Dodgers drop Game 2 to Atlanta Braves; NLDS now tied 1-1

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PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Can the Dodgers 3-peat?

Jack Harris, who covers the Los Angeles Dodgers for the California Post, previews what the Boys in Blue will need to do to complete a possible World Series three-peat.

Michael Harris II tripled and scored the go-ahead run on reliever Kris Bubic’s wild pitch in the fifth inning, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 on Sunday night to even the National League Division Series at a game apiece.

Harris’ RBI double to right against reliever Edgardo Henriquez added an insurance run with two outs in the seventh in what turned into a bullpen game for both teams when the Braves chased Dodgers starter Blake Snell after 3 2/3 innings.

Harris also singled in the third, coming up a home run short of hitting for the cycle.

Max Muncy’s two-strike, two-out homer off Didier Fuentes pulled the Dodgers to 3-2 in the ninth. Braves closer Raisel Igelsias earned his second save after getting pinch-hitter Josue De Paula to foul out to third to end the game.

Runs were hard to come by after the teams combined for five homers in the Dodgers’ 5-3 victory in Game 1.

After Mookie Betts walked and Shohei Ohtani singled to open the fifth, Atlanta’s bullpen retired the next 14 consecutive Dodgers’ hitters.

Los Angeles stranded seven runners on base over the first five innings. Ohtani, the four-time MVP, wasn’t a factor for the second straight game, going 1 for 4 with two strikeouts.

The Braves retook the lead, 2-1, on Bubic’s wild pitch after Harris’ two-out triple.

Freddie Freeman tied it at 1 on a two-strike solo shot off Braves reliever Grant Holmes in the fourth while facing his former team for the first time in the postseason.

Snell struggled throughout, never finding a rhythm. The two-time Cy Young Award winner threw 90 pitches and only 47 for strikes. He gave up one run and three hits, walked five and struck out five.

Snell needed 27 pitches to get through the first, when he had only three more strikes thrown than balls.

The Braves led 1-0 on Mauricio Dubón’s bases-loaded, two-strike single to shortstop with two outs in the first. Betts made a diving stop, but his throw to first was too late, allowing Ronald Acuña Jr. to score after singling and stealing second.

Ray Kerr started the game for the Braves, who elected to give Chris Sale extra rest ahead of his start in Game 3.

Roki Sasaki, the Dodgers’ sixth reliever, loaded the bases in the eighth on a walk, hit by pitch and an intentional walk with one out. Acuña hit into an inning-ending double play.

What's next:

After a travel day, Braves LHP Chris Sale starts Game 3 on Tuesday in Atlanta against Dodgers RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

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