ATLANTA -- Though it included a portion of an eight-game winning streak, this hasn’t been a fun month for the Braves. But the results of the past few weeks and months will be trumped by what transpires during a season-ending 31-game stretch that began with a 4-3 win over the Dodgers on Tuesday night at Truist Park.
Ozzie Albies' two-out single off Tanner Scott in the eighth provided the Braves a much-needed win. Matt Olson’s leadoff double in the eighth put him in position to score on Albies’ single to center.
Braves starter Bryce Elder surrendered eight hits (all singles) and three runs over six innings. Closer Raisel Iglesias escaped unscathed after allowing Shohei Ohtani’s leadoff triple in the ninth.
The Braves entered this series opener having averaged 2.9 runs per game while losing 10 of their past 16. So, it was encouraging to see them tally three first-inning runs against Tyler Glasnow, who was making his first start since his back became an issue on May 5. Drake Baldwin, Olson, Mauricio Dubón and Michael Harris II all singled before Glasnow recorded his second out.
Glasnow was actually fortunate that home-plate umpire Edwin Jimenez ruled that Mike Yastrzemski fouled a 3-1 pitch in the first. Replays showed the pitch clearly missed Yastrzemski’s bat. But Jimenez’s ruling remained, preventing Harris from scoring an additional run in the first.
With the win, the Braves stayed at least 3 1/2 games in front of the second-place Phillies in the National League East race. They also pulled within three games of the Dodgers in the battle to secure the NL’s second-best record and avoid having to play in the Wild Card round.
After finishing this three-game series against the Dodgers, the Braves will play their next six games against teams (Rockies, Giants and Nationals) not in playoff contention. But the following 13 games will be played against the Phillies (seven games), Rays (three) and Cubs (three), who are all in good position to reach the playoffs.