Field Level Media
Aug 31, 2021
Left-hander Julio Urias gave up two runs over six innings and the Los Angeles Dodgers hit four home runs in the first three innings before holding on for a 5-3 victory over the visiting Atlanta Braves on Monday.
Urias (15-3) opened with four perfect innings in the 2020 National League Championship Series rematch, and Max Muncy, Will Smith, Mookie Betts and Corey Seager all went deep in the early going.
The Dodgers had just three home runs in their entire weekend three-game series against the Colorado Rockies, during which they lost twice.
Blake Treinen recorded the final four outs for his fifth save as the Dodgers improved to 18-4 since Aug. 7.
Jorge Soler and Freddie Freeman hit back-to-back home runs and Adam Duvall also went deep for the Braves, who saw their franchise-record, 13-game road winning streak come to an end.
Atlanta lost for the first time away from home since July 28 at New York against the Mets. The Braves swept four consecutive road series before playing the series opener in Los Angeles on Monday.
Stagnant on offense of late with an average of 3.3 runs scored over their past seven contests, the Dodgers unleashed their power game. Muncy got things started in the first inning with his 29th home run of the season.
The Dodgers increased the advantage to 2-0 in the second inning on Smith's homer, his 22nd of the season and his fourth over his past five games.
The power display continued in the third inning with Betts hitting his 18th of the season on his bobblehead night for a 3-0 lead.
Seager followed three batters later with a two-run shot, his seventh long ball of the season, for a 5-0 advantage. It was just the second home run for Seager over his past 19 games (17 starts).
All four Dodgers home runs came off Braves starter Drew Smyly (9-4), who gave up nine hits and five runs over 4 2/3 innings with no walks and five strikeouts.
Soler hit a two-out home run against Urias in the sixth inning, his 21st, and Freeman followed with his 28th. The Braves pulled within 5-3 in the seventh inning when Duvall hit his 29th of the season, taking Phil Bickford deep.
--Field Level Media