The Los Angeles Dodgers suffered a complete defeat against the Atlanta Braves, the NL East leaders, securing another series loss in the process.
Starter Bobby Miller gave up a go-ahead RBI single to outfielder Eli White in the second inning, followed by a bases-clearing double from infielder Mauricio Dubón that put the Braves ahead by four runs.
In the eighth inning, catcher Drake Baldwin, playing as the designated hitter, hit a solo home run to left field, his 10th of the season, extending the lead to five. After the Dodgers closed the gap to three runs, infielder Matt Olson crushed his 14th homer of the year in the ninth inning to seal the win.
The Dodgers’ offense was stifled by Braves starter Bryce Elder, who allowed just one hit over 5 2/3 scoreless innings. They finally got on the board in the eighth inning with a two-run homer from Max Muncy, his 10th, but the rally came too late.
Though the Dodgers still lead the NL West, their performance has dipped in May, with the team losing two of three series and posting a 4-5 record. Five of those losses came when the offense scored two or fewer runs. NHK commentator Hiroaki Arai noted, “The lineup has been sluggish. In particular, Shohei Ohtani hasn’t shown the kind of hitting that carries the team, so things aren’t going well.”
