LOS ANGELES -- Carl Crawford and Juan Uribe each homered, and Hanley Ramirez continued his extra-base hit onslaught, leading the Dodgers to a 13-6 win over the Braves on Sunday night in Game 3 of their NLDS at Dodger Stadium.
The outburst by the Dodgers tied a franchise record for most runs in a postseason game since, matching Game 2 of the 1956 World Series. It was the sixth time they have ever scored double-digit runs in a postseason game.
Ramirez was 3-for-4 on the night with a triple, a double and a walk, and in the series he is 7-for-13 (.538) with four doubles, a triple and a home run. He tied a franchise record with six extra-base hits in one postseason series, held jointly by Duke Snider in the 1952 World Series against the Yankees and Steve Garvey in the 1978 NLCS against the Phillies.
Crawford's home run was a three-run shot in the second inning that was arguably his hardest hit ball as a Dodger, well into the right field pavilion. He was 2-for-5 on the night, but didn't only contribute at the plate. In the eighth inning, up 10-4, Crawford went end over end over the short wall in foul territory down the left field line to rob Brian McCann:
It was the kind of catch that could have easily adversely affected the Dodgers' already thin outfield depth chart. But still, it was a great catch nonetheless.
On the mound, Ryu continued his first inning struggles that have plagued him all season. Justin Upton doubled over the head of Skip Schumaker in center field and a pair of two-out singles by Evan Gattis and Chris Johnson plated two runs for a quick 2-0 Atlanta lead. In 31 starts this season Ryu has allowed 19 runs in the first inning.
But it was the third inning that did him in. Staked to a 4-2 lead, Ryu loaded the bases with nobody out then was burned by a pair of his own mistakes. McCann hit what should have been a 3-6-1 double play ball but Ryu tiptoed around the bag and never touched first base:
Then Chris Johnson hit a little dribbler up the first base line and Ryu, rather than take the easy out at first base, tried in vain to get Freddie Freeman at the plate. He was not successful.
Ryu was done after three innings, lifted for a pinch hitter after the Dodgers rallied again to take the lead. Ryu allowed four runs on six hits and needed 68 pitches to get through his three innings. As he was lifted for a pinch hitter, Julio Teheran was removed as well, ending rough nights for both starters at the same time.
The one positive for Ryu came in the second inning when batting. With the bases loaded he flew out to right field, and nearly over Justin Upton's head, for a sacrifice fly and a quick 1-0 lead. Ryu became the first Dodgers pitcher to drive in a run since Orel Hershiser in Game 2 of the 1988 World Series against the Athletics.
Chris Capuano, with two innings pitched since Sept. 6, entered the game in relief of Ryu and pitched three scoreless innings to earn the win. He walked the leadoff batter in each frame but either stranded or erased them all. Capuano also didn't allow a single hit, joining Alejandro Pena in Game 4 of the 1988 NLCS against the Mets as the only Dodgers pitchers to pitch at least three innings in a postseason game and not allow a hit.
Yasiel Puig was 3-for-5 on the night and scored three times. He also caused a bit of a scare after the third inning when he was seen slamming his bat in the dugout in frustration then heading down the tunnel with team trainers. But Puig remained in the game, even if jogging a little lightly out to the field in the fourth inning. Puig this season against the Braves is 14-for-29 (.483).
Jason Heyward hit a two-run shot off Paco Rodriguez in the ninth inning to provide the game's final margin.
Up next
The Dodgers look to close it out in Game 4 on Monday night at 6:37 p.m. PT, with Ricky Nolasco on the mound against Freddy Garcia for the Braves.
Game 3 particulars
Home runs: Carl Crawford (1), Juan Uribe (1); Jason Heyward (1)
WP - Chris Capuano (1-0): 3 IP, 3 hits, 3 strikeouts
LP - Julio Teheran (0-1): 2⅔ IP, 8 hits, 6 runs, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts