|
 Turner drove in the go-ahead run with a double into shallow
left-center field to help the Los Angeles Dodgers claim a 5-3 win
over the Atlanta Braves in 10 innings on Wednesday night.
"He hit a ball as good as you can hit a baseball to center field and
in pretty much any other ballpark it would have been a home run,"
Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said. "So to see him get a couple
of hits, that's huge for his confidence."
With runners on first and second, Turner lifted a fly ball off
reliever Jason Grilli into left-center field. Speedy center fielder
Mallex Smith took a step the wrong way, but recovered and nearly
made the catch.
The ball bounced off Smith's glove and scored Chase Utley, who
opened the inning with a walk and stolen base.
"Mallex breaks back on that ball," Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez
said. "I can live with a young guy making a mistakes, but those
mistakes will lose you games."
 The Dodgers tacked on an insurance run on a single by Yasmani
Grandal against Alexi Ogando, who relieved Grilli with the bases
loaded.
The Dodgers improved to 2-1 in extra-inning games. The Braves saw
their four-game winning streak end and dropped to 1-2 in extra
innings.
The winning pitcher was Joe Blanton (1-1), who pitched a scoreless
ninth. Kenley Jansen retired the side in order in the 10th to post
his sixth save. The Dodgers used six relievers to pitch 6 1/3
scoreless innings.
"I can't say enough about those guys (in the bullpen)," Roberts
said. "They just stay together and continue to compete and get guys
out."
Grilli (1-1) suffered his second straight blown save and took the
loss.
Neither starter was involved in the decision.
Los Angeles' Ross Stripling left the game after giving up three runs
(two earned), six hits and two walks in 3 2/3 innings.
Atlanta starter Julio Teheran, who missed his start a because of
illness, pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed two runs and six hits.
"Julio gave us everything he could give us," Gonzalez said. "We had
a chance to win the game, but we didn't score after the fourth
inning."
The Braves scored an unearned run in the third on a two-out single
by catcher A.J. Pierzynski.
Atlanta then chased Stripling with two runs in the fourth.
With runners on second and third and two outs, the Dodgers
intentionally walked Nick Markakis in order to face Daniel Castro.
But the rookie answered with a two-run single up the middle to give
the Braves a 3-0 lead.
[to top of second column] |
The Dodgers got a run back in the fifth when Howie Kendrick singled
to right field and went to third when the ball skipped past Markakis
for a two-base error. He scored when Joc Pederson lined a single up
the middle.
The Dodgers tied the score in the sixth. After Turner singled,
Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez pulled Teheran in favor of
left-handed reliever Eric O'Flaherty. The move didn't work, though,
when first baseman Adrian Gonzalez hit his second homer of the
season, a towering two-run shot to deep center field.
"Adrian does it all the time," Roberts said. "A lot of times you
take him for granted. Left-on-left, a big home run in the sixth and
it kind of gave us life."
Los Angeles had a chance to win it in the seventh when pinch-hitter
Enrique Hernandez walked and reached second after nearly getting
picked off. Hernandez went to third on a wild pitch by reliever
Hunter Cervenka, but Chase Utley and Corey Seager were retired on
flyouts, leaving Hernandez at third.
NOTES: Los Angeles RHP Pedro Baez was not available for the game
after being hit by a thrown ball in the back of the head. Baez was
examined by team doctors and will be checked again on Thursday
morning. He was struck by an errant throw by Adam Liberatore. ...
Atlanta scratched 3B Adonis Garcia from the lineup at the last
minute because of a left knee contusion. He was replaced in the
field by Daniel Castro and in the cleanup spot by C A.J. Pierzynski.
... Atlanta sent RHP Williams Perez to Triple-A Gwinnett and
recalled RHP Casey Kelly. Perez broke camp as the No. 4 starter and
made three starts, receiving no decision each time, and a 5.11 ERA
in 12 1/3 innings. Kelly was acquired from San Diego in an offseason
trade. He was 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in two starts for the Gwinnett
Braves. ... The final game of the three-game series features Los
Angeles LHP Clayton Kershaw (2-0, 1.64 ERA) against Atlanta RHP Matt
Wisler (0-1, 4.61).
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
