5 takeaways after Braves take 3-1 lead over Dodgers in NLCS

LOS ANGELES – The Braves showed no lingering effects from their disappointment in Game 3, as they insisted would be the case. They demolished the Dodgers 9-2 in Game 4 Wednesday in Los Angeles, taking a 3-1 series lead in the National League Championship Series for the second consecutive year.

“I think we’re a more mature team,” manager Brian Snitker said, comparing this club to the 2020 version. “We got a bunch of young guys that have been through these wars before and now they’re through them again and I think that bodes well for us. I think the experiences they have had over the last three years in getting to this position has really matured this club and the expectation and the fact that you know that we can do this. I believe all that.”

Here are five takeaways from Wednesday:

1. The Braves’ July outfield makeover changed their season. Left fielder Eddie Rosario, acquired in that wave of deals, is changing the NLCS. He had his second four-hit game in the series, homering twice and falling a double shy of the cycle.

Rosario is 10-for-17 with a triple, two homers, two walks, six RBIs and five runs scored in the NLCS.

“This whole postseason he’s been pretty much unbelievable,” first baseman Freddie Freeman said. “When we traded for him he was hurt and took about a month for him to get going. And you knew what kind of player – two years ago he hit 30-plus home runs. So he’s just been looking so good at the plate, seeing everything well, hitting balls hard, and it’s just a huge game and especially this whole series so far.”

2. In his final at-bat in the eighth, rather than double for his second cycle this season, Rosario cranked a three-run homer off Tony Gonsolin.

“Three RBI is better than hitting a double,” Rosario said. He became the first player in postseason history with two homers, a triple and a single in one game.

3. The Braves’ bullpen game couldn’t have unfolded much better. They used six pitchers, beginning with Jesse Chavez, and held the Dodgers to four hits. The relievers struck out four and walked only one.

With the bullpen game out of the way, the Braves have a clear path the remainder of the series, however long it goes. Ace Max Fried is set for Game 5 with Ian Anderson and Charlie Morton available should the series progress.

4. Lefty Drew Smyly was key in the bullpen game. He followed Chavez, covering 3-1/3 innings. He pitched three scoreless frames before leaving with one out in the fifth. Both his runners scored on AJ Pollock’s single off Chris Martin, but Smyly’s performance was vital.

“You look forward to these opportunities and you want to just seize the moment and do the best you can,” Smyly said. “So to be sitting here knowing that the Braves are one game away from making it after all those years, I think everyone in the locker room is pretty excited, but we know there’s a lot more work to do and we got to finish it off.”

It was Smyly’s best moment of the season. His last start game was at the same venue, Dodger Stadium, and he surrendered four homers. He was bumped out of the rotation afterwards, spending the rest of the season as a reliever. He came through Wednesday night.

Credit: Curtis Compton

Credit: Curtis Compton

“I admire him so much and the professionalism and how he stays ready,” Snitker said. “He’s always ready to go. He’s been through a lot. He’s been a big part. I mean, he’s won a lot of games for us, we won a lot of games that he started, and then we shied away from him and he just keeps working. It’s like he’ll do anything. He’s a true professional to handle the situation like he has and to perform like he has. I got a lot of admiration for that man.”

Lefty A.J. Minter covered two innings, which was nearly as important as Smyly’s effort. The Braves stayed away from Luke Jackson, who’d pitched in every postseason game, and used Tyler Matzek – who’s also pitched in every game – and Will Smith to finish the win.

5. The Braves’ offense has been markedly better than the Dodgers’ bats through four games. Rosario had as many hits Wednesday as the Dodgers’ team did. Braves pitchers held Los Angeles’ top four hitters – Mookie Betts, Corey Seager, Trea Turner and Will Smith – to a combined 0-for-15 mark.

“They just outplayed us in all facets,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. If the Braves can do it one more time, they’re in the World Series.

Stat to know

4 (Rosario has two four-hit games in the NLCS. He had only one in the regular season, when he hit for the cycle against the Giants last month.)

Quotable

“The weather. The first two months is 40 degrees all the time in Cleveland. And June is -- I’m hitting better. When it’s hot I feel better.” – Rosario on the difference between him in Cleveland, where he started the season, and Atlanta.

Rarities

The Braves - Rosario, Adam Duvall and Freeman - hit three homers off Dodgers starter Julio Urias. It’s the first time he’s allowed three homers in a game since June 2, 2016. Rosario’s homer off Urias was the first the southpaw had surrendered to a left-handed hitter in 22 postseason games.

Up next

Fried will start Game 5 Thursday in his native Southern California with the opportunity to pitch his team into the World Series. The Dodgers haven’t announced who will start but they’ll use a bullpen game.