Dodgers avoid Game 1 trap, power past Braves in NLDS opener
The trap had been set.A five-day layoff.A seemingly worn-down opponent.
An afternoon start amid 100-degree temperatures.Empty seats littered throughout the blistering hot ballpark.The Dodgers entered this October trying to keep a narrowed focus amid their quest for a World Series three-peat.
They talked of ignoring the bigger historical stakes and suffocating outside expectations.In Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Saturday, that mindset was tested.The result: A 5-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves.One win down.Ten more to go.On paper, Saturday was always a matchup the Dodgers should have won.
They had a reigning two-time Cy Young Award winner on the mound in Tarik Skubal.They were facing a Braves team that was forced to grind through a three-game wild-card series against the Philadelphia Phillies this week –– while the Dodgers were enjoying a first-round bye –– and had no choice but to run a bullpen game in the best-of-five series opener.Still, danger loomed.Would their hitters still be in rhythm after their extended pre-NLDS pause? Would Skubal hold up during the hottest Dodger Stadium playoff game since the 2017 World Series? Would they be able to immediately flip the switch in search of a third-straight title?The answers were resounding.Yes, yes and yes.Skubal was largely dominant over a six-inning, one-run, seven-strikeout start.Teoscar Hernández produced his latest October highlight by crushing a two-run homer to open the scoring in the fourth.And the Dodgers pulled away late behind more big flies from Kyle Tucker and Max Muncy.Game 2 of this series will be back at Dodger Stadium on Sunday night at 5 p.m.But already, the two-time defending champions passed their first big test of this postseason trek, side-stepping a potential trap game to strike first in the NLDS.Playing before a generously listed crowd of just 50,194 (the Dodgers’ smallest for a playoff game since 2016), it did take the club a few innings to find its way. Skuba...