Braves' offense undaunted by Dodgers as Sale collects 17th win

ATLANTA – In the Braves’ series opener against the Dodgers on Friday night at Truist Park, Atlanta hit a pair of two-run home runs en route to a victory.

In Game 2 on Saturday, Atlanta thumped Los Angeles pitching as Orlando Arcia and Matt Olson each tallied three-run doubles in the Braves’ 10-1 rout of the Dodgers.

After the Mets blew a 4-0 lead in a 6-4 loss to the Phillies on Friday, the Braves and Mets are tied for the third National League Wild Card spot.

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Atlanta has scored 16 runs in 18 innings and the Braves have outscored the Dodgers 16-3 so far in the four-game series.

“When we hit like that we’re capable of a lot, obviously,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “We just kind of get cautiously optimistic that we’re [going to] get on a run because we’re getting a lot from everybody again, which is really good. The bottom third [of the lineup] produced some really good results tonight.”

Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty struggled as he allowed four runs on five hits over three innings in his shortest start since Aug. 15, 2023, when he was with the Orioles.

Flaherty walked four batters in the short outing and eclipsed 70 pitches in the bottom of the third inning. His 72nd pitch resulted in Arcia’s bases-loaded double that split the right-center-field gap.

“I’m super happy, obviously,” Arcia said through interpreter Franco García. “I’m just really happy the way things have been going for the club lately. I think as a team, we go out every day and we go out to enjoy ourselves, but we go out to do the same thing and work hard and try to win every single game. It was nice that we were able to go out there and do that tonight.”

Jorge Soler led off the frame with a double and Marcell Ozuna walked to put two on with no one out. After Olson struck out looking and Sean Murphy reached on a fielder’s choice, Jarred Kelenic walked to load the bases for Arcia.

“[That was] huge in that game,” Snitker said. “There were a lot of good at-bats leading up to it. When you score runs like that off [Flaherty], it’s pretty good.”

Olson’s three-run double was part of a six-run sixth inning that propelled Atlanta to a 10-1 lead. It was Olson’s second RBI double of the game as he went 2-for-5 with four RBIs. His first double, in the bottom of the first, gave the Braves a 1-0 lead.

“[There were] a lot of good at-bats,” Olson said. “We were able to get into the bullpen early for a second night in a row. It’s just a good top-to-bottom win.”

Atlanta scored 10 runs, without the benefit of a home run. The club last won a game in such fashion on Aug. 26, 2022, over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium (11-0). Atlanta was 3-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

“We’re not really playing long ball,” Olson said. “We’re just kind of moving the line with some good situational hitting. [There were] a couple of [sacrifice] flies. It was a good win.”

Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale got plenty of run support en route to his Major League-leading 17th win of the year (17-3). The leading candidate for the NL Cy Young Award allowed one earned run on five hits over six innings with six strikeouts and two walks.

“These last couple of nights were what we expected of ourselves,” Sale said. “Obviously the fans are in it and this has been a great atmosphere. We kind of knew that coming into this one with the Dodgers coming to town and who they have and what this series means. It’s just been a good couple of games for us.”

Los Angeles starting pitchers have combined to go just five innings over the two games after Landon Knack gave up five runs on seven hits over two innings on Friday. The Dodgers used four relievers on Friday and five on Saturday. In order to save bullpen arms, shortstop Miguel Rojas pitched in the seventh and second baseman Kiké Hernández had the eighth.

“That’s always a big thing in a series, especially a four-game series,” Snitker said. “If you can get into the bullpen, it’s big. They still have a deep bullpen and they have a lot of pieces that are really good. Their leverage guys were still down there fresh. It’s good to do that because I hate it when teams do it to us.”