The Atlanta Braves evened the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers with a 3-2 victory in Game 2 on Sunday. The Braves' rotation was thin going into the series, which made it critical for their ace Chris Sale to be available in Game 3. Manager Walt Weiss had considered using Sale in Game 2 but instead chose Ray Kerr to take the mound.
Kerr took the first eight outs in the game just three nights after an impressive outing as an opener against Philadelphia. He worked 2 2/3 scoreless innings and struck out four while allowing two hits. Kerr has now thrown six scoreless innings across his two postseason starts.
The Braves held the Dodgers hitless in eight at-bats with runners in scoring position throughout the game.
Dodgers starter Blake Snell struggled with his command in his first postseason start of the year. Snell walked five batters and needed 90 pitches to record just 11 outs in his first start of the playoffs. His delivery was off and he lacked command of his pitches which led to his early exit from the game.
Atlanta scored first when Ronald Acuña Jr. came home on a two-out infield single by Mauricio Dubón in the first inning. Freddie Freeman tied the game with a solo homer in the fourth.
Michael Harris II then tripled with two outs in the fifth and scored on a wild pitch to put Atlanta back in front. Harris added an RBI double in the seventh that scored Matt Olson and gave the Braves a 3-1 lead.
Harris finished 3-for-5 with a single plus a triple and a double. The Braves’ offense provided enough support for a pitching staff that used six pitchers. Grant Holmes and Dylan Lee and Robert Suarez all worked in relief for Atlanta.
Didier Fuentes became the key bridge in the late innings with 3 2/3 innings of relief.
Fuentes retired nine straight batters over the sixth through eighth innings. He returned for the ninth and was one out away from finishing the game when Max Muncy homered. Raisel Iglesias then entered and retired pinch-hitter Josue De Paula for his second save of the postseason.
The Dodgers' offense struggled throughout the game, going 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and leaving seven runners on base. Their only runs came from solo homers by Freddie Freeman in the fourth and Max Muncy in the ninth. Manager Dave Roberts expressed concern over his team’s lack of offensive consistency in the game.
The Braves now head back to Atlanta with a 1-1 series tie and a rested Chris Sale ready for Game 3. Sale is scheduled to face Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Tuesday at Truist Park. Tyler Mahle is expected to start Game 4 for Atlanta.
The game was a showcase of modern playoff baseball with both teams relying heavily on their bullpen strategies. Atlanta gained home-field advantage in what is now effectively a best-of-three series. The winner will advance to the National League Championship Series.