Tarik Skubal just fired off six absolute gem innings in Game 1 of the NL Division Series, leading the Dodgers to a 5-3 win over the Braves. This wasn’t just any start, either; it was 100 degrees at game time in Los Angeles, feeling like 105, with umpires pounding water and fans hiding under towels. But Skubal? He was ice cold, dealing from the mound when everyone else was melting.
Skubal’s Unbelievable Playoff Arrival (at Home!)
He’s a two-time Cy Young winner, sure, but seeing him carve up the Braves like that, giving up just one run and two hits, striking out seven and walking two in that kind of heat? That’s just different. Get this: it was his first ever home postseason start. All his previous playoff appearances were on the road for the Detroit Tigers before the Dodgers snagged him right before the August 3 deadline. Talk about a trade steal for the two-time defending World Series champions! This dude now has 63 strikeouts in his first seven postseason games, a number second only to the legendary Bob Gibson’s 74. That’s serious company, and it means he’s ready to dominate this entire series.
Bombs Away Off the Bullpen & Braves’ Struggles
While Skubal was doing his thing, the Dodgers’ bats absolutely lit up against Atlanta’s bullpen. Braves starter Dylan Dodd actually held the line for three scoreless innings, giving up only singles to Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts. But then Victor Mederos came in during the fourth and the dam broke. Freddie Freeman walked, then Teoscar Hernández absolutely crushed a 431-foot two-run shot to left-center. Kyle Tucker kept the power party going in the sixth with another two-run blast, and Max Muncy added a solo shot off AJ Smith-Shawver just two batters later, pushing the lead to 5-1.
Meanwhile, the Braves’ offense was pretty much M.I.A., managing only four hits all game. Sean Murphy did launch a 421-foot two-strike homer in the sixth, which cut the lead to 2-1 for a minute, and Ozzie Albies hammered a 432-foot dinger in the ninth off Tanner Scott after Ronald Acuña Jr. singled, bringing them to 5-3. But that was it. Evan Phillips came in for Scott and got a groundout from Austin Riley with a runner on, sealing the save. Ohtani, who’s apparently still dealing with those nagging arm and knee issues, singled early but also had a couple of outs with runners on. The Braves’ bullpen was already a bit taxed after their Wild Card Series, even using their ace Chris Sale in relief to win that deciding game against Philly. It showed, big time.
So, the Dodgers draw first blood in this NLDS, taking a 1-0 lead. Game 2 is Sunday evening, back at Dodger Stadium, and guess what? That extreme heat warning is still on. The Braves haven’t even announced who’s starting for them, while the Dodgers are rolling out two-time Cy Young winner LHP Blake Snell. Can Atlanta find a way to cool off the Dodgers and their blazing bats, or will Skubal’s heat-defying dominance set the tone for the entire series? This is just getting started, folks!
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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