The Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves were locked into a pitcher’s duel for much of the night in a game that went to extra innings before Orlando Arcia gave his club a 4-1 lead.
Emmet Sheehan became the third Dodgers pitching prospect to face the Braves this season, and like Gavin Stone and Bobby Miller earlier this year, the right-hander held his own against a vaunted lineup.
Sheehan worked through some early traffic to keep the game scoreless until Ronald Acuña Jr. continued to make his presence felt with a home run for the third consecutive night. Acuña sent a 94.5 mph fastball from Sheehan on a 3-0 count well over the center field fence.
Acuña’s blast had a 121.2 mph exit velocity, which is the hardest-hit ball this season.
That wound up being the lone run Sheehan allowed as he offset three hits and three walks with six strikeouts. The start was Sheehan’s first for the Dodgers since July 29, and his first overall appearance with the team since a four-inning save on August 3.
Sheehan exited with the game tied thanks to Austin Barnes’ leadoff double helping spark a rally in the bottom of the third. That also extended Barnes’ hitting streak to seven games and came on his bobblehead night giveaway at Dodger Stadium.
Bryce Elder then worked himself into more trouble by walking Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman to load the bases. Elder was aided by Will Smith remaining in a rut that saw him ground into a double play, even if it did tie the game.
The Dodgers loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth inning but Betts was called out on strikes despite Elder’s slider being well out of the zone.
The Dodgers bullpen did their part to keep the game tied while Elder got through six innings for Atlanta before the bullpen continued his success.
The game went to extra innings where Sean Murphy was walked with Matt Olson already on second base. Orlando Arcia then unloaded on a pitch to put the Braves up 4-1. Raised Iglesias closed the game but did allow Betts to score after starting the inning at second base, giving Atlanta a 4-2 victory.
Braves-Dodgers season series
Having won two of three at Truist Park in May, the Dodgers went into the four-game set with a slight leg up in the season series.
However, that’s now changed and regardless of what unfolds in Sunday’s matchup, the Braves hold a potential tiebreaker when it comes to determining the No. 1 seed in the National League postseason bracket.
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