Mookie Betts hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth inning, Dustin May went five strong innings in his return to the major leagues and the Los Angeles Dodgers increased their season-opening win streak to seven games with a 3-1 victory over the visiting Atlanta Braves on Tuesday.
Will Smith added an RBI single for the Dodgers, who played without Freddie Freeman (ankle) for the fourth time in seven games. The club set a Los Angeles-era record for most consecutive victories to start a season.
May made his first appearance since May 17, 2023, having recovered from an elbow surgery and a life-threatening esophagus tear. He gave up an unearned run on one hit while walking three and striking out six. May ended up with a no-decision as Anthony Banda (2-0) pitched the sixth inning to get the win. Tanner Scott pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his second save.
Braves left-hander Chris Sale (0-1) was charged with three runs on four hits over five-plus innings with no walks and five strikeouts. Sale remained winless in two starts after winning the National League Cy Young Award last season.
Atlanta dropped to 0-6 to open the season, its worst start since going 0-9 to start the 2016 schedule.
The Braves took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a throwing error by Betts at shortstop. With Marcell Ozuna on second base and Drake Baldwin on first, Bryan De La Cruz hit an apparent double-play grounder, but Betts juggled the ball on the turn and launched it toward right field, allowing Ozuna to score.
Sale cruised through five scoreless innings, allowing one hit. Shohei Ohtani opened the bottom of the sixth with a single to right field, and Betts hit a 1-1 Sale slider just over the wall in left field for a 2-1 lead.
After Tommy Edman followed Betts’ home run with a single, Sale was replaced by Pierce Johnson. Edman stole second base and went to third on a throwing error by catcher Baldwin. Smith brought the runner home with a single to center.
The Braves’ offense continued to sputter, as it has managed just two combined runs over the past four games after they scored seven total runs in the first two contests at San Diego. Atlanta has one more game at Los Angeles on Wednesday before playing its home opener Friday against the Miami Marlins.
–Field Level Media
