Sports · NEWS EXPLAINER
Dodgers beat Braves 5–3 as Skubal and three homers open NLDS
Tarik Skubal allowed one run in six innings, and three home runs supplied all five Dodgers runs. Evan Phillips got the last out after Atlanta narrowed the gap in the ninth.
The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 5–3 at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, October 3, taking a 1–0 lead in their National League Division Series. Tarik Skubal pitched six innings, while Teoscar Hernández, Kyle Tucker and Max Muncy supplied the scoring with home runs. Atlanta cut the deficit late before Evan Phillips secured the final out.
Three home runs supply all five runs
Hernández broke the scoreless tie in the fourth inning, hitting a two-run homer off Victor Mederos after Freddie Freeman walked. Atlanta answered in the sixth when Sean Murphy homered against Skubal, reducing the Dodgers’ lead to 2–1.
Los Angeles then added three runs in the bottom of the sixth against AJ Smith-Shawver. Tucker’s two-run homer made it 4–1, and Muncy added a solo homer after Andy Pages struck out. The two-run, two-run and one-run swings account for all five Dodgers runs. That sixth-inning response expanded a one-run edge into a four-run cushion.
Six innings set up a nine-out handoff
Skubal finished with two hits allowed, two walks and seven strikeouts over 94 pitches. Murphy’s homer was the only run against him. In his first postseason start for Los Angeles, he supplied 18 of the 27 outs the Dodgers needed, leaving the final three innings to the bullpen.
Atlanta’s opening pitcher also did his part. Dodd completed three scoreless innings before Mederos entered. The game was still tied when Dodd left, so the decisive damage came against the pitchers who followed him. The final score alone does not show where Atlanta’s pitching plan began to unravel.
Atlanta makes the final out matter
Brock Stewart and Alex Vesia each threw a scoreless inning for Los Angeles. In the ninth, Ronald Acuña Jr. singled off Tanner Scott and Albies followed with a two-run homer, bringing Atlanta within 5–3. Scott then recorded two outs before manager Dave Roberts turned to Phillips.
Phillips walked Mauricio Dubón, bringing the potential tying run to the plate. He then retired Austin Riley on a grounder, with shortstop Mookie Betts throwing to first baseman Freeman. Phillips earned the save for recording that last out, rather than pitching a full inning. Riley represented the potential tying run when he made the final out.
What the opening win changes
The Dodgers need two more wins to advance from this best-of-five series; the opener did not decide it. Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday, October 4, at 8 p.m. Eastern / 5 p.m. Pacific, which is 00:00 UTC on Monday, October 5. MLB’s current schedule lists Atlanta visiting Los Angeles again.
Saturday’s result separates two jobs: building a lead and protecting it. The three home runs created Los Angeles’ cushion, while Skubal reduced the relief staff’s assignment to nine outs. Four relievers were still needed to complete those outs. Sunday gives Atlanta a chance to level the series before the teams move on to the next game.
