Braves fall to Dodgers 5-3 in heat-soaked NLDS Game 1
Braves drop NLDS Game 1 despite late rally
Los Angeles defeated Atlanta in Game 1 of the NLDS despite a late ninth-inning rally by the Braves at Dodger Stadium.
LOS ANGELES - The Atlanta Braves dropped Game 1 of the National League Division Series (NLDS) to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday, but fans back home in Atlanta turned out in force to support the team.
What we know:
Game 1 kicked off under blistering 100-degree heat at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
Atlanta left-hander Dylan Dodd started on the mound and tossed three scoreless innings, allowing just two single hits, before the Braves turned to their bullpen. Los Angeles broke through in the fourth inning when Teoscar Hernández hit a two-run homer off Atlanta reliever Victor Mederos, who took the loss.
Sean Murphy put the Braves on the board in the sixth with a 421-foot solo home run off Dodgers starter Tarik Skubal to cut the lead to 2-1. However, Los Angeles responded in the bottom half of the inning with a two-run home run from Kyle Tucker and a solo shot from Max Muncy off AJ Smith-Shawver to extend the Dodgers' lead to 5-1.
The Braves mounted a ninth-inning rally when Ronald Acuña Jr. singled and Ozzie Albies smashed a 432-foot two-run home run off reliever Tanner Scott to bring Atlanta within two. Dodgers reliever Evan Phillips then came in to get the final out and earn the save.
Back in Atlanta, team officials hosted a block-party style atmosphere at The Battery Atlanta for fans cheering from afar. The watch party featured big-screen viewing, appearances by team mascot Blooper, batting cages, cornhole, photo spots, and open access to the team store.
What they're saying:
Despite the Game 1 loss, fans watching from The Battery Atlanta expressed confidence that the Braves will bounce back in the series.
"A tough loss. I think we need more hits, at least in the first eight innings," said Braves fan Jason Plott. "Ozzie’s our guy, we always count on Ozzie. So yeah, it’s still a heartbreak, but still fun to get a little jolt at the end. ... I'm confident we can bounce back."
Other fans pointed to the team’s resilience despite injuries throughout the season.
"Game one there was a good fight until the sixth inning when Max Muncy and Tucker hit that home run, but other than that it was still a close game," said fan Josiah Mize. "It’s fun because, you know, after last year, it’s a huge step up from last year. Even without some of our players like Profar and with the injuries all year, we’ve still been doing good."
Even as the Braves faced a tough road matchup, fans at The Battery stayed vocal throughout the game.
"We've been known to take the Dodgers out, but you know, as long as we can keep the pitching going, keep some offense, keep the runners going, not leave them on base, I think we're going to pull through, man," said Braves fan Travis New. "I think we're going to at least make this series go five."
Truist Park hosts watch party for Braves NLDS Game 1
Braves fans gathered at Truist Park for an official NLDS watch party as team organizers announced a second event for Game 2.
What we don't know:
The Braves have not yet announced who will take the mound as their starting pitcher for Game 2 on Sunday.
It's unclear how both bullpens will recover after pitching in extreme heat conditions during Saturday's opener.
What's next:
The Braves look to even the series in Game 2 on Sunday night in Los Angeles. First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m. EDT.
The Battery Atlanta will host another official watch party for Game 2 on Sunday. Festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. ahead of first pitch.
The series will shift back to Truist Park in Atlanta for Game 3 following Sunday's game.
The Source: The information in this report came from game reports and statistics provided by the Associated Press, along with on-scene reporting from FOX 5's Hernan Gutierrez at The Battery Atlanta.