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The Los Angeles Dodgers took a 2-1 lead in their National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday, Oct. 6, winning Game 3 by 3-1 at Truist Park. Yoshinobu Yamamoto allowed one run on four hits over seven innings with a postseason career-high 10 strikeouts, and back-to-back fourth-inning homers by Kiké Hernández and Freddie Freeman off Chris Sale decided it. Los Angeles is one win away from the NLCS.
How did the Dodgers beat Chris Sale?
The game was scoreless through three innings, and both starters had six strikeouts at that point. MLB.com noted it was the first postseason game since Game 1 of the 2015 NLDS, when Clayton Kershaw faced Jacob deGrom, in which both starters reached six strikeouts over three scoreless innings.
The fourth inning changed it. Andy Pages led off with a single and Hernández, batting ninth, hit a two-run homer on a Sale changeup. Two batters later Freeman turned on a 96 mph sinker and drove it over the right-field wall for a 3-0 lead. It was Hernández's 17th career postseason home run and Freeman's 18th, his second in as many games. Freeman was playing his first postseason game in Atlanta since he left the Braves after the 2021 season, and he was booed throughout the night.
Sale finished with five innings, three runs, seven strikeouts and no walks.
Yamamoto's line and the only Braves run
Atlanta's run came in the fifth. Mauricio Dubón and Lane Thomas singled, Rowdy Tellez walked to load the bases with one out and Drake Baldwin scored a run with a groundout. Ronald Acuña Jr. then grounded out to end the threat. Yamamoto retired the last six batters he faced and threw 62 of his 98 pitches for strikes. Tanner Scott pitched the eighth and Edwin Díaz worked a scoreless ninth after allowing a leadoff double, according to ESPN.
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD) | 7 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| Chris Sale (ATL) | 5 | – | 3 | 0 | 7 |
Why is Atlanta's offense struggling?
The Braves have scored seven runs in three games. MLB.com reported that leadoff hitter Baldwin is 3-for-23 (.130) this postseason, Matt Olson is 4-for-23 (.174) and Acuña is 3-for-21 (.143). Acuña was moved to designated hitter about 90 minutes before first pitch because of a sore right knee.
On the Dodgers' side, Shohei Ohtani hit fifth for the first time in this series and went 0-for-2 with a walk. Manager Dave Roberts told reporters the team can still win without Ohtani carrying the offense and expects him to start hitting.
NLDS results so far
| Game | Date | Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oct. 3 | Dodgers 5, Braves 3 | Dodger Stadium |
| 2 | Oct. 4 | Braves 3, Dodgers 2 | Dodger Stadium |
| 3 | Oct. 6 | Dodgers 3, Braves 1 | Truist Park |
When is Game 4?
Game 4 is Wednesday, Oct. 7, at Truist Park with first pitch at 6 p.m. ET. ESPN reported that Tyler Glasnow will start for Los Angeles against Atlanta's Tyler Mahle. If the Braves win, Game 5 would be played in Los Angeles, and ESPN said Tarik Skubal would start it for the Dodgers. Los Angeles has won the last two World Series and is trying to become the first team to win three in a row since the Yankees from 1998 to 2000.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Atlanta Braves
