Dodgers Beat Braves 3-1 to Take 2-1 Lead in NLDS Series

The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 3-1 in Game 3 of the National League Division Series, taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series. The screenshot shows the series tied 1-1 before this game.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto was the story on the mound. He pitched seven innings, allowed four hits and one run, struck out 10, and walked one in 98 pitches, earning the win. Tanner Scott pitched a scoreless eighth with two strikeouts, and Edwin Díaz closed the game for the save despite allowing a hit in the ninth.

The Dodgers did their damage in the fourth inning, scoring all three of their runs with two swings. Enrique Hernández drove in two runs with a home run, and Freddie Freeman added a solo home run. Both homers came off Braves starter Chris Sale, who lasted five innings and gave up seven hits, three runs, and two home runs while striking out seven. He took the loss. Andy Pages and Mookie Betts each had two hits for Los Angeles, which outhit Atlanta 8-5.

Atlanta's only run came in the fifth, when Drake Baldwin drove in Mauricio Dubón. After that, the Braves' offense went quiet. They went hitless in six at-bats with runners in scoring position and committed two errors, though they stayed within reach until the final out. Shohei Ohtani went hitless in four at-bats but drew a walk.

The Braves' bullpen did its job, with Dylan Dodd, Brent Suter, Dylan Lee, and Raisel Iglesias combining to shut out the Dodgers over the last four innings. It wasn't enough to make up the early deficit.

The win leaves Atlanta facing elimination pressure. The Braves need to win Game 4 to force a deciding fifth game, while the Dodgers can close out the series with another win. According to the schedule, Game 4 is next in Atlanta, with the Dodgers a slight favorite, and a possible Game 5 would be back in Los Angeles.