Mookie Betts drove in the go-ahead run with a single to ignite a seven-run top of the ninth that also featured three consecutive homers as the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied for a 9-2 win over the host Atlanta Braves on Sunday night.
Atlanta (81-68) remained tied with the New York Mets for the final wild-card spot in the National League. Los Angeles (88-61) improved to 4-2 against the Braves this season.
The ninth-inning uprising started against Atlanta closer Raisel Iglesias (5-2), who had not allowed an earned run over his previous 30 appearances.
Will Smith started the outburst with a one-out triple. After Andy Pages was retired on a comebacker, the Braves intentionally walked Shohei Ohtani, who already had two doubles. Betts followed with his RBI single to give the Dodgers their first lead of the night at 3-2.
Freddie Freeman’s run-scoring single then went under the glove of left fielder Jarred Kelenic, allowing another run to score on the play to make it 5-2. The Dodgers followed with homers from Teoscar Hernandez, Tommy Edman and Max Muncy to complete the scoring.
Hernandez’s blast was a two-run homer, while Edman and Muncy had solo shots.
Atlanta starter Charlie Morton pitched six innings and allowed one run on three hits, with two walks and six strikeouts.
Dodgers starter Walker Buehler pitched six innings as well, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits. He recorded five walks and five strikeouts and settled in after a rocky start to allow just one baserunner over his final three frames.
Michael Kopech (6-8) got the win after pitching a scoreless eighth inning.
The Braves pushed across two runs in the third inning thanks to three walks, catcher interference and an infield single. Matt Olson drew a bases-loaded walk to drive in the first run, and Travis d’Arnaud beat out a grounder to second base to bring home the other.
The Dodgers got a run back in the fifth inning. Muncy singled and came around to score on Ohtani’s double.
Los Angeles tied the game at 2 in the seventh thanks to another run-scoring double from Ohtani.
–Field Level Media
