Atlanta just delivered a gut punch to the Dodgers, walking off game two of their series and officially securing the head-to-head tiebreaker for that crucial second first-round bye in the National League. This wasn’t some fluke either; the Braves took the first game too, pushing their season record against L.A. to a dominant 4-1. That means if these two squads end up tied in the standings, the Braves get the nod, no questions asked.
Dodgers Bullpen Meltdown Gives Braves the Edge
The walk-off victory came in dramatic fashion. Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki couldn’t even make it past the fourth inning, getting tagged for four runs in just 3 ⅓. That meant manager Dave Roberts was scrambling, and by the time Tanner Scott came in as the fifth reliever in a tie game, options were obviously thin. Scott looked good at first, getting two quick outs on seven pitches, but then the wheels absolutely came off. Braves left fielder Lane Thomas, in as a pinch-hitter, ripped a double. Then Scott intentionally walked Austin Riley. With the Braves having already lost their DH earlier, Ha-Seong Kim stepped in to pinch-hit for pitcher Victor Mederos. He battled Scott through an eight-pitch at-bat, finally connecting on a 97.2 mph four-seamer low in the zone. It was a 254-foot liner to left, and Thomas scored easily, ending the game. The Braves have now won three straight, moving to 78-55, and are suddenly just two games back of the Dodgers for that coveted second bye. Mookie Betts even got credit for starting a double play in the official scoring on one play, helping out, just not in a conventional way.
Tristan Peters Is On Another Heater in Chicago
Meanwhile, out in the American League, Tristan Peters is absolutely locked in for the White Sox. The left fielder went 3-for-4 against the Rangers on Wednesday, racking up two runs and two RBIs. Oh, and he blasted a home run for the *fifth straight game*. That two-run shot in the bottom of the fifth put Chicago up 6-2 over Texas, and it stood as the game-winning hit. The White Sox piled on four more insurance runs, while the Rangers only managed another two. Chicago hitting 70 wins is a wild sentence to write, especially as the first non-AL East team to get there, but it’s true!
This loss was a big one for the Rangers, who are now two games behind the Guardians in the AL wild-card chase. They’re hanging by a thread, just half a game ahead of the Orioles, who despite their best efforts to blow a game against the Cardinals, managed to hang on. The AL wild card is a messy, tight race, and every single game is going to matter.
With the Braves now holding the tiebreaker, the Dodgers have zero room for error. They need to play lights out the rest of the way to keep Atlanta from even getting into a tie. And for the White Sox, they’re riding high, but can Peters keep this historic home run streak going? You know we’ll be watching!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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