves. The Dodgers combined to get 5 dingers: 2 solo-blasts from Yasmani Grandal, back-to-back homers for Joc Pederson and Max Muncy, and an absolute bomb from Cody Bellinger in the 8th. The Dodgers took the game 7-3 and are tied with Colorado and San Francisco for 2nd, just a game and a half behind the D-Backs.
Pederson summed up the Dodgers performance as of late: “we’re a really good team, and we started off real slow, but we’re in a good place right now.”
A good place indeed.
Walker Buehler had a solid outing but was pulled in the 6th after complaining of pain in his ribs and shortness of breath. Buehler took a shot to the ribs (a 108 mph liner) a few weeks back but has had several starts since. Manager Dave Roberts said it was “a no brainer” in regard to pulling Buehler early.
The Dodgers once again turned to the bullpen, using ambidextrous (and perpetually scowling) Pat Venditte, Adam Liberatore and shutting the Braves down with Kenley Jansen in the 9th.
The Dodgers face the Braves again tonight in Los Angeles. Game start is 6:10 pm, PST.
