ATLANTA (AP) — Chris Taylor had three hits, including the go-ahead double in the 11th inning to give the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 5-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday evening.
The Dodgers, who scored two runs in the ninth to force extra into extra time, won two of the three games in the weekend series between the last two World Series champions.
Taylor’s double on Darren O’Day (1-2) glanced at third baseman Austin Riley’s gauntlet as Cody Bellinger scored from third base. Trea Turner filled the lead with a runscoring single to midfield.
Brusdar Graterol threw a scoreless 11th for his first career save.
Atlanta’s Kenley Jansen and the evaders Craig Kimbrel (1-3) each had saves against their former teams. Jansen gave up two runs in the ninth to blow up a 2-0 lead, and Kimbrel gave up the tying single to Matt Olson to take the lead in 10th.
Olson’s single to rightfield batted in Travis d’Arnaud, who led off the inning at second base.
Freddie Freeman‘s double down the rightfield line to lead from the 10th gave the Dodgers a 3-2 lead.
Freeman concluded his emotional return to Atlanta on a high. With Turner leading off the 10th at second base, Freeman’s double off Will Smith led to the go-ahead run. It was the second goal of the game for Freeman, who also struckout two batters.
Trayce Thompson‘s two-run single off Jansen in the ninth added extras.
Jansen’s fourth blown save in 24 chances wasted a strong start by Braves rookie Spencer Strider, who gave up only five hits in six scoreless innings to defeat Tony Gonsolin.
Jansen struckout two batters to remove one out from his second save in as many nights. He gave up singles to Gavin Lux and Taylor before Thompson’s two-run single to right field went just over the reach of Braves first baseman Olson.
Michael Harris II made a diving catch of Turner’s sinking midfield liner to finish ninth. He made another unlikely catch in the 11th, taking a drive from Lux to right field.
The hardthrowing Strider struckout seven without a walk in the longest start of his rookie season.
Gonsolin was denied in his bid to become the majors’ first 10-game winner. The righthander gave up one run on five hits in 5 2/3 innings.
TRAINERS ROOM
Dodgers: RF Zach McKinstry (neck stiffness) was removed from the original grid. Thompson joined the lineup… LHP Caleb Ferguson (left forearm tendonitis) pitched two simulated innings for batting practice. Manager Dave Roberts said Ferguson is expected to throw again on Wednesday. … Roberts said IF Mookie Betts (right rib fracture) had been cleared to leave the team and attend a wedding and will not be joining the team for the next three games in Colorado. Betts, who was placed on the injured list on June 19, has not been released from baseball activities.
Braves: Ronald Acuna Jr. was unable to put pressure on his left foot after a foul on a ball of his foot in Saturday night’s game. Tests revealed no fractures and manager Brian Snitker said the injury was just a bruise. … Snitker said LHP Tyler Matzek (left shoulder inflammation) “needs a few games, I think” in his minor league rehab at low grade A Augusta, which begins this week.
NEXT ONE
Dodgers: LHP Tyler Anderson (8-0, 3.00) takes on RHP Chad Kuhl (4-5, 3.95) as the Dodgers continue their nine-game road trip in Colorado Monday night. Anderson and Tuesday night’s starter, LHP Clayton Kershaw, left Atlanta for Sunday night’s game to rest and adjust to Colorado’s elevation.
Braves: After an off-day Monday, the Braves open a three-game series in Philadelphia on Tuesday night when RHP Charlie Morton (4-3, 4.84) takes on RHP Zack Wheeler (6-4, 2.77).
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