The Dodgers (24-16) dropped their second straight game with a score of 7-2 to the Braves (28-13) on Sunday afternoon at Dodger Stadium. Justin Wrobleski was one out away from a complete game, but the offense didn’t come through. They collected only seven runs in the series loss to the MLB-best Braves.
Andy Pages picked up his third base hit of the series with a two-out single against Bryce Elder in the bottom of the first. Kyle Tucker drew a walk to give the Dodgers two on and two out. Elder struck out Max Muncy to strand both runners.
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The Braves struck first again, putting up a crooked number in the second inning to take a 4-0 lead. Wrobleski struggled in the fourth inning against the Braves, allowing a four-run rally that included a costly throwing mistake on a potential inning-ending double play ball.
Austin Riley’s base hit and Michael Harris II’s bunt single gave the Braves runners at first and second with one out for Eli White. White’s RBI single to center field gave the Braves the lead first, and they never relinquished it thereafter.
Mauricio Dubón doubled in two runs after a Sean Murphy force out and Jorge Mateo walk.
For the seventh time in the last 13 innings, the Dodgers went down in order again, this time versus Elder in the bottom of the fifth.
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After the disaster of a second inning, Wrobleski settled in well. He struck out Matt Olson three times and kept the Braves potent offense to just four hits to that point.
The Dodgers looked to take advantage of Elder’s fading command. Back-to-back free passes from Elder in the bottom of the sixth kept the door ajar for the Dodgers. A fatiguing Elder walked Tucker to load the bases for Muncy.
Walt Weiss went to his bullpen to counter Muncy’s power at the plate with reliever and former Friar Robert Suarez.
Muncy crushed a 3-2 Suarez four-seamer to right field, but Eli White crashed into the wall face first and somehow held on to the scorched ball to end the inning and potentially save the game for Atlanta.
The Dodgers managed to get another two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh. This time they had two outs to work with and runners aboard. Suarez walked Alex Call, and Hyeseong Kim reached on catcher’s interference. Sean Murphy’s glove got in the way, and the Dodgers got their way. Dave Roberts got Shohei Ohtani to the plate with two runners on and two outs.
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Ohtani grounded out to first base, his slump persisting. The Braves held Ohtani to just two hits in the series.
Max Muncy and Drake Baldwin both hit their 10th home run of the season in the eighth inning.
Drake Baldwin made it 5-0 Atlanta with a solo home run against Wrobleski in the eighth.
Muncy got a second shot at the Atlanta bullpen with a base runner on in the bottom of the eighth, and he didn’t miss this time. He clobbered the first pitch he saw from Tyler Kinney for a 420-foot two-run home run halfway up the Right Field Pavilion.
Wrobo was back out for the ninth, but Olson took advantage and sent a leadoff solo shot to right-center to make it 6-2. He was one out away from completing the game, but he beaned Mike Yastrzemski. Dave Roberts brought in Wyatt Mills for the final out in his first major-league appearance since 2022.
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The Braves cashed in the hit-by-pitch and added another insurance run. Mills allowed hits to Dominic Smith and Mateo to make it 7-2.
The Dodgers now turn to the Giants for a four-game series.
Sunday particulars
Home runs: Drake Baldwin (10), Max Muncy (10), Matt Olson (14)
WP — Bryce Elder (4-1): 5 2/3 IP, 1 hit, no runs, 4 walks, 8 strikeouts (83)
LP — Justin Wrobleski (5-1): 8 2/3 IP, 7 hits, 7 runs, 7 strikeouts, 1 walk (100)
Up next
The Dodgers open a four-game series against the San Francisco Giants Monday night at Dodger Stadium (7:10 p.m., SportsNet LA). Roki Sasaki (1-3, 5.97 ERA, 1.67 WHIP) faces the Giants for the first time in his career. Trevor McDonald (1-0, 1.29 ERA, 7 IP). starts for San Francisco.
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