Dodgers grind down Chris Sale as Braves’ offensive woes continue in NLDS Game 3 loss
Any one of the Braves’ big hitters could've tied this game with a timely swing. The problem is they didn’t.
The Atlanta Braves fell short in Game 3 of the NLDS to the Los Angeles Dodgers, suffering a 3-1 loss in front of a packed Truist Park. Leading up to the game, Braves fans participated in a promotion in which a fan in a Ronald Acuña Jr. jersey raced against a mascot known as "The Freeze" around the outfield. Despite the fan's impressive run, Acuña ended up face-planting just as The Freeze crossed the finish line.
The Braves entered the series on a split record, but their offensive struggles continued, as they couldn't match the Dodgers' offensive firepower. Starting pitcher Chris Sale, who had a dominant series in the wild-card matchup against Philadelphia, gave up two uncharacteristic home runs to the Dodgers and struggled to put away batters.
Braves manager Walt Weiss admitted that Sale had to work hard to get outs, as the Dodgers capitalized on their chances. Veteran hitter Freddie Freeman drove in three runs, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Dodgers' timely offense. Rookie Kiké Hernandez delivered a key pitch, a 92-mph changeup that scored the go-ahead run. The Braves' offense, which has been a bright spot throughout the season, faltered when it mattered most.
With the series now on the line, the Braves must rally in the remaining games if they hope to avoid an early playoff exit.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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