The Los Angeles Dodgers squandered several opportunities that cost them in a 4-3 walk-off loss to the Atlanta Braves. That snapped the Dodgers’ two-game winning streak but they still left Truist Park with a series victory.
Tony Gonsolin retired the first 10 batters faced before giving up a towering solo home run to Matt Olson in the bottom of the fourth. After L.A. pulled even on Mookie Betts’ home run, Marcell Ozuna responded with a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Ozuna’s backswing struck Will Smith in the left shoulder, marking a third time in the series his bat has come in contact with the Dodgers’ catcher.
Gonsolin wound up allowing just the three runs over 5.2 innings. He was aided by Shelby Miller stranding an inherited baserunner to end the sixth.
Wednesday marked the first time a Dodgers starting pitcher made it into the sixth inning since Julio Urías completed seven on May 13.
Miller preventing the Braves from adding on their lead eventually was rewarded.
The Dodgers initially struggled to take advantage of several opportunities throughout the night, which included having the leadoff man reach in five of the first eight innings.
They threatened Bryce Elder early by putting two on in each of the first two innings. Elder held them scoreless until Betts’ homer, which was the only run allowed despite never retiring the side in order in any of his six innings.
Elder was aided by a combination of hard-hit balls going right to fielders, and the Braves also turning multiple double plays. One of those was Freddie Freeman hitting a line drive right at Matt Olson, who stepped on first base to easily double up Betts and end the seventh inning.
Smith’s leadoff single against Nick Anderson in the eighth wound up sparking a comeback effort. J.D. Martinez doubled with one out, and Jason Heyward’s RBI groundout got the Dodgers within a run. Miguel Vargas then fouled off four consecutive pitches before dropping a game-tying, RBI ground-rule double into left field.
The Dodgers were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position prior to Vargas’ extra-base hit.
Dodgers walk-off loss
With the Dodgers having used high-leverage relief pitchers the two previous games, they turned to Phil Bickford in the ninth inning.
He allowed a leadoff single to Austin Riley and later faced a scenario with runners at the corners. Rather than issue a second intentional walk to load the bases, the Dodgers had Bickford pitch to Ozzie Albies.
Albies wound up lifting a fly ball to deep right field for a game-winning sacrifice fly.
The Dodgers are 5-5 in one-run games this season.
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