Dodgers’ latest win streak comes to an end

The Dodgers had a rare stinker in their return home on Thursday night, falling to the Braves 6-3 in the opener of a four-game series at Dodger Stadium.

Snapped is the 11-game winning streak, as is the seven-game home winning streak for the Dodgers, who suffered their fifth loss in their last 36 games.

Atlanta struck first against Brandon McCarthy, with four hits from the first five batters of the game. A single by Freddie Freeman brought home one run, and a ground-rule double by Matt Kemp brought home another.

McCarthy would get hit around later as well, including another RBI single from Freeman in the third inning then a two-run home run by Kurt Suzuki in the fourth. McCarthy allowed six runs on nine hits in just four innings, the third time in his last four starts he failed to last five innings.

McCarthy’s next start is to be determined, per manager Dave Roberts after the game.

Yasmani Grandal hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning to pull the Dodgers to within three runs, but that was it against Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz, who struck out five in his 6⅓ innings for the win.

Chris Taylor had two more hits on Thursday, his fifth multi-hit game in his last six, and also kept the game relatively close by throwing out Matt Adams at the plate to end the eighth inning.

Taylor’s four outfield assists lead the Dodgers.

Grandal doubled and Austin Barnes walked against old friend Jim Johnson in the ninth inning, but he eventually got Trayce Thompson to pop out to end the game, thanks to a fantastic grab in short right field by second baseman Johan Camargo.

The Dodgers have been so locked in that even in their last four losses they have had the tying run to home plate in the seventh, eighth or ninth innings. The last loss in which that happened (or didn’t happen, I suppose) was June 15 in Cleveland.

That was 29 games ago.

Up next

The Dodgers try to start a new streak on Friday, sending undefeated Alex Wood to the mound in the second game of the series. The Braves originally planned to start lefty Jaime Garcia, but a rumored near trade to Minnesota has thrown a wrench into those plans. Right-hander Aaron Blair could be on his way up to make the start instead.

Thursday particulars

Home runs: Yasmani Grandal (13); Kurt Suzuki (8)

WP - Mike Foltynewicz (8-5): 6⅓ IP, 6 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts

LP - Brandon McCarthy (6-4): 4 IP, 9 hits, 6 runs, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts

Sv - Jim Johnson (22): 1 IP, 1 hit, 1 walk