One night after being the beneficiary of a big inning, Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers were on the opposite end of one in a 6-4 loss to the Atlanta Braves. The teams will now play a rubber match at Truist Park on Sunday.
Guillermo Heredia beat the shift for an infield single in the third inning and the Braves went on to mount a two-out rally. It started with Ronald Acuña Jr. working a walk, which was followed by Freddie Freeman tying the game with an RBI single into center field.
Ozzie Albies’ two-run double gave Atlanta a lead that Dansby Swanson added to by driving in a pair on the Braves’ fourth consecutive hit. The five runs allowed with two outs tied a career high for Kershaw, which he had labored through two prior times.
The Dodgers quickly cut into their 5-1 deficit by stringing together four straight hits in the top of the fourth. Matt Beaty’s was an RBI single but as the Dodgers appeared primed for more, their momentum was slowed by Zach McKinstry grounding into a double play with the bases loaded.
L.A. did muster a third run in the inning on Swanson’s throwing error that allowed Austin Barnes to reach. Barnes came up limping on the play due to rolling his left ankle when stepping on the base but managed to remain in the game.
Kershaw got through six innings without allowing Atlanta to push more runs across, which kept the Dodgers within a swing.
The Dodgers bullpen was unable to hold it there, however, as Blake Treinen surrendered a leadoff home run to pinch-hitter Abraham Almonte in the bottom of the seventh. Treinen had allowed one earned run in his first 21 appearances this season, but Saturday marked a third consecutive game with at least one.
The Dodgers still had their share of opportunities, putting at least one runner on base from the fifth through eighth innings.
Dodgers without Muncy
Max Muncy was not in the lineup Saturday and could be held out for the series finale as well. He came out of Friday’s game due to right ankle pain that Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has since referred to as a mild sprain.
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