A 10-game homestand began in odd fashion for the Los Angeles Dodgers as they not only had their 11-game winning streak snapped but lost consecutive games to the Atlanta Braves. They responded with back-to-back wins to split the series, though Sunday was an emotional roller coaster.
What began as another promising July start for Clayton Kershaw ended with injury, as he was removed after two innings due to right low back tightness. Kershaw is scheduled to undergo testing and will be placed on the disabled list this week.
Ross Stripling allowed a two-out single in the third inning, then a stolen base, and an RBI double to Brandon Phillips, which allowed the Braves to take a 1-0 lead.
Braves rookie starter Sean Newcomb failed to protect it, as back-to-back walks in the fourth inning by Logan Forsythe and Kiké Hernandez were followed by an Austin Barnes line-drive, go-ahead home run.
With the Dodgers still holding a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the eighth, Cody Bellinger was given the green light on a three-ball-and-no-strikes count, and crushed his 27th home run of the season. The solo shot appeared to be insurance for Kenley Jansen, who entered in the top half of the inning for a four-out save.
Freddie Freeman and Matt Kemp connected on consecutive singles to bring the tying run to the plate with nobody out in the ninth. Jansen retired Nick Markakis and Tyler Flowers, only to surrender a game-tying home run to Matt Adams.
The blown save was Jansen’s first in 25 opportunities this season, and first since Aug. 26, 2016. With runners at the corners and one out in the bottom of the 10th, Jim Johnson intentionally walked Bellinger.
All that did was set up Forsythe for his second walk-off hit this season. “He’s got a really good sinker,” Forsythe said of facing Johnson. “You’ve got to try to see him on the plate, not too much in. Luckily enough I just got inside of it and got it through the middle.”
It capped off an afternoon that saw Forsythe make multiple key defensive plays. “You look at the average and it’s not where he wants it to be, but the defensive play that he’s given us and the versatility has been great,” Roberts said.
