Dodgers take series finale in Atlanta behind plenty of offense

There were plenty of fist pumps from Alex Wood on Thursday night as the lefty fought through six innings. The lefty held the Braves to just one run while the offense provided plenty of support in a 7-4 Dodgers win.

The Dodgers didn't take long in moving back into the win column after their nine-game win streak was halted Wednesday. The win moves Los Angeles to 10 games above .500 on the road (29-19) and 41-7 in their last 48.

Wood allowed runners in scoring position in four of the six innings he pitched, none tougher than the fifth. The Braves had loaded the bases with nobody out on two walks and a single with the heart of their lineup coming up.

With the Dodgers up 3-1, the momentum was there for the taking for the home team. But Wood put the clamps on the rally by picking off Lane Adams at second before inducing an inning-ending double play to get out of the inning unscathed.

The Braves also had an opportunity in the sixth when Logan Forsythe’s error put runners at the corners. But Wood was able to meet the challenge again, striking out Sean Rodriguez on a slider across the middle.

Chris Taylor has been nothing short of amazing for the Dodgers all year after not making the team out of spring training. Taylor pitched in with his 28th multi-hit game, slugging a two-run shot in the fourth - his 13th - and two singles to go with three runs on the night.

The homer came at a good time with the Dodgers only scoring one run in the previous inning after loading the bases with nobody out. Taylor brought the run home on a Forsythe bases-loaded walk.

The Dodgers benefitted from nine walks on the night with seven coming from Braves’ starter Sean Newcomb. The rookie was all over the map with seven strikeouts and 110 pitches in 4 ²⁄₃ innings pitched.

Over the final four innings, the Dodgers would add four more insurance runs that they would end up needing. Manager Dave Roberts handed the ninth inning to the newly acquired Tony Cingrani with a 7-1 lead.

Cingrani allowed the first two batters to reach on singles to bring Ozzie Albies to the plate. Albers had yet to connect for a hit in his first 10 plate appearances this season. The Braves’ second baseman put a charge into a three-run shot to left to bring Atlanta within three.

That would be all though as Cingrani settled in and shut the door to give the Dodgers the season series.

Up next

The Dodgers head to New York to start a weekend series with the Mets. Yu Darvish will take the ball in his Dodgers debut against Mets’ ace, Jacob deGrom.

Thursday particulars

Home runs: Chris Taylor (13), Ozzie Albies (1)

WP - Alex Wood (13-1): 6 IP, 7 hits, 1 run, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts

LP - Sean Newcomb (1-6): 4⅔ IP, 4 hits, 3 runs, 7 walks, 7 strikeouts