The Dodgers secured the first game of their National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday, claiming a 5-3 victory at Dodger Stadium. The win, powered by multi-run home runs from Teoscar Hernández and Kyle Tucker, set the tone for the best-of-five series on a particularly warm afternoon in Los Angeles.
Starting pitcher Tarik Skubal set a strong foundation for the Dodgers, limiting the Braves to just two hits over his six innings of work. After surrendering a leadoff single to Drake Baldwin, Skubal retired the next 15 batters in order before Sean Murphy broke the streak with a solo home run on a 1-2 sinker leading off the sixth inning. Skubal finished his outing with seven strikeouts and two walks, both occurring in the sixth, earning him the victory. He, along with two relievers, held Atlanta to just two hits through the first eight innings.
The Dodgers’ offense began to click in the fourth inning when Teoscar Hernández launched a two-run home run. Facing Victor Mederos, Hernández sent a 1-1 cutter an estimated 431 feet over the left-center field fence, putting the Dodgers on the board. The lead expanded in the bottom of the sixth inning when Kyle Tucker hit a two-run home run into the Atlanta bullpen in right field, increasing the Dodgers' advantage to 4-1. Max Muncy followed up two batters later with a solo home run, securing the Dodgers’ fifth and final run of the game. Mederos, the second of four Braves pitchers, was charged with the loss.
In relief, Brock Stewart pitched a perfect seventh inning, keeping the Braves off the scoreboard. Alex Vesia followed suit, retiring all three batters he faced in the eighth inning, maintaining the Dodgers' comfortable lead.
The ninth inning saw a brief rally from the Braves. Tanner Scott, the first reliever in the ninth, allowed a single to Ronald Acuña Jr. and then a home run to Ozzie Albies on the very next pitch, bringing the Braves within two runs. Scott then retired the next two batters on ground outs. Evan Phillips entered the game, walking Mauricio Dubón on eight pitches. Phillips then got ahead of Austin Riley 0-2, and after Riley fouled off the next pitch, Phillips induced a ground out to shortstop Mookie Betts, ending the game and sealing the Dodgers' 5-3 win.
Overall, the Dodgers out-hit Atlanta 8-4, with both Teoscar Hernández and Kyle Tucker contributing two hits each to the effort. The game started under notably warm conditions, with Major League Baseball reporting the temperature at 100 degrees when the first pitch was thrown at 1:08 p.m.
Game 2 of the best-of-five series is scheduled to take place on Sunday, once again at Dodger Stadium, giving both teams a quick turnaround for the next match-up.
