Dodgers lose Game 2 to Braves 2-3, NL division series tied 1-1
In short
The Dodgers lost 2-3 to the Atlanta Braves in Game 2 of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium, leaving the best-of-five series tied at 1-1. Shohei Ohtani started as the No. 2 designated hitter and went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts, while Roki Sasaki pitched two scoreless innings in relief and Nippon TV News reported his fastest pitch at 164 km/h. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is scheduled to start Game 3 in Atlanta.
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The Dodgers lost 2-3 to the Braves at Dodger Stadium in Game 2 of the National League Division Series on October 4 local time, leaving the best-of-five series tied at 1-1. The first team to three wins advances to the League Championship Series. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is scheduled to start Game 3 for the Dodgers in Atlanta, with Yomiuri reporting first pitch at 7 a.m. Japan time on October 7. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Shohei Ohtani started as the No. 2 designated hitter and went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts. He struck out swinging in the first inning, flew out to short in the third with runners on base, singled to left in the fifth, and struck out swinging again in the seventh. Yomiuri, TBS NEWS DIG and Nippon TV News reported the fifth-inning hit was his second in as many postseason games. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 ]
Roki Sasaki entered as the Dodgers' seventh pitcher and threw two scoreless innings. In the eighth he escaped a bases-loaded jam through a walk, a hit-by-pitch, a sacrifice bunt, an intentional walk and a double play, and he retired the side in order in the ninth, according to Yomiuri and Asahi. Nippon TV News reported his fastest pitch was 164 km/h; TBS NEWS DIG said he recorded his personal fastest pitch in the major leagues without giving a figure. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 7 ]
The Braves took the lead in the first inning on a run-scoring infield single. Freddie Freeman tied the game in the fourth with a solo home run to right, which Yomiuri said was his 17th career postseason home run. A wild pitch in the fifth put the Braves back ahead and an RBI hit in the seventh made it 3-1. Max Muncy hit a solo home run in the ninth to cut the deficit to 3-2, but the Dodgers could not level the score. Yomiuri reported Dodgers starter Snell went 3.2 innings, throwing 90 pitches with three hits, five strikeouts, five walks and one run allowed. [ 1 , 2 ]
The Dodgers won Game 1 by 5-3 the previous day. Asahi said Ohtani also went 1-for-4 in that game. [ 1 ]
Asahi reported the Dodgers are seeking a third consecutive World Series title, which would make them the third team in history to achieve it. Ohtani began the season as a two-way player but has not pitched since July and, Asahi said, has given up on returning as a pitcher this season; he went on the 15-day injured list in early September with inflammation in his right upper arm and returned on September 23. [ 1 ]
In the other National League division series game, the Brewers beat Yuki Matsui's Padres 4-3 with a walk-off win to take a 2-0 lead, Asahi reported. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The series is level at 1-1, so the next game in Atlanta decides who takes control of a best-of-five round. Japanese outlets followed the game closely because of Ohtani and Sasaki, and Asahi noted the Dodgers are chasing a third consecutive World Series title that would make them the third team in history to do so.
Key facts
- The Dodgers lost 2-3 to the Braves in Game 2 of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium, leaving the series tied at 1-1. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Shohei Ohtani started as the No. 2 designated hitter and went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 ]
- Roki Sasaki pitched two scoreless innings in relief as the Dodgers' seventh pitcher. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 7 ]
- Nippon TV News reported Sasaki's fastest pitch at 164 km/h, while TBS NEWS DIG said he set his personal fastest speed in MLB without giving a figure. [ 3 , 7 ]
- Freddie Freeman hit a game-tying solo home run in the fourth inning and Max Muncy hit a solo home run in the ninth. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto is scheduled to start Game 3 in Atlanta, with Yomiuri reporting a 7 a.m. Japan time start on October 7. [ 1 , 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Dodgers lost 2-3 to the Braves in Game 2 of the National League Division Series, tying the series at 1-1. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Shohei Ohtani started as the No. 2 designated hitter and went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 ]
- Roki Sasaki pitched in relief and allowed no runs over two innings. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 7 ]
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto is scheduled to start Game 3 in Atlanta. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- The exact speed of Roki Sasaki's fastest pitch. Nippon TV News gives 164 km/h, while TBS NEWS DIG says only that he recorded his personal fastest pitch in MLB; the figure rests on one document.
- Shohei Ohtani's pitching status for the rest of this season. Only Asahi states that he gave up returning as a pitcher this season after not pitching since July; no other document addresses it.