Kenley Jansen allowed back-to-back home runs in the eighth inning to Evan Gattis and Andrelton Simmons, combining with the Dodgers offense to waste a magnificent outing by Chris Capuano. The Braves won 3-1 for their second straight win over the Dodgers.
Capuano allowed just five singles while pitching into the eighth inning with a 1-0 lead. Three of the hits were by third baseman Chris Johnson, and another came off the bat of pitcher Kris Medlen, but it was a one-out single by slumping B.J. Upton in the eighth that ended Capuano's night.
Jansen was brought in to face the pinch hitter Gattis, who hit the eighth pitch from Jansen into the left field seats to turn a Dodgers advantage into a Braves lead. Jansen's next pitch was also hit out, this time by the fellow Curacao native Simmons.
Adrian Gonzalez walked with one out in the fourth inning, though given his current neck injury that hurts when he runs and that Gonzalez is one of the slowest Dodgers, he was seemingly far from scoring position. But one out later when Skip Schumaker doubled and Justin Upton booted the ball in left field, Gonzalez was waved home and made it easily. Entering pay Saturday, Gonzalez had taken the extra base on a play just six percent of the time this season, down from 27% in his career.
Medlen didn't allow the Dodgers many more opportunities, as he only allowed two hits and three walks in his seven innings.
Up next
Matt Magill gets the call in the finale on Sunday as the Dodgers try avoid the sweep. Left-handed pitcher Mike Minor gets the call for the Braves on Sunday morning in a game that will be televised by both Prime Ticket and TBS.
Saturday's particulars
Home runs: Evan Gattis (8), Andrelton Simmons (5)
WP - Cory Gearrin (1-0): 3 up, 3 down
LP - Kenley Jansen (1-2): ⅔ IP, 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 strikeout
Sv - Craig Kimbrel (13): 1 IP, 2 strikeouts