Photo: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images
Austin Riley’s hit propelled Ozzie Albies into the winning run in the ninth inning as the locals beat the Atlanta Braves 3 -2 to the Los Angeles Dodgers in game 1 of the Championship Series of the National League Saturday night.
The winning hit of Riley, who earlier in the fourth inning had hit a home run, it was against reliever Blake Treinen, who has been one of the best in the Major Leagues in 2021.
Albies had singled after one out and reached second in steal. Riley’s hitting hit the fans at Truist Park, understanding that this game was crucial for the Braves, even more so than the Dodgers .
Minutes before the outcome, at the opening of the ninth episode, the Dodgers had a chance to go up , but Chris Taylor, who was running from first base, faltered on the base run after a Cody Bellinger hit to right field and was put out between second and third.
That mistake boded badly for Los Angeles.
The best series of seven games will follow this Sunday in Atlanta at 7: 40 pm ET, with Max Scherzer announced by the Dodgers and Ian Anderson by the Braves.
The Dodgers started the game less than 48 hours after winning a epic game 5 of the Division Series against San Francisco and it was to be expected that the beginning of the rematch series with Atlanta could be difficult for them.
In fact, manager Dave Roberts sent reliever Corey Knebel as a starter for the second straight game. Considering the Braves had their best starter Max Fried on the mound, Atlanta really needed to win this game.
Knebel and the Dodgers went down in the first inning by throwing a very out of control for Eddie Rosario to score from third on a wild pitch.
The Dodgers beat the Braves last year in seven games after Atlanta blew a 3-1 series lead in the Arlington, Texas “bubble.”