ATLANTA -- After three scoreless innings of tight pitching at Truist Park, the Dodgers broke NLDS Game 3 open with a pair of fourth-inning home runs against Braves ace Chris Sale.
The two-homer frame marks only the second time in Chris Sale’s postseason career that he has allowed multiple home runs in a single start. It happened previously on April 1, 2023, when Sale was with the Red Sox.
Kiké Hernández provided the initial spark, crushing a 406-foot two-run shot to left field to break the scoreless tie and put Los Angeles on the board. Just two batters later, Freddie Freeman delivered a dose of sweet-swinging revenge. After having a potential home run robbed by left fielder Mauricio Dubón in the third inning, Freeman made sure there was no doubt on his next trip to the plate, launching a solo shot deep into right-center field to extend the lead to 3-0.
The Dodgers held on to win, 3-1, and take a 2-1 series lead.
The pair of big flies extended a historic postseason trend for Los Angeles: All 10 of the Dodgers' runs scored so far this postseason have come via the home run, marking the longest streak to start a postseason in MLB history.
Both home runs also provided individual milestones in the October record books.
For Hernández, the blast marked his first home run of the 2026 postseason and the 17th of his career, continuing his reputation as a clutch playoff hitter -- "October Kiké," if you will. He went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts.
“Experience helps a lot," Hernández said postgame on FOX. "Coming through in big moments helps a lot. Understanding that you can do it in the bigger moments. This is what I grew up dreaming about, playing October baseball. ... I’ve been lucky enough to play for two organizations that have put me there, and given me opportunities, and I’ve made the best of them.”
Freeman’s solo shot was his second of the 2026 postseason and the 18th of his playoff career, tying him with seven others for 10th on the all-time postseason home run list, including teammate Max Muncy, who got there in Game 2 of the NLDS. Freeman went 1-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout.
"It’s an extremely hard at-bat for a lefty," Freeman said of facing Sale on FOX. "I always say, against him, you’ve got to be prepared to die. Really, that’s the mindset. If you pull off of him, you have no chance. He’s throwing behind you and if he hits you in the ear, you’ve got to be ok with it. That’s my mentality, and thankfully I was able to get a good swing on some balls tonight.”