LOS ANGELES (News4usonline) – The Los Angeles Dodgers used the long ball to top the National League East leader Atlanta Braves in the first of a three-game series. The Dodgers used four home runs to help account for all five of their runs in a 5-3 win at Dodger Stadium.
On Mookie Betts Bobblehead night, first baseman Max Muncy kicked things off with a solo shot in the bottom of the first inning to give the Dodgers an immediate 1-0 lead. Will Smith then connected for his 22nd home run of the season with a blast in the second inning to advance the Dodgers’ lead to 2-0.
Betts, the man of the hour, decided to join in on the home run hit parade in the third inning. Betts teed off on Braves pitcher Drew Smyly for his 18th home run of the season, sending the Dodger Stadium crowd into a frenzy. Corey Seager followed up Betts’ home run by going yard himself in the third inning.
Three innings in, the Dodgers held a commanding 5-0 lead with pitcher Julio Urias on the mound. For the first five innings, Urias blanked the Braves with solid pitching. That all changed in the sixth inning. That’s when the Braves went into long ball mode themselves with back-to-back solo home runs by Jorge Soler and Freddie Freeman.
Urias (15-3), who struck out seven batters, managed to finish the inning. But that was the end of his night. Phil Bickford came in relief of Urias and pitched just one inning. In that one evening, Bickford got touched by the Braves with another home run blast.
This one came courtesy of Atlanta slugger Adam Duvall in the top half of the seventh inning. All totaled there were seven home runs hit on the night. The Dodgers came through with four. The Braves kept up the pace with three four-baggers. With that said, it was a hit-and-miss night for both ballclubs.
Both the Dodgers and Braves had nine batters fail the whiff test. The win was the Dodgers’ 83rd (83-49) of the season.
Featured Image Caption: Aug. 30, 2021. Los Angeles Dodgers centerfielder Mookie Betts made the best of Mookie Betts Bobblehead Night with a solo home run in the Dodgers’ 5-3 victory against the Atlanta Braves. Photo credit: Dennis J. Freeman/News4usonline
Dennis has covered and written about politics, crime, race, sports, and entertainment. Dennis currently covers the NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAA, and Olympic sports. Dennis is the editor of News4usonline.com and serves as the publisher of the Compton Bulletin newspaper. He earned a journalism degree from Howard University. Email Dennis at dfreeman@news4usonline.com