Bryce Elder was really good once again, but the Atlanta Braves bullpen gave up a lead late yet again. Fortunately, Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies came to the rescue in the bottom of the ninth as the Braves walked the Dodgers off by the score of 4-3.
Bryce Elder got the start and it was all he could do to keep the Braves in the game as Tony Gonsolin was completely shutting down the Braves' offense. He had multiple baserunners in each of the first three innings and pitched out of trouble each time. Then, in the fourth inning, it was mercifully shorter thanks to a fantastic double play started by Orlando Arcia. The Braves have certainly not been a good defensive team in 2023, but this was a nifty play by all of those involved.
Turnin' two!@ozzie | @curacaotravel#ForTheA pic.twitter.com/rSgriaMJ1Z
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) May 25, 2023
The Braves would finally breakthrough in the bottom half of the fourth inning. Gonsolin had completely shut the Braves down the first three innings, but Matt Olson worked a deep count and a slider from Gonsolin did not slide enough and Matt made him pay for it as he sent it 456 feet away to right field to give the Braves the lead. This baseball was destroyed.
Matt Olson just sent a baseball into orbit 😱 pic.twitter.com/z8001oZw8H
— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) May 25, 2023
The Dodgers would immediately answer with some help from Mookie Betts as he led off the fifth inning with a solo shot of his own. However, Bryce Elder shut the Dodgers down the rest of the inning and then in the bottom half, Ozzie Albies drew a walk and then Marcell Ozuna connected on a LONG home run to center to give the Braves a 3-1 lead.
Bryce Elder would hold down the fort for another inning before calling it a night. It wasn't always easy, particularly early in the game, but we will take a 6 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K line every single time. Jesse Chavez would get the seventh and got some help from an unassisted double play at first to make it a quick inning.
The Dodgers, however, are still quite dangerous and the eighth would see them get a run back on an RBI groundout from Jason Heyward after JD Martinez had doubled to put runners on second and third. Miguel Vargas would then hit a ground-rule double to tie the game.
The Dodgers would nearly take the lead in the ninth inning, as they had runners on the corners, but Raisel Iglesias was able to get Max Muncy to pop out. The bottom of the ninth would see Austin Riley smoke a double to lead off the inning. A Travis d'Arnaud ground out would move Austin over to third and after LA intentionally walked their nemesis Eddie Rosario, Ozzie Albies would lift a sacrifice fly to right to walk it off and give the Braves a much needed win.