ATLANTA -- The weekend in Atlanta went against the Dodgers' plans in just about every way. But in the midst of a tough stretch, they could take some solace in a much-needed encouraging start from Walker Buehler.

With the flurry of injuries to the starting staff, Buehler will almost certainly have a prominent role in the Dodgers¡¯ postseason rotation. The right-hander, who has had a tough season, delivered a positive start on Sunday, allowing two runs (one earned) over six strong innings in a 9-2 win over the Braves at Truist Park.

¡°It was huge,¡± Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. ¡°I believe in who he is. But you do have to get results as a player to build that confidence, that momentum. This was a big step. It really was. I talk about performing and results at this time of the season, and the results were very good.¡±

What began as a pitching duel turned into a rout in the ninth inning, when the Dodgers scored seven runs to break a 2-2 tie. Teoscar Hern¨¢ndez, Tommy Edman and Max Muncy delivered the finishing touches on the outburst with back-to-back-to-back homers. It was the third time this season the Dodgers have hit three consecutive home runs, matching a feat previously accomplished only by the 1982 Brewers.

The night didn¡¯t get off to the best start for Buehler. He walked five, matching a career high and needed 70 pitches to get through three innings. For a while, it looked like another Dodgers starter was headed for a short outing.

But to Buehler¡¯s credit, he limited the damage and settled in nicely over his last three innings of work. What Buehler showed late in his outing Sunday is exactly what the Dodgers will need out of him in October with the injuries to Tyler Glasnow, Clayton Kershaw and Gavin Stone.

¡°Two runs, I don¡¯t feel super great about. But it felt kind of like we minimized it in some way,¡± Buehler said. ¡°Start creating a little bit of momentum after that, and hopefully that momentum helped our team later in the game. I think it¡¯s a big win, kind of however you want to look at it.¡±

Buehler¡¯s strong start bought time for the Dodgers¡¯ offense to strike, and it was three of their Most Valuable Players -- Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman -- who delivered the timely hits when Los Angeles needed them most.

Ohtani, who has struggled with runners in scoring position, was all of the Dodgers¡¯ offense through eight innings, delivering a pair of RBI doubles. In the ninth, after the Braves intentionally walked Ohtani to put runners at the corners with two outs, Betts came through with the go-ahead RBI single. It¡¯s the second time in September that an opposing team has intentionally walked Ohtani, and Betts has delivered with RBI hits both times.

¡°I do think he takes it personal,¡± Roberts said. ¡°It¡¯s not a disrespect thing, but if someone is going to walk someone to get to you, then you have to take it personal. Both times it¡¯s worked out for us.¡±

Freeman kept the scoring going in the ninth with an RBI single of his own, and Betts also came around to score when the ball got past left fielder Jarred Kelenic. That set the stage for the home run barrage that put the game out of reach.

¡°Feels good,¡± Betts said. ¡°But this is just one game. Got to turn the page and get ready for tomorrow. Got a tough task again. But it lets us know we can do it.¡±

Before the game, the Dodgers held a team meeting inside the visiting clubhouse at Truist Park. Roberts wanted to give a speech about Roberto Clemente as Major League Baseball celebrated the icon on Sunday. But as he looked around the room, he realized his entire team was sitting at their lockers. That served as a perfect opportunity to deliver another message.

With the Dodgers having lost four of their previous five and six of their previous nine coming into Sunday, as well as dealing with constant injury news, Roberts wanted to remind his team that they still had plenty of talent inside the room to win a World Series this season. The message resonated, and the Dodgers responded by looking more like the team that is on the verge of winning a 10th National League West title in the past 11 seasons.

¡°We haven¡¯t been playing well for a week or so, a little longer,¡± Betts said. ¡°So any time you break through, it¡¯s a sigh of relief. It¡¯s hard to keep confidence. But I think we¡¯ve done a really good job in really staying confident and knowing that we can do it, keeping the pressure on until we break through.¡±