Did you know? NLDS Game 1: LA 6, ATL 1
A look at some notable facts and figures from the Los Angeles Dodgers' 6-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves in Game 1 of the National League Division Series at Turner Field on Thursday.
• The Dodgers have won seven consecutive games in the NLDS dating back to 2008. Los Angeles swept Chicago in 2008 and St. Louis in '09. The Dodgers are 11-14 all-time in the NLDS (3-4 series record) and 57-61 in the postseason since moving to Los Angeles in 1958.
• Atlanta is 12-17 in series openers in October, including 6-7 in Game 1 of the NLDS. The Braves have come back to win just one NLDS in seven tries after losing Game 1.
• Los Angeles starter Clayton Kershaw struck out 12 over seven innings in Game 1, the most strikeouts by a Dodgers pitcher in the postseason since Sandy Koufax fanned 15 in Game 1 of the 1963 World Series. Kershaw has 16 career strikeouts in the NLDS, the most in franchise history.
• Braves starter Kris Medlen was charged with five runs on nine hits in four innings in Game 1. Medlen had not allowed at least five runs at Turner Field since last year's Wild Card loss to the Cardinals.
• The Dodgers scored four of their six runs with two outs in Game 1.
• Braves outfielder Jason Heyward was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts against Kershaw in Game 1. In his career against the left-hander, Heyward is 0-for-7 with six strikeouts.
• Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez recorded his first extra-base hit in five career postseason games with a two-run homer in the third inning of Game 1.
• Atlanta hitters struck out 15 times in Game 1. The Braves struck out 1,384 times in the regular season, the most in the NL and third most in the Majors. Rookie Evan Gattis was the only Atlanta starter who did not strike out in Game 1.
• The Dodgers are 15-1 this year when scoring at least four runs in games started by Kershaw. They are 26-1 over the last three years when Kershaw has a four-run lead.
• Medlen struck out the side in the first inning, while Kershaw struck out the side in the fifth and the seventh.
• Kershaw earned his first postseason win and recorded nine of his final 10 outs via strikeout, including six consecutive strikeouts at one point.
• The Braves and Dodgers had met only once before in the postseason, a three-game sweep by Atlanta in the 1996 NLDS.