The Los Angeles Dodgers dropped Game 2 of the National League Division Series 3-2 to the Atlanta Braves on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium, leveling the best-of-five series at one game apiece. Despite holding multiple advantages entering the game, the Dodgers struggled both offensively and on the mound, allowing Atlanta to even the postseason contest.
Atlanta’s Michael Harris II scored the go-ahead run in the fifth inning under unusual circumstances. Harris reached third base on a line-drive triple that Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernández misplayed, taking a poor angle to the ball. He then scored standing up on a wild pitch from left-hander Kris Bubic, who lost control of a sweeping pitch that slipped past catcher Will Smith. The Braves regained control of the game at that moment.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had highlighted the opportunity his team had to exploit the Braves’ fatigued pitching staff, which had been heavily used in their prior wild-card series. Atlanta opened with left-hander Ray Kerr, who has served as a long reliever throughout the postseason. Kerr, pitching in a bullpen game for the third time this post-season, held the Dodgers to just two hits, both singles to start innings. Freddie Freeman singled in the second inning, and Miguel Rojas doubled to open the third, but the Dodgers failed to capitalize on either baserunner.
The rally in the third inning fizzled after Tommy Edman popped up a bunt attempt and Mookie Betts drew a walk. Shohei Ohtani then grounded out on a high pitch with runners on base, preventing the Dodgers from building momentum or forcing Kerr out early.
On the mound, Dodgers starter Blake Snell faced early difficulties but limited damage in the first inning despite loading the bases with one out. A run scored on a ground ball from Mauricio Dubón, but Snell escaped further trouble by striking out the next batter. However, he saw his pitch count rise rapidly, reaching 90 by the fourth inning after issuing his fifth walk. Roberts removed Snell at that point, ending his outing after just over three innings.
Freeman briefly tied the game with a home run in the bottom of the fourth, marking a hopeful moment as he sought to overcome a recent slump. But the Braves reclaimed the lead in the fifth on Harris’s triple and subsequent wild pitch. They extended their advantage in the seventh inning against reliever Edgardo Henriquez, who allowed a single to Matt Olson and an RBI double to Harris.
In the eighth, Dodgers right-hander Roki Sasaki escaped a bases-loaded jam by inducing a double play with Ronald Acuña Jr. at the plate. Sasaki then retired the side in order in the ninth. The Dodgers’ offense failed to mount a significant threat late in the game, with Max Muncy’s solo home run in the ninth being the only run after the fifth inning. Rookie Josue De Paula made his postseason debut as a pinch hitter with two outs in the ninth but popped up to end the game.
The series now shifts to Atlanta for Games 3 and 4. The Braves plan to start left-hander Chris Sale, an All-Star, while the Dodgers will counter with right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto.