Chris Sale couldn’t replicate his complete game shutout magic tonight, getting tagged for three earned runs as the Braves’ bats went ice-cold in a pivotal NLDS game against the Dodgers. This was the matchup for a crucial 2-1 series lead, and the Braves just didn’t bring the heat when it counted. Sale was facing off against Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the same guy he dominated last time for a 1-0 Braves win, but this game was a whole different story.
Sale’s Night Went From Dominant to Disaster, FAST
The first inning actually looked great for Sale. He gave up a leadoff single to Betts and Ha-Seong Kim had an error, but Sale locked it down, striking out Freeman, Smith, and Ohtani. Yamamoto answered with a strong inning himself, getting two strikeouts and an Olson groundout. The second inning saw Sale continue to deal, striking out every hitter he faced after Tucker singled and stole second. Everything seemed under control.
Then the third inning hit, and it got dramatic. Betts singled again, and Dubón flat-out robbed Freddie Freeman of a home run. After a Teoscar Hernández fly out, Smith singled, and then Ohtani reached on catcher’s interference, loading the bases! Talk about a heart stopper. But Sale, to his credit, got Rojas to line out, escaping the inning with no damage.
The fourth inning is where it all fell apart. Pages singled, and after Tucker lined out, postseason legend Enrique Hernández blasted a two-run shot, giving the Dodgers the lead. Betts grounded out, but then Freeman rubbed salt in the wound with a solo shot of his own, making it 3-0 Dodgers. Teoscar Hernández ended the inning with a screaming 108.4 MPH fly out, but the damage was done. Sale stayed in for the fifth, retiring the side and even striking out Will Smith, but his final line was 5.0 innings, three earned runs, seven hits, zero walks, and seven strikeouts. A tough outing, especially after his last showdown with Yamamoto.
Where Did the Braves’ Offense Go? Asking For a Friend.
While Sale had his struggles, the Braves’ offense was largely nonexistent. In the first inning, Yamamoto struck out the first two and got Olson to ground out. The Braves’ first base runner didn’t even come until the second inning with a Harris single, and that was it for offense in the second. Zero offense in the third.
In the fourth, after the Dodgers took the lead, Matt Olson singled, but again, that was the only offense the Braves could muster. It wasn’t until the fifth inning that the Braves showed a pulse. Dubón singled, followed by a Thomas single, sparking some hope. Riley struck out, but then Tellez pinch-hit for Kim and walked, loading the bases! Finally, a chance! Baldwin grounded out to score a run, cutting the lead, but then Acuña grounded out to end the inning. So close to a bigger rally, but they just couldn’t break through.
Bullpen Tries to Hold, But the Bats Are Still Asleep
Dylan Dodd came in to pitch the sixth for the Braves. Pages had a single, but Dodd quickly sat down the rest, including two strikeouts. But the Braves’ bats did Dodd no favors, getting retired in order. Dylan Lee, who’s been struggling a bit lately but made sense to bring in here, pitched a clean seventh, retiring the side to keep the game close. Still, the Braves’ bottom of the lineup looked exactly like the bottom of the lineup, retired in order again.
Brent Suter came in for the eighth, an interesting choice. He walked Ohtani on seven pitches, and after Rojas tweaked something and was replaced by Edman who popped up, Suter prevented any more offense. Tanner Scott then replaced Yamamoto for the Dodgers. Hicklen struck out, Baldwin grounded out, and Ronald Acuña walked on five pitches. Olson fought Scott for six pitches but ultimately struck out, leaving the Braves with just three outs to tie it up.
Raisel Iglesias came in for the ninth for the Dodgers. He induced a pop-up from Hernández after falling to a 3-0 count, then struck out Mookie Betts on eight pitches. Freddie Freeman walked on six pitches, and Max Muncy, pinch-hitting for Teoscar Hernández, struck out on three pitches. Edwin Díaz then came in for the Braves’ final chance. Ozzie Albies, who’s been one of the team’s best hitters this postseason, delivered with a double to lead off the ninth. Harris then made Díaz work, but ultimately…
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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