Braves vs. Dodgers summary online, scores, stats and updates
The Dodgers avoid the sweep on the back of superb pitching
Dodgers avoid the sweep on the back of superb pitching
In a season where the Los Angeles Dodgers have gotten to the top of the NL West by riding their prolific offense, it is perhaps telling that what saved them from being swept by the Atlanta Braves here in September was not their bats, but rather a superb outing by rookie pitcher Bobby Miller.
Throwing seven complete innings, the deepest into a game that Miller has ever thrown, he managed at one point to retire 16 Braves hitters in a row before giving up a home run and a walk. Atlanta simply could not find a way around him.
The Braves have the best record in baseball at the moment and these two teams will definitely meet again in the playoffs, but for now, the Dodgers are headed to Miami for a six game road trip while Atlanta are headed home for a bit of respite.
The biggest surprise of the day was the complete silencing of Ronald Acuña Jr, who had hit a home run in each of the previous three games. Today he was completely blunted by Miller and the Dodgers, going 0 for 4 today. His principal competition for the NL MVP award, Mookie Betts, by contrast, went 3 for 4.
The Braves are in solid position to take the top spot in the league and enjoy home field advantage throughout the playoffs. They have comprehensively taken the series off of the Dodgers, but a win today is just what Los Angeles needed heading into this back end of the season. They have the wind at their back and while making up the six game difference between them and the Braves is probably too much to ask, they can certainly chew away at it and enter the post season on a high note.
GOODBYE!
That is going to do it from our live coverage of the Braves vs Dodgers game. Join us for all of the baseball news as well as live coverage throughout September and the post season. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. Goodbye!
The Dodgers avoid the sweep.
DODGERS WIN
Ozuna chases a low slider for strike three.
Marcell Ozuna comes to the plate. On the first pitch, Olson steals second. Two quick strikes and the 0-2 delivery from Graterol misses outside.
Matt Olson now up to the plate and works the count to 2-2 before ripping one into the left center gap for a two out single. The Braves have another lifeline.
It works for them, because Riley grounds the next pitch to third, where Kike turns it to second and on to first for the double play. And just like that the Braves are down to their last out.
Graterol misses his first two and WIll Smith trots out to calm his pitcher down.
Austin Riley comes to the plate now representing the tying run.
TOP 9th
Ozzie Albies will lead off for Atlanta here. He works the count full on the new pitcher and the payoff pitch misses for a leadoff walk.
PITCHING CHANGE
The Dodgers will make a pitching change, bringing on Brusdar Graterol to try and slam the door shut.
Rojas lifts a pop fly to first and Olson hauls it in to end the inning. The Braves are now down to their last three outs and the Dodgers have a huge insurance run.
Miguel Rojas now comes to the plate with runners on first and second and two outs.
DODGERS SCORE
James Outman rips the first pitch up the middle, scoring Heyward from second. The Dodgers have another one!
The count runs full and the payoff misses for ball four. The Dodgers now have runners on first and second with two outs.
Chris Taylor comes to the plate now and works the count to 2-2. A wild pitch moves Heyward to second. That is the second one that Heller has thrown in as many innings.
Jason Heyward jumps on the first pitch and rips a single to right field.
PINCH HITTER
Kolten Wong will hit for Amed Rosario. He chops one to short and Orlando Arcia nabs it, steps on the bag and makes the throw for the double play.
BOTTOM 8th
Kike Hernandez will lead off here in the eighth for LA. He reaches for one and taps it back to the mound. Heller grabs it and the throw is wide. Olson has to come off the bag to bring it in. Kike is safe and the Dodgers have their leadoff man on.
Ronald Acuña now comes up to face Miller. He works the count to 3-1 before popping one harmlessly to center field for the final out.
Michael Harris rips one intot he gap in right center for a two out double. The tying run in in scoring position now.
Orlando Arcia jumps on the first pitch and pops it straight up for Mookie Betts. Two away.
TOP 8th
Travis D'Arnaud will lead off for the Braves here and he hits a shot at Rojas who makes the throw for the first out.
PITCHING CHANGE
Bobby Miller had an outstanding introduction here to big-time pitching and he will give way to Shelby Miller now.
Will Smith gets a low slider and lifts it out to left field where Eddie Rosario puts it away to end the inning.
Ben Heller throws one waaaay outside and it goes to the backstop. Freeman advances to second.
Freddie Freeman comes up now and grounds into a fielder's choice. Betts out at 2nd. Freddie Freeman beats the throw to 1st.
Mookie Betts comes up and jumps on the first delivery, poking it pst shortstop for another single. That is his third hit on the day!
Rojas chops one to third for Riley, who makes the long throw for out number one.
BOTTOM 7th
Miguel Rojas will lead off for LA here. Atlanta will make a pitching change and Ben Heller replaces Brad Hand.
Rosario hits a ground ball to second to end the inning. The Braves claw one back and the young Bobby Miller has completed seven innings for the Dodgers who lead 2-1.
Eddie Rosario comes to the plate now and Miller goes straight after him with two quick strikes. Rosario stays alive chopping one back.
Mark Pryor comes out to talk to his rookie pitcher. Miller has been lights out today, retiring 16 in a row before that home run and walk. The Dodger bullpen may see some action now, with the tying run on first base.
Marcell Ozina now comes up to the plate and works the count full. The payoff misses for ball four.
HOME RUN ATLANTA
Matt Olson jumps on a change up and hits a bomb to right field. That is gone! That is Olson's MLB leading 44th home run on the season.
Austin Riley comes up now first pitch swinging and grounds one to short. Rojas makes the thow to first baseman Freddie Freeman. Two down.
TOP 7th
Ozzie Albies will start the inning for Atlanta and he goes down swinging at three straight pitches.
Outman works the count to 2-2 before he goes down looking to end the threat. We head to the seventh inning, the Dodgers still winning 2-0
James Outman will now come up with Rosario on third and two gone.
Chris Taylor will try and push that run over the plate now and he hits a shot at Arcia who was playing in on the grass. Arcia bobbles it but recovers and makes the play at first. Two down.
Jason Heyward will come to the plate and grounds one to first. Olson smothers it and steps on the bag for the first out but Rosario advances to third on the play.
Looks like a great call by Dave Roberts as Rosario drives a shot to center field that finds the gap for a leadoff double,
PINCH HITTER
The Dodgers will tap Amed Rosario to hit for David Peralta who has gone 0 for 2 today.
PITCHING CHANGE
Brad Hand will replace Dylan Lee on the mound for Atlanta.
BOTTOM 6th
David Peralta will lead off for LA here in the 6th.
Ronald Acuña Jr now and Miller goes straight after him with a pair of fastballs. The count works to 2-2 before Acuña bloops one near the line in shallow right. Jason Heyward charges and makes the sliding catch to end the inning!
Miller has now retired 14 straight batters.
Harris is patient and gets a 3-1 count before chopping one to second for Mookie Betts. He pulls the trigger quickly and just gets the speedy Harris at first for the second out.
Michael Harris now stands in and the Braves are having trouble here. They haven't had anyone on base in three innings.
Arcia works the count full before the payoff pitch is high heat and Arcia swings through it. One down.
TOP 6
That shoulder flex looks as if it was something because the Dodgers have replaced Muncy at third with Kike Hernandez.
Orlando Arcia will lead off for the Braves.
Muncy calls time and stretches his shoulder. He is grimacing. When he steps back in he gets a high fastball and goes down swinging to end the inning.
Max Muncy will come up to see if he can keep this inning alive.
Will Smith will now stand in and rips a shot down the left field line. It goes into the corner for a two out double.
Freddie Freeman will face the new pitcher with Betts on first and he works the count full before the payoff pitch from Lee is grounded to second where they turn the 4-6-3 double play. Two down.
PITCHING CHANGE
Brian Snitker will head out to the mound now and try and put a stop to this now. Charlie Morton is going to be done as Dylan Lee will make his return from injury.
Dodgers score
Mookie Betts now and he chops a bouncer over shortstop into left. The run will score and the Dodgers are up 2-0 just like that!
Dodgers score
Rojas drills one to left center, off the top of the wall! Outman comes in to score, the throw to the plate is high and goes to the backstop. Rojas advances to third on a double and an error. The Dodgers strike first!
Miguel Rojas now comes up and gets himself into a hole quickly, 0-2 on the first two pitches.
Outman works the count full. The payoff from Morton misses high and that is the second walk for James Outman today.
BOTTOM 5th
James Outman will lead off for the Dodgers here and shows bunt before pulling it back. Maybe he is trying out a wrinkle to see how the Braves infield reacts.
Travis D'Arnaud comes up to the plate and bangs a deep one to right center field. James Outman drifts back over and brings it down to end the inning. Still scoreless here in the middle of five.
Eddie Rosario comes up now and rips one to ceter field, but straight at Outman. Two away.
TOP 5th
Marcell Ozuna will lead off for the Braves here in the fifth and flies one out to right field. Jason Heyward hauls it in for the first out.
Chris Taylor comes up and goes down swinging on three pitches to end the inning.
Jason Heyward now stands in and reaches out for an outside changeup, drilling it to right but directly at Ronald Acuña for out number two.
David Peralta will come up now and pops a towering fly ball into center field for Michael Harris. One down.
Muncy works the count to 2-2 before ripping a bullet into the gap in right for a leadoff single.
BOTTOM 4th
Max Muncy leads off here for the Dodgers and has to jump out of the way of a wild pitch. That was a knuckle curve that got away from Morton there.
Matt Olson will now try his luck against Miller. He works a 2-2 count before a called strike three. Olson is not at all happy with that call. It is more or less the same area as the one that Freeman was so frustrated with.
Austin Riley now steps up to the plate. He works the count full before the payoff fastball is lifted into right field for the second out.
TOP 4th
Ozzie Albies leads off for the Braves here in the fourth. He bounces one to first for the easy putout to start the inning.
Smith rips a line drive to left field. Rosario chases it down for the out and Betts gets doubled out at second. He was running on the hit and there was some confusion. He never went back to tag up at second. That will end the inning, not with a bang but with a whimper.
Will Smith comes to the plate and a wild pitch sees Betts advance to second.
A low pitch for a called strike draws a frustrated reaction from Freeman, who is normally stoic. The next pitch is at the top of the zone for a called strike three and you get something you never see. Freddie Freeman argues the call with the umpire. Clearly he is saying that you can't have both the low pitches AND the high ones.
Mookie is a threat to steal at first and Morton senses it. Freeman comes to the plate and gets a pitch before Morton picks over to first. Not in time.
Betts goes down to get a breaking ball and puts it into left field, falling in front of Rosario for a leadoff single.
BOTTOM 3rd
The top of the Dodgers order is up here with Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Will Smith leading off.
Acuña is aggressive and gets in a hole before swinging through a 100mph fastball to end the inning.
Back to the top of the order now and Ronald Acuña Jr comes to the dish.
Michael Harris now, and he works a 2-2 count before swinging through a beautiful changeup for strike three.
Arcia stands in here and jumps on the first pitch. Broken bat and straight to Max Muncy who makes the routine throw for the first out.
TOP 3rd
The bottom of the order here to lead off for the Braves with Orlando Arcia, Michael Harris, and then back to the top with Ronald Acuña.
Rojas rips one to second but Albies gets to it and flips the ball to Arcia who just beats Outman to the bag for the final out. We re still scoreless after two.
Miguel Rojas now stands in and is patient, working the count to 2-1 before fouling one off.
Outman gets walked on four straight and Morton seems to be shaken. Runners now at first and second with two outs.
James Outman comes to the plate and after a pick attempt to first, Taylor takes off on the first pitch. The throw is high and goes into center field, although it probably wasn't going to be in time anyway. Stolen base.
On the payoff pitch, Morton misses for ball four and Chris Taylor gets the free pass.
The call stands. Again, the replay would suggest that he was safe, although it was les obvious than the previous play. New York seem to have got it wrong again, penalizing each team equally.
Chris Taylor stands in and works the count full before Morton picks over to first and gets him!
The Dodgers now challenge the out call at first. Let's see what New York sees... they got one wrong before.
Jason Heyward comes up and pops one into shallow right. Acuña is slow to get a read on it and can't quite get there, as the ball drops in for a one out single.
Peralta goes chasing low pitches and winds up going down on big hacks at balls in the dirt. One down.
BOTTOM 2nd
David Peralta will lead off for LA here in the second.
Travis d'Arnaud comes up first pitch swinging and lines out to left field to end the inning. The Dodgers get out of a jam and we go to the bottom of the second still scoreless.
Eddie Rosario comes up and lines out to center for the second out.
Designated Hitter Marcell Ozuna comes up and rips a changeup to left field. It comes off the top of the wall for a one out double. He just missed a home run by two inches!
TOP 2ND
Matt Olson will lead off the second, since he was up there when Riley was caught stealing to end the first. Olson will get a clean slate here, and breaks his bat on a ground ball to Mookie Betts at second. The easy throw gets the first out at first.
Muncy rips one sharply to first but Olson is all over it and steps on the bag to end the inning.
Max Muncy will now see if he can do anything with that baserunner.
Will Smith comes to the plate and works the count full before poking one back up the middle that dribbles into center for a two out single. That extends his hit streak to eight games.
Freddie Freeman now steps up and gets jammed with a fastball, lining it to center field for Michael Harris and we have two down.
Betts grounds out, third baseman Austin Riley to first baseman Matt Olson.
BOTTOM 1st
Mookie Betts will get things going for the Dodgers here in the bottom half of the frame. He will face Charlie Morton, who has been as close to lights out of late as it is possible to be in today's game.
The game has been twisting itself into knots trying to speed up, largely in response to the additional time inserted by use of instant replay. But what is the point of replay if they still get the call wrong? Why not get rid of it and just go with the on field decision?
Austin Riley takes off on the pitch and the throw from Will Smith is in time to shortstop Miguel Rojas.
The Braves challenge the call of out and the call stands! That is incredible since the replay clearly shows that Riley was easily safe. This is a terrible start by the umpiring crew in Los Angeles.
Matt Olson now comes to the plate with a runner on first and two outs.
Austin Riley grounds into a double play, third baseman Max Muncy to second baseman Mookie Betts to first baseman Freddie Freeman. Ozzie Albies out at 2nd. Austin Riley out at 1st.
The Braves challenge the out call at first and win the challenge. Riley is safe. Two down.
Ozzie Albies comes up to the plate now and slaps a breaking ball into right center field for a one out single.
Miller goes back to the well and Acuña pops one into shallow center for the first out.
TOP 1ST
Ronald Acuña Jr will lead off for the Braves here to get things going, and he has had a stellar outing here in this series. Last night, he hit the hardest hit home run in baseball this year.
Miller goes straight at him with a 100mph fastball for strike one, and we are off!
We are just about ten minutes away from the first pitch here in Los Angeles.
Yellow ribbons and wristbands will be spotted all over the baseball field at all MLB games held on Sunday, September 3. All on-field personnel, including players, umpires, managers, and coaches, will wear the symbol as the league marks its Childhood Cancer Awareness Day.
Major League Baseball has raised childhood cancer awareness for the eighth consecutive year.
Read Diario AS very own Gidget Alikpala's report on MLB's Childhood Cancer Awareness Day here.
Braves Batting Order
1. Ronald Acuna Jr. (R) RF
2. Ozzie Albies (S) 2B
3. Austin Riley (R) 3B
4. Matt Olson (L) 1B
5. Marcell Ozuna (R) DH
6. Eddie Rosario (L) LF
7. Travis d'Arnaud (R) C
8. Orlando Arcia (R) SS
9. Michael Harris II (L) CF
Dodgers Batting Order
1. Mookie Betts (R) 2B
2. Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
3. Will Smith (R) C
4. Max Muncy (L) 3B
5. David Peralta (L) DH
6. Jason Heyward (L) RF
7. Chris Taylor (R) LF
8. James Outman (L) CF
9. Miguel Rojas (R) SS
The Braves and the Dodgers have the two best records in MLB and this showdown is becoming worrying for Dave Roberts. While dropping the series won't fundamentally affect the outcome of the Dodgers' season, the mental ramifications of being swept at home can run deep at exactly the wrong moment in the season.
Mookie Betts and Ronald Acuña Jr are going head to head as the two favorites for the National League MVP and while they are both showcasing that stellar performance that we have come to expect of them, it has been the supporting cast who have made the difference in this series so far.
Besides, it isn't as if the series has been lopsided. Every game has been close, with game three going to ten innings. Acuña has homered in each of the games so far, but that doesn't mean that the Dodgers offense has been impotent.
Game one was a bullpen contest for LA, while the next two saw starters work deeper. Tonight, Dave Roberts has tapped right-handed rookie Bobby Miller for the start. With an 8-3 record on an ERA of 4.00, Miller is the quintessential starter's starter. He is durable and can chew up innings for you, and with 79 strikeouts on the season, he can shut down prolific offenses.
Across the basepaths, Roberts' counterpart in Brian Snitker will hand the ball to right-handed pitcher Charlie Morton. At 14-10 with a 3.29 ERA, Morton is a workhorse. He is dominant and may not go as deep into the game, but with 165 strikeouts, is far more prolific.
Welcome!
Welcome to Diario AS USA's live commentary of game four of the series between the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers as the Braves try and complete the sweep of their nearest rival.