LOS ANGELES -- Juan Uribe hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning against David Carpenter to give the Dodgers a comeback 4-3 win over the Braves in Game 4 of the National League Division Series. The Dodgers advanced to their 10th NLCS, which will begin Friday night at parts yet unknown.
Yasiel Puig began the eighth inning with a double, and Uribe failed on two sacrifice bunt attempts before he was allowed to swing away.
Uribe turned around a story that was centered around the wasting of a great yet shortened outing from Clayton Kershaw, who struck out six in his six innings and allowed only three hits and two unearned runs. But on three days rest, Kershaw was pulled after 91 pitches.
Before Uribe's home run, the Dodgers were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position on the night.
He left tied because the Dodgers couldn't solve Freddy Garcia, who was released by the Padres and who floundered with the Orioles before joining the Braves in late August. One day after his 37th birthday Garcia allowed just two runs on eight hits in his six innings, with six strikeouts of his own.
The only player to solve Garcia was Carl Crawford, who continued his power display with two home runs.
Crawford in the first inning joined Davey Lopes, in Game 6 of the 1978 World Series, as the only Dodgers ever to leadoff a postseason game with a home run. In the third inning Crawford homered again to right field for a 2-0 lead, his third home run of the series.
It marked the ninth time a Dodger has homered twice in a postseason game, and the first time since Shawn Green hit two against the Cardinals in The Lima Game (Game 3 of the 2004 NLDS). It also continued a bizarre season for Crawford.
In the first 29 games of the season, through May 6, Crawford led the Dodgers with five home runs, in 119 plate appearances. He then had a drought of 85 games and 343 PA without a home run, though Sept. 26. But in his last six games, including 26 PA, Crawford has four home runs.
The Braves tied the game thanks to some shoddy fielding by the Dodgers in the fourth inning. After Freddie Freeman led off the frame with a single Evan Gattis his an easy double play ball to Adrian Gonzalez at first base. But Gonzalez sailed his throw over the head of Hanley Ramirez, putting runners at first and second with nobody out instead of nobody on with two outs.
It was the second error of the night for Gonzalez, his first multiple-error game since April 18, 2009, when he was with the Padres.
Kershaw then threw a wild pitch that A.J. Ellis didn't stop to advance the runners 90 feet. Chris Johnson hit a single to left field for one run. Andrelton Simmons followed with another double play ball, this one to third, but on the turn second baseman Mark Ellis threw offline to first base, allowing the tying run to score.
Brian Wilson pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the win. Kenley Jansen pitched his third game of the series, and pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save.
Up next
The Dodgers will open up the NLCS on Friday night with Zack Greinke on the mound in Game 1. Now they just have to wait two days to find out their opponent and where that game will be played. If the Pirates beat the Cardinals on Wednesday, the Dodgers will host Pittsburgh on Friday. If the Cardinals win Wednesday, the Dodgers will open the NLCS with Game 1 in St. Louis.
Game 4 particulars
Home runs: Carl Crawford 2 (3), Juan Uribe (2)
WP - Brian Wilson (1-0): 1 IP, 2 hits, 2 strikeouts
LP - David Carpenter (0-1): 1 IP, 2 hits, 2 runs
Sv - Kenley Jansen (1): 1 IP, 3 strikeouts