Call to the pen
Fansided

Dodgers Power Past Braves For Third Consecutive Trip to the NLCS

By Sarah Maninger

ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 08: The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate winning Game Four of the National League Division Series with a score of 6-2 over the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field on October 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Dodgers won the series 3-1. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 08: The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate winning Game Four of the National League Division Series with a score of 6-2 over the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field on October 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Dodgers won the series 3-1. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 07: Atlanta Braves Outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) circles the bases after hitting a second inning grand-slam homer during the Major League Baseball NLDS game between the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers on October 7, 2018 at SunTrust Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by David John Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 07: Atlanta Braves Outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) circles the bases after hitting a second inning grand-slam homer during the Major League Baseball NLDS game between the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers on October 7, 2018 at SunTrust Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by David John Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

GAME THREE:

WALKER BUEHLER VS. SEAN NEWCOMB: FINAL SCORE 6-5 ATL

Of the four games in this series, this was probably the most stressful one, on both sides. Walker Buehler was set to continue his dominance as the series shifted to Atlanta. The first inning instilled more confidence in an already faithful Dodgers’ fan base, but the second inning was a wild ride nobody was prepared for. Likely Rookie of the Year for the National League, Ronald Acuña Jr stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and hit the ball far into the night. With a five-run lead, and the powerful bat of Freddie Freeman in their lineup, the Braves were looking pretty good, but their bullpen was not as stable as fans had hoped. The Dodgers stormed back to tie the game in fifth inning, but in the bottom half of the sixth, former Brave Alex Wood gave up a home run to Freeman, giving the Braves the lead and, eventually, the victory.

WHAT WENT RIGHT:

For the first time in 19 innings, the Braves scored. They scored more runs in one inning than they did in the two that preceded it and the one that followed. They shook the elite force that is Walker Buehler, even if just for a single inning. They powered themselves to within one game of tieing the series.

The Dodgers, however, did a great job bouncing back after that five-run second. They proved that they can overcome early deficits, even if the game ended in defeat.

WHAT WENT WRONG:

This one is pretty simple; the bottom of the second inning. Walker Buehler gave up five runs by walking the pitcher with the bases loaded and then serving up a grand slam. This doesn’t mean we should worry about Buehler, however. We have seen him succeed far more than we have seen him struggle. He went on to pitch three scoreless frames after that grand slam and was still able to strike out seven. Buehler is a future ace and is one of the strongest pitchers on a team headed to the NLCS

But the series wasn’t over yet.

Home/Atlanta Braves