Time will tell if this weekend’s series is a postseason preview.
But Friday night certainly had the feel of a playoff game.
On one side, the two-time defendingWorld Series champion Dodgers. On the other, ared-hot Atlanta Braves squadthat arrived in Los Angeles tied for the most early-season wins in the majors.
Both teams possess high-powered offenses, with the Braves leading baseball in runs scored and the Dodgers topping all clubs in OPS.
Both teams have talented pitching staffs, the Dodgers ranking second in ERA and the Braves led by formerCy Young winner Chris Sale.
On Friday, both turned one spectacular defensive play after another on top of all that.
But in the end, the Dodgers did what they usually do in high-profile matchups, grinding out a 3-1 win to take the opening contest in this three-game set.
This one was decided on the margins, ultimately coming down to one costly mistake and one big swing.
With the score tied 1-1 in the fifth inning, Braves rookie shortstop Jim Jarvis –– fresh off a stunning diving catch in the bottom of the fourth and his first career hit in the top of the fifth –– airmailed a throw into the dugout that put Miguel Rojas on second base. Three batters later, Shohei Ohtani snuck a two-out ground-ball through the infield for a go-ahead RBI single.
In the sixth, the Dodgers would stretch their advantage, when Freddie Freeman capitalized on a rare misfire from the 37-year-old Sale. In a 0-1 count, the left-hander left a fastball over the heart of the plate. With his biggest swing in weeks, Freeman clobbered it to center for his first home run since April 6.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
