Dodgers rout Braves for 2-1 series lead
LOS ANGELES – The big-name bats for the Los Angeles Dodgers did more than enough to overcome some tentative rookie pitching.
Carl Crawford hit a three-run homer, Juan Uribe added a two-run shot and Los Angeles routed the Atlanta Braves 13-6 on Sunday night for a 2-1 lead in their best-of-five N.L. Division Series.
Hanley Ramirez and Yasiel Puig each had three hits and scored three times on a big night at the plate for the Dodgers, who matched a franchise record for runs in a postseason game. Brooklyn beat the New York Yankees 13-8 in Game 2 of the 1956 World Series.
“It was a total team effort,” Crawford said. “Guys were swinging the bat well. That’s what it’s going to take: 25 guys to do the job and come together and play well.”
Los Angeles can advance to the N.L. Championship Series with a victory at home in Game 4 tonight. Ricky Nolasco pitches for manager Don Mattingly’s Dodgers against veteran Freddy Garcia.
Crawford made the play of the game when he tumbled head over heels and onto his head to catch an eighth-inning foul ball at the low retaining wall in left field. The speedy leadoff man also scored three times, including once in the eighth when the Dodgers made it 13-4.
Chris Capuano won in relief of ineffective rookie Hyun-Jin Ryu in a game that took 4 hours, 1 minute. The 13 runs allowed by the Braves equaled the most in club history for a postseason game.
“I don’t think the emotions or the crowd or anything had anything to do with it. I think we just had some mistakes,” Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez said.
Los Angeles rallied in the third to regain the lead for good after Atlanta tied it in the top of the inning.
After that, the Braves didn’t manage much besides Jason Heyward’s two-run homer in the ninth.
By then, it was way too late.
Atlanta starter Julio Teheran and Ryu both made inauspicious postseason debuts in the first matchup of rookie pitchers in the playoffs since 2007.
Neither stayed around long.
In addition to being shaky on the mound, Ryu made two major mistakes in the field before giving way to Capuano, who spent most of the season in the rotation before moving to the bullpen.
Teheran took the loss, giving up six runs and eight hits in 22/3 innings. The 22-year-old right-hander struck out five, walked one and threw a wild pitch.
Ryu allowed four runs and six hits in three innings, becoming the first South Korean-born pitcher to start a postseason game in the major leagues.