The Los Angeles Dodgers went into this week’s series against the Atlanta Braves looking at an uphill battle against the team that was atop the National League standings.
However, the Dodgers offense backed Gavin Stone on Monday night and did so again in the second game of the series at Truist Park for Bobby Miller in his MLB debut. L.A. opened the scoring on Tuesday with an RBI single from Will Smith to bring in Mookie Betts, who hit a leadoff double.
After the Braves put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the first inning, Jason Heyward led off the second with a home run. Like with Freddie Freeman, the matchup against the Braves marks a homecoming for Heyward, a Georgia native.
Then a two-out error by Matt Olson led to trouble for Braves starter Spencer Strider. Betts walked, and he and Miguel Rojas both advanced on a wild pitch.
One pitch is all Jason needed. pic.twitter.com/tWcotKSVGQ
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 23, 2023
Intentionally walk Freddie to face Will? Brave. pic.twitter.com/fpeL0u3HkU
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 23, 2023
Intentionally walk Freddie to face Will? Brave. pic.twitter.com/fpeL0u3HkU
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 23, 2023
JD for three! pic.twitter.com/sMigVrNVQG
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 24, 2023
Victory formation!
Dodgers x @Yaamava pic.twitter.com/lkArcbXBkF
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 24, 2023
That in turn led to Freeman being intentionally walked, which backfired as Smith pulled a two-run double down the line. The Dodgers’ lead remained 4-1 until Max Muncy’s RBI single in the seventh inning, and J.D. Martinez broke the game open with a three-run home run in the eighth.
The home run was Martinez’s third in the past two games, and fourth in his last four contests. Martinez additionally is on an eight-game hitting streak.
Freeman extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a single in the ninth inning.
Miller steps up for Dodgers
Miller settled in after allowing a run in the first inning as it was all the Braves could muster off the right-hander. Miller pitched through some traffic as he got through five innings and finished with five strikeouts.
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