Dodgers Use Long Ball In Shutout Win Over Braves
Max Muncy and the Dodgers let their bats speak loud and clear to open their playoff journey.
The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Atlanta Braves 6-0 on Thursday night at Dodger Stadium in Game 1 of the NLDS to take a 1-0 series lead.
The Dodgers hit three home runs in the Game 1 victory, with first baseman Max Muncy’s three-run homer being the big blow to break the game open early.
Hyun-Jin Ryu (1-0) picked up the victory for the Los Angeles Dodgers as he stifled the Atlanta Braves.
Ryun would allow four hits while striking out eight over seven scoreless innings for Los Angeles Dodgers.
Los Angeles would be out-hit 6-5 by the Atlanta Braves, but that number would result into little for Atlanta as they failed to get a runner to second base in all but two innings on Thursday night.
Dodgers fans wouldn’t have to wait long for the boys in blue to send one out of Dodger Stadium to begin Game 1.
Los Angeles’ Dodgers left-fielder Joc Pederson would get the scoring going with by hitting a lead-off home run on a 0-2 pitch by Mike Foltynewicz to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.
The inning would end in disappointment, however, as the Dodgers stranded the bases loaded and also runners on the corners with no outs in the inning.
The Dodgers would make good of their missed opportunity in the first inning courtesy of a three-run homer by first baseman Max Muncy, who turned on a pitch over the plate by Foltynewicz in the second inning to give Los Angeles a 4-0 lead.
That would be all the runs needed for Dodgers left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu. Making just his fourth career playoff start and first since 2014, Ryu would shutdown the Braves offense.
Dave Roberts’ Los Angeles Dodgers journey to the postseason was a eventful one, but they feel that they have put themselves in position to get back to the World Series.
The Atlanta Braves struggled vs left-handed starters this season, and those struggles continued on Thursday night in Los Angeles as they opened postseason play.
Atlanta would not get a man to second base until the fifth inning where they were kept off the board after catcher Kurt Suzuki flied out to end the inning.
Getting a rough start out of their ace Mike Foltynewicz (0-1) didn’t help, but Atlanta’s young stars that includes Ronald Acuna Jr. (0-for-4, 2 Ks), failed to make much of an impact in their first taste of the postseason.
Brian Snitker’s team won’t have much time to lick their wounds as three-time Cy Young award winner Clayton Kershaw awaits.
For the Los Angeles Dodgers, it’s another win that gets them closer to where they want to be, the World Series.
They acknowledge the path in getting there will be more daunting than a season ago where they had home-field advantage throughout the postseason, but there’s a swagger and energy in Los Angeles right now for a team that feels like they let a World Series title slip through their finger tips in 2017.
Clayton Kershaw will take the ball for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 of the NLDS on Friday night vs Atlanta Braves right-hander Anibal Sanchez.
First pitch is scheduled for 9:37 pm/ET.
What are your thoughts on the Dodgers Game 1 victory? Leave your comments below!
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