The Los Angeles Dodgers jumped out to a 3-0 lead on the Atlanta Braves, then hung on for a 3-2 victory to extend their winning streak to nine games and improve to 40-6 since June 7. What’s more, at 75-31, the Dodgers hold their best record through 106 games in franchise history.
Yasiel Puig helped jump start the offense by legging out a leadoff double in the third inning. He scored two batters later on Chris Taylor’s double to left field that broke a scoreless tie.
Cody Bellinger provided a little breathing room for Kenta Maeda in the fourth by slugging a 416-foot home run to right-center field off Braves rookie starter Lucas Sims. The home run was Bellinger’s 29th this season, which leads the team and is second-most in the National League.
Puig improved to 2-for-2 on the night with a leadoff single in the fifth. After he advanced to second base on Maeda’s sacrifice bunt, Puig stole third base and scored when Tyler Flowers’ throw carried into left field.
Maeda threw seven shutout innings in what was his longest start since he produced the same effort against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. It was the fourth time this season Maeda completed at least seven innings.
While he managed to shut out the Braves, Josh Ravin surrendered a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth. He was replaced by Tony Watson, who made his debut with the Dodgers and retired Freddie Freeman to strand the tying run at third base.
Kenley Jansen, who earlier in the day said he was encouraged by the Dodgers’ acquisitions at the trade deadline, struck out the side to record his 28th save.
