CHRIS Taylor came off the bench to get three hits, including the go-ahead RBI double in the 11th inning, to help the Los Angeles Dodgers rally late and beat the Atlanta Braves 5-3 on Sunday.
Taylor doubled in a run with one out in the 11th and scored on Trea Turner’s single to center field to spark a two-run rally against reliever Darren O’Day (1-2).
The winning pitcher was Craig Kimbrel (1-3). Brusdar Graterol earned his first save.
Los Angeles won two of the three games in the weekend series and won the season series 4-2.
The Dodgers took the lead in the top of the 10th when Freddie Freeman led off with an RBI double against Will Smith, but the Braves answered with a run in the bottom half on Matt Olson’s leadoff RBI single against Kimbrel.
The Dodgers forced extra innings when they erased a 2-0 deficit in the ninth inning by scoring twice against Atlanta closer Kenley Jansen, who suffered his fourth blown save. After the former Los Angeles reliever struck out the first two batters, the Dodgers put together consecutive singles from Gavin Lux and Taylor, who both scored when Trayce Thompson singled to right on a ball deflected by Olson, the first baseman. A diving catch by Michael Harris II on Turner’s liner to center field prevented further damage.
The Braves broke the scoreless tie in the sixth inning. Travis d’Arnaud led off with a double, went to third on Austin Riley’s grounder and scored on Marcell Ozuna’s two-out single to center.
Atlanta added a run in the seventh inning against Alex Vesia when Riley hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly that scored Harris, who had stolen third base.
Both starters pitched well, but neither received a decision. — Reuters
