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 Craig Kimbrel induced a double play to get out of a bases-loaded
jam in the ninth inning, and the Braves ended a seven-game losing
streak to the Dodgers with a 3-2 win Wednesday night at Turner
Field.
"You would have thought we won Game 7 (of the World Series)," Braves
manager Fredi Gonzalez said of the reaction by his team on the field
and in the dugout after the escape.
The head-to-head skid against the Dodges dated back to last year's
National League Division Series, and the Braves had lost 11 of their
previous 13 games overall.
Ervin Santana struck out nine in six innings, first baseman Freddie
Freeman went 2-for-3, and the Braves (61-59) finally ended up with
something to celebrate.
Kimbrel walked pinch hitter Andre Ethier to start the ninth, and
second baseman Dee Gordon beat out a bunt. First baseman Adrian
Gonzalez then singled with one out just in front of charging left
fielder Justin Upton to load the bases.
"I had to come up with it or the ball would have gone to the fence,"
Upton said. "Fortunately, I stopped it."
With the Braves still ahead, Kimbrel got his 35th save in 39 chances
when right fielder Matt Kemp hit a grounder to second baseman Phil
Gosselin to start a double play.
"The moment doesn't get away from him," Gonzalez said of Kimbrel.
"He's been in that situation closing big games and he doesn't get
rattled a lot."
Santana (12-6) allowed eight hits and two runs while winning his
fifth consecutive decision. The right-hander walked two as the
Braves remained five games behind the Washington Nationals in the
National League East.
"Santana was very, very good," Gonzalez said.
"It's been tough for a while, but we have to stay positive," Santana
said. "This was a big win for us."
Dodgers starter Hyun-Jin Ryu (13-6) left the game with two outs in
the sixth inning when he strained his right gluteus muscle
delivering a pitch that was ball four to center fielder B.J. Upton.
Ryu, who had been 9-2 on the road and 4-0 with extra rest this
season, gave up six hits and three runs. The left-hander struck out
seven, walked two and hit a batter as his four-game winning streak
ended.
Ryu is listed as day-to-day and will be evaluated further.
"The biggest heartache for us isn't losing the game, but the
potential of him being missed for a little bit of time," catcher
A.J. Ellis said.
Dodgers left fielder Carl Crawford went 2-for-4 with an RBI, making
him 8-for-12 in the series. Gordon and Ellis each added two hits for
Los Angeles.
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The Dodgers (69-53) saw their lead over the San Francisco Giants in the
National League West trimmed to five games.
Santana struck out the side in the first inning, but Dodgers banged out
five hits, including a single by Ryu, to score twice in the second.
Crawford singled in Kemp, who had doubled, and scored on an RBI hit by
shortstop Miguel Rojas.
The Braves got one run back in the bottom of the inning. Catcher Evan
Gattis doubled, was sacrificed to third and scored on a groundout by
shortstop Andrelton Simmons, back in the lineup after missing six games
with a sprained left ankle.
Simmons drove in the tying run in the fourth inning after a walk to left
fielder Justin Upton and a single by third baseman Chris Johnson with a
two-out flare single to the opposite field.
The Braves took the lead in the fifth inning. Left fielder Justin Upton
had a two-out hit to score right fielder Jason Heyward, who had singled
and moved up when Ryu nicked first baseman Freddie Freeman with a pitch.
"We don't take them lightly at all," Ellis said of the Braves. "We've
just been fortunate against them. That's a playoff team."
NOTES: The four-game series concludes with Thursday afternoon. RHP
Roberto Hernandez, acquired from Philadelphia last week, will make his
second start for the Dodgers. He is 6-8 with a 3.83 ERA overall. RHP
Aaron Harang (9-6, 3.31 ERA) will start for the Braves. ... SS Andrelton
Simmons returned to the Braves' lineup Wednesday after missing six games
with a sprained left ankle. ... Braves RF Jason Heyward batted leadoff
for the first time since June 17. ... The Dodgers unconditionally
released veteran INF/OF Chone Figgins, who was designated for assignment
Aug. 6. ... Dodgers minor league LHP Colt Hynes was claimed off waivers
by Toronto. ... RHP Stephen Fife, who had been with the Dodgers'
Triple-A team in Albuquerque, underwent Tommy John elbow surgery. ...
Braves bullpen coach Eddie Perez, born in Venezuela, became an U.S.
citizen Wednesday.
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