*Photo from TheScore*
Atlanta leads series 1-0
The NLCS, entering game one, was a matchup of two teams undefeated in the postseason, which were the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Now, Atlanta stands alone. Max Fried dominated, Austin Riley homered, and the Braves topped the Dodgers by a 5-1 score in the first game with fans in the stands since March, thanks to a 4 run 9th inning. The Braves are now the only undefeated team left in the postseason.
The Braves wasted no time getting the scoring started, as Freddie Freeman launched a solo homer to right field in the first inning, making it 1-0 Braves. It remained that way until the 5th inning, when Kike Hernandez tied the game for the Dodgers with a solo homer to left, tying it at 1-1. It stayed like that until the 9th, when Riley mashed a solo homer to center field, making it 2-1 Braves. Marcell Ozuna followed that up with an RBI single, and Ozzie Albies hit a two run homer, making it 5-1 Braves.
Will Smith got the win in relief for the Braves, throwing a perfect 8th inning, striking out one. Fried got the start for Atlanta, throwing 6 innings of one run ball, allowing 4 hits and two walks, striking out 9 hitters in a no decision. Chris Martin came in for the 7th, and threw a scoreless inning. After Smith pitched the 8th, Mark Melancon shut the Dodgers down in the 9th for the save.
Braves manager Brian Snitker addressed the grind of a win the Braves had, saying that "It's what these guys do. I've said we're like an NBA game, you don't want to leave because a lot of things don't happen until the last third, they've been like that for a few years now, these guys never quit, they keep grinding at-bats and doing their thing, and it's a pretty neat trait for a ballclub to have."
Riley described his first postseason homer, saying that "I didn't feel my legs when I was running around the bases, so it was a good feeling." Freeman talked about Riley as well, saying that "That's a pretty good 9-hole hitter we've got, we believe in every single guy and Austin was the guy tonight."
Blake Treinen got the loss for the Dodgers, getting just one out in his relief appearance, allowing 3 runs on 3 hits. Walker Buehler got the start for the Dodgers, throwing 5 innings. Buehler allowed one run on 3 hits and 5 walks, striking out 7 hitters in a no decision. Brusdar Graterol, Dustin May, Victor Gonzalez, and Jake McGee also pitched for the Dodgers.
Buehler has started 3 games in the playoffs, and pitched past the 4th inning for the first time in this start, having trouble with length in his starts, dealing with blister issues and a career high in walks. Buehler said that "I feel like I've been decently successful, I don't want to walk guys. We're trying to keep runs off the board. I can go deeper. I can be better."
The series continues Tuesday, where Ian Anderson starts for the Braves against Tony Gonsolin of the Dodgers.
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